Co; C; 18th Regt Wis Vol 

     Vicksburg Miss August 6th 1863 

I Sit down this Afternoon to write you a few 

lines to let you Know that I am as well as 

usual hoping this will find all [crossed out] [in] well and  

in good Condition I Rec'd a letter from you 

yesterday dated July 19th 22nd and 23rd I was glad to 

hear that you was well for I feel Uneasy whenever 

I hear that you are unwell: The wether continues 

quite warm yet; we occasionally have a Shower 

of Rain but it does not Seem to cool the air but 

little; it is Raining a little this afternoon we are kept 

pretty closely on duty at present we have to go on 

guard about Every other day; we are not Relieved from 

guard until ten Oclock in the morning then go on 

again the next morning So you See we do not have 

a great deal of Extra time to play on; for we have 

to police; That is we have to Sweep and clean up our 

camp ground Every day; Removing every thing that 

may be thrown around; Such as meat or anything 

that is Subject Rot or contaminate the air So as to 

make it unhealthy I was at work all this forenoon 

picking up and Burrying old Sesesh clothes that 

was left on their Camps they were half Rotten and 

Dirty; So you may Supose it was not a verry peasent 

Job; we are having all the ground inside of the Rebel 

fortifications thoroughly policed and cleaned up: 

about the time Vicksburg Surrendered there was 

So many dead Animals and men and filth 

Scattered around; that [crossed out] [that] There was a large 

number of Buzzards Sailing around over vicksburg  

every day; the Boys used to Say that the Buzzards had 

a mortgage on Vicksburg that they were calling for a 

foreclosure; Our Regt is in verry good health considering 

    the time of year and hot wether 
I have not Rec,d any letters Since I wrote to you before 

but I will look for some soon Alvin Caulkins Recd 

Rec,d a letter from Mary dated 18th of July; of late you 

forget to State the date of my letters you Receive 

So I cannot tell how long it takes you to get them 

after they are written; you wanted to know whether 

or not we had plenty to Eat & yes we always have 

plenty to Eat and if it is not cooked to Suit me I can 

cook what I want myself I have got to be a pretty good 

cook I have cooked for the Company considerable 

but I do not like the Business So I Refuse to cook 

any more; peaches are now Ripe here I wish I had 

Room in my letter I would Send you a peck to Eat 

Tomatoes and water mellons are ripe Levi Noble; Calvin 

Hagerman and E:Caulkins was here night before last 

they were well they Said they Expected to go to Natchez 

in a few days Alvin went down to their camp to day 

and said he could not find the battery he thinks 

they have already gone down the River I Supose 

before this time you have had a letter from Jabe since 

he went to St Louis; We have first rate beds now 

[crossed out] [we cut them Six or Seven] we make them of Reed cane as 

there is plenty of it here we cut them 6, or ,7 feet long 

we drive down 4 forks and put on a crosspiece at 

Each end and then lay on the cane close to gether as wide 

as we want it then put on our Blankets it is the best 

Substitute for a bed that I Ever tried it Springs and gives 

to pressure so as not to make a man tired or sore as Solid 

Boards do we have our Tents again we raise them up 

2 or 3 feet from the ground So the air can circulate 

through and under Them Well Sis my paper is about 

out So I must close for this time 

              I Remain Truly Yours as Ever 

                                                 Thos. J. Davis 

              Lucinda. M. Davis