#55


	      October 6th 1864 Stevenson
Dear wife I have been another 10 or 12 days
without writing there has been another raid on
the railroad So there has been no mail going or
coming until yesterday General Thomas
formed his line of battle on the cars and
forced an opening So the cars could come
from Nashville they brought only one letter
from the loved ones at home it had eight
stamps in it which makes two letters with
Stamps received from home you must excuse
this bad writing as we have had an awful
sight of rain lately it has rained almost
steady for one week and my paper has
got damp you say you and the world will
have a worse falling out than ever if this
war does not close soon. you write so
desponding and complain of your hard lot
is your fate worse than many others do
you think you ought to complain of the 
decrees of the Almighty Just think how much
worse it might be I think Gods Blessings
have been given in very many things. I know
it was a hard stroke to lose your mother
at this time but perhaps it is all for the
best for are you quite sure that your

afflic affections was not placed too much on
her and not enough on God he had spared her
to you untill a ripe old age. and you are pro-
vided with the necessaries of life your husband
is not put in the front of battle he is in
good health your children are good little boys
and God has spared their lives that you can
have their society are these not great blessings
indeed if the whole of the rest of the world was
against you still you would not be desolate.
you tell of a great many men have run
away I think you must be scarce of men
by this time.   how much do you have to
pay a day for men to do the work on the
place. you say Andrew Linden you want me
to write John Matthews a good long letter
you want me to tell him I will try to
get him cured when I get home I dont
think it would be right in me to
promise him anything I did not intend
to perform and I am not able to hire a
doctor for that purpose. I think Lyman
ought to spend what he got out of Unkle
Nates property to get him cured as I think
it is a Judgment Sent upon him for
taking so much from the heirs of that

			Oct. 6, 1864


Estate. you need not tell them what I think
about it. I believe I have never neglected writing
over 10 days at a time since I left home   I think
if you will look at the dates of my letters you
will find it so. I intend to write as often as
once a week but some times circumstances are
such I cannot get a letter wrote as we dont get
at present only one candle in a tent for every
five days and that is not enough to burn
to write with   We are in very good health
here the telegraph said last night that
Grant had got Petersburgh with thirty thousand
prisoners. God Grant it is so. this regiment
will be reorganized in December and all
whose term of enlistment runs out will
go home after that if they grant any furloughs
I shall try and get one. no more this time
Good bye May God bless you. Kiss the
children for me keep a stiff upper lip and
all will yet be well from your Ever loving
husband                            Simeon A Howe

P.S. we have got no pay yet.