46
				#45

	Stevenson Ala July 24,th / 1864.
		           Top of lookout near
			            Our camp.
Our Camp Dear wife I have looked in vain 
for news from home for the past week so
to day I thought I would climb the mountain
to write where I should be alone to my own
thoughts I am about 2 or 3 thousand feet
above the level of our camp I can look
down upon the camp and see the men and
they look like little children not more than
two or three years old it is very elonesome
not to get no cheering news from home I am
well as ever or I never could have got here
for I had to climb the mountain side for nearly
			          that
one mile Sometimes so steep ^ I had to pull myself
up by the bushes along the way if this
mountain was high enough to look over on
you at home I think I could climb it with
a relish but no such good luck well
never mind as long as we are blessed with
good health why it is not so tedious.
you must excuse me for not writing sooner
since my last it has been about 10 days I
will try and do better next time last
Sunday I wrote a letter to Gould and
while I was writing there was about
100 one hundred little children of all
shades of color belonging to the

School taught by the agent of the freed
mens association and the teacher and
the Superintendent of all the freed mens
Schools in the South west were with
them these children were addressed by
the Superintendent Mr Mitchell. they were
all slaves ten or 12 weeks ago but now
they were forever free in the afternoon
Mr Mitchell addressed the parents of the
same children on the same ground and
those very slaves were far more intelli-
gent in looks than the whites in this
vicinity to take them as a body. this
war is doing a noble work God makes
man his instrument to do his will con-
cerning the nation's welfare when this
nation has paid the penalty for fostering
such wickedness in the land then
there will be peace and plenty in the
land once more. and not before the news
came last night tht Atlanta was taken
with 15,000 prisoners three cheers for
Gen Sherman. I hear by letters from
our neighbors that everything brings
very high prices I think if you have
not sold the wheat if you have any to

				July 24th


sell you had better sell it soon for wheat will
go down after harvest I hope you are all well
and doing well how is the children getting
along has O.C Bristol got home yet does
babe learn any I know Arden learns well
I should like to see you all I would tell you
I should like to see your profile but I
know it will do no good if I do So I will
keep mum write often as you can kiss
the little boys for me and when I come
back I will kiss them for myself have
you had any frost up there lately to hurt
any thing. I think you have had frost
to kill what the drouth left well I
shall have to stop writing by saying
Good bye may God bless and protect
you is the prayer of your every loving
		husband    Simeon A Howe

there is an order forbidding soldiers from
			        home
sending home their clothing ^ or I would make
up another Box to send you I got my other
Box started just in time
			SAH.