#38



			Stevenson Ala 1864
			  Wednesday June 1st.
Dear wife I got your letter of the 24th on the 30th of
last month was glad to hear you was in better
spirits glad you got the money all right how
much did it cost to send the package to
St. Johns. have not Expressed my clothing 
yet did you have to hire all the crops put in
or was part put in on shares how many
lambs have you got. I am well as usual it
is very warm here now. it is rumored
that Sherman has taken Alanta if it is
so it is a death blow to the rebs as much
as the fall of Richmond Atlanta is 176 miles
from here cars run through to Kingston every
day has Johns money gone through Straight I got
a letter from Oscar about one week ago he says
they have to carry him from one place to another
                                                  that
I was talking with a man today who says when the
rebs was here a year ago they did have to dig
up the ground in the bottom of their smoke houses
to make salt. I sold him 10 lbs for 5 cents per pound.
How is the children getting along with their
studies do they get good long lessons Arden must
learn his geography all he can this summer
for next summer I want him to study arithmetic

P.S. Write often and tell me everything there is
going on on the place or in the neighborhood, if it
is not worth writing it is good to my mind .
				                     S A Howe


do you pasture the cow or does she have to run
in the woods. I think we shall stay here all
this Summer    I expect I shall get another inst-
allment of bounty next time I am paid. would
like to come home and see you all very much
but suppose I shall have to wait a spell yet. there
is not much news here  . I dont think of much
to write what did you break when you went to 
St. Johns. Well I think I have asked you about
questions Enough think I will bring my
letter to a close I am cooking yet I think
I shall have to cook the rest of the time I
am in the service  I hope this war will be 
over soon so we can all go home I have got
a darky woman living in a house close by that
I feed all my waste fodder to I expect I
shall marry her till I get home the boys
said they were going to write and let you know
about it but I told them I would get the start
of them and tell you first She does my washing
for me so you see we are on good terms dont
that make you jealous. well I must stop and
draw my letter to a close keep up good
courage and pray for your humble servant
kiss the children for me from your loving
husband to his wife -----   Simeon A Howe