#41


		Stevenson Ala June 23d, 1864
Well I have no letter from you this week
my Dear. John got a letter from Electa and
that is all I could hear from home I am
well at present the boys are in tolerable
good health we have had one man desert
since we came to this place he was a 
young frenchman I dont know whether
we shall stay here all Summer or not. it is
quite warm here but no hotter than I have
been in Gratiot at this time of year. we
have all the apples we want to stew some
of them are ripe new potatoes come into camp
some but they are very dear green peas and
beans are cheaper the country is nearly
devastated here the citizens dont raise
enough to eat themselves but have to
sell to buy flour and coffee Sherman is
giving the rebs some down by Atlanta
he is within 11 miles of that place. Grant
has got petersburg. I think the war is
progressing finely. we get the papers every
morning. I got a letter yesterday from
Thomas and Martha they are well Caroline
is very sick but is getting better She
had the measles very hard bad they

did not think she will live from one hour
to another then she got better but was taken
down again. Corn here is about as high
as your waist new potatoes are about as
large as hens eggs  I think this would be a
beautifull country to live in if it was re-
generated and brought to be settled like the
free north write as often as you can I should
like to have a letter from home every week at
any rate I dont think of much more to write
this time is the children well. how does
the wheat look does the corn look as if it
would be anything this summer. I suppose
the Strawberries are just in their prime
now. well I should like to be there to eat
some with you some cream and sugar well
perhaps I shall be home this fall. I hope
so. when this cruel war is ended. wheat
is been cut here for near two weeks you
see things are very nearly here onions are
ripe and sell for 5 cents apiece milk 10 cts
a pint black berries begin to come in for
10 cts per pint well I will say good-bye give the
childen kisses for me from your ever
loving husband to his Simeon A Howe
to his wife C E P Howe