51



		Stevenson Ala Aug 28, 1864
Dear wife got a letter from you friday last and
was glad to find that you was well. am very
glad to hear that you are having plenty of rain
for it will start the fall feed. and it will help the
corn and potatoes the feed must have got very
poor by this time oppinion varies as to giving
	           reenlist
us a chance to reinst I think if we go to Mich
at all this fall it will be to recruit up the regi-
ment again as there is some five hundred whose
term expires in October you say Doll was lame
as poll what is the matter of her does her ring-
bones grow if they do why we had better sell her
or trade her off. You say you have been offered
40 dollars for the colt, and want to know what
I think about Selling him. I think a bird in the
hand is worth two in the bush. If he is sound
I think we had better keep him untill the others
come to town this one will be as tough as the
ones that is to come I think horses will be
very high after the war and there is nothing
gained by selling young stock untill it comes
to maturity [Gurt?] Allen had better marry soon
or he will loose the fifteen dollars for he may
be drafted and then the fifteen dollars is gone
up. tell Baby he must get in a chair and sit

still while ma writes letters to pa then pa will send
him lots of kisses.  I spose Edd Wardwell bought
the stove and got the horses and wagon over the
left. you speak of the machine threshing to
Fitz's do you let the horses go and help thresh so
to get help to thrash your own I think you had
better by all means have you got the summer
fallow plowed you had better have it Sowed
by the tenth of September if possible tell Arden
pa will come home as soon as he can and then
he shall ride all he wants to pa is to work
				  [(illegible in original)]
down here for Uncle Sam. dont tear any-
thing if the letters dont come for I should
hate to come home and have anything tore you know
where is Will now is Lyman getting Johnny's 
ears doctored. Hank Bassett need not worry
himself I will warrant that if he comes home
I shall he is thought the least of of any boy
in the company he never will be anything 
any how. I did try to have him do different
but there is no use I have never felt bad
about it yet I suppose he had nothing else to
write – you not think it frets me any for it
dont I think if the war lasts I shall stay
in the Engineering Department untill the war
is over for then I am clear from draft and


		Aug. 28, 1864


and can get better wages than in the army I am
well as usual and hope this will find you
the same I dont think of anything more to
write so I will close by saying good bye
from your husband remember me in your 
prayers and oblige     Simeon A Howe