DeValles Bluff Ark
		Aug 1st 1864

Dear Coz
	     Frank is writing you
& I thought I would add
a few lines by way of a 
remembrance. (What a Word) [a leter?]
you know that I am alive
I recd your kind letter of last
month  I was glad to learn that
some one could enjoy themselves
While we poor & lo are doing
the best we can to keep from
evaporating this hot weather
& making indiscriminating
warfare against the insects
& nastie ticks of Arkansas - 
“Their name is legion”. & The
Efects of their forays unpleasant
I have one consolation in the

fact that 8 weeks will
close my contract with
Uncle Abe - I have little idea
at present of renewing it.  I 
am heartily tired & utterly 
disgusted with our treatment
in this department.  and nearly 
every one seems to be of the same
opinion.  I should be glad to 
see the war end. & I hope ere
this reaches you that we shall
hear of the fall of Richmond - 
we understand that Sherman
holds a part of Atlanta.  I
hope it is true - 
	Johny is not very well although
he attends to his business he has
been trying to [have?] the Ague &
I guess he would shake if he
wasnt so Lazy.  However I think
he has taken Quinine Enough
to break it up.

I have nothing interesting
	no funny to visit you
& I suffer  Frank will [send?]
you all the news - I think
in fact Coz that I am getting
[worse & worse?] as a correspondent,
I feel so don’t can sort of a 
way.  that if it were not for
the pleasure I derive from receiving
letters, I should be tempted some
times to cease writing altogether
Perhaps the next time I write
something will have broken up
the monotony of our life that
will give me a subject more
interesting.  hoping to hear
from you in the meantime
With kind regards
	I am as ever very gratefully
		Your cuz Chamber

Aug 7th, 1864
Coz I did not get this
finished to [send?] with
Franks & no Boat has left since
so have not had a chance to
send it.  [One came up this morn?]
I will go down to morrow
so I add a [ink blots on page]  living
Via Pont sent.  Frank has
been having a shake or two
but is better to night - I fear
he will not make a tough
Soldier  he will have to be very
careful - they are carrying men
out to the Burying Ground “[feet?]
[first?]” - Every day.  Mr Cumin one
of our Co  Yesterday & one to day or
it goes -  The Regt is all out on
a scout except the sick Lame &
Lazy - I happened to be one of the
latter - having been on duty the
day before I did not feel able
to go - so I stayd at Camp
for the first time.  hoping to 
see you in 6 or 8 weeks & to
hear from you in the mean
times  I am as ever afectly
	      Your Coz - W