#8
			          (1863)?

		Bridgeport, Alabama Nov. 29th
Dear wife I received your letter to-day
and it seems like a perfect godsend. it
was almost three weeks Since I got
your last letter I am glad you have got
you tooth out for now you will have
have some peace  I dont see how the
fences got thrown down so bad with
out help of hands. dont kill yourself with
hard work better let the work all go for
you must live untill I come home for I
must see you again in this world.
you must take care of my litttle ones.
Your letters are very melancholy. (I do 
keep up good courage I am well and
cooking for 20 men. which will bring me
five dollars extra for my work we have
marching orders again I dont know
when or where. I have been baking biscuit
all this afternoon we have plenty to eat
and that which is very good the rebs
have been whiped bad down in front (?Ft.)
Brag is all cut to pieces about twenty-
thousand prisoners captured and the
army drove 15 miles. keep your money
for it will be perhaps 4 months

before we get any pay here. payday comes
very irregular get the childrens and our
own likenesses and send them to me. it
seems like a long time before we see
each other again but I am sure we
shall se each other again we fare well
and live well yet dont feel so melancholy and
I shall feel better time passes off quite
fast with me here. As for Jack Morse
Idont think he was ever to a bee of
mine or White either but pay him his
six shillings and let him go iff he will
dont pay out all your money but use
what you want Shealer owes me six
shillings or one days work for his board
while doing his job. be careful not to
waste any fodder but feed with care
C Martin from Ithaca and she said
she had staid alone through the first
time he was gone and she says she
can do it again and if need be take
           and
her gun ^ go to before the rebs shall succeed
and I think I would lay down my life
for the cause if need be. I hear that
Mart Baker is drafted good for him.
Joel Smith says he wishes you would 

			Nov. 29, '63


try and hear from his folks he has not had
a line from home since he left. we have more
desire to have a letter from home than you
can have to have one from us. Write and
tell me all about the things on the farm
and all the news you can get. Send a few
postage stamps in your letters for they are
not to be got here send but a few at a time
so they will not miscarry. I dont think 
of much more to write. I shall write
every week but the mail is very irregular
So you need not think strange iff some-
times letters should not come I expect you
will write every week if you dont write
more than three words and mail it so
I can hear from home. Well I must
stop for it is bed time. We are in
the best regiment in the service we
dont have to do much marching only
only the cars. I have not seen either a
dead or wounded man yet. We had one
alarm but it was nothing but a stray
mule or so. We left Will & Os in 
Nashville hospital and have not
heard from them yet and cannot
send his letters to him because
we dont know what number of the hospital
he is in. Good bye for the present.
Kisses for all.      Simeon A. Howe.
		         CEP Howe