#11



		Bridgeport Dec. 19th 63.
Dear wife I received another letter from you
it had been almost two weeks since the
last. I am well as ever I have not even had
the headache since I came here I have not
learned to sleep on a log or in the water
nor in the mud nor even in the cold
ground yet I have got a good tent with
a good Stove in it I sleep on a bed
made of plank with a lot of old bags spread
on it and one large woolen blanket and then
my overcoat with my knapsack pl pants and
blouse and dress coat for a pillow. and then
three more blankets to cover me up and
if a man cant sleep with such a rig why
he could not sleep iff he was hung. ^ there
is about (25,000.) soldiers here and all putting
up good winter quarters I made some good
light bread and tried to make some cake
but it was heavy I think there was too
much lard in it I made it by your
receipt. Send me a receipt [a?] stirred cake in
your next letter then send a receipt for
cookies for we are bound to live well
if we dont get sick Tell me how to
make stuffing and then we are all right
I suppose you are writing to me about
                     			      nor
this time well dont be despondent ^ fret
about me. I should like to see you and
the children but that cannot be let that
[goo?] iff clover seed cannot be got short
of $12.00 dont get it but if you can get
it for $7.00 get it if not then get some
timothy and sow the wheat ground
and the piece of ground Luce sows to
oats down next to fitzes. I think you
had better have a fence run through
on the north side of the wheat so as
to have the pasture for sheep in
among those logs get it loged if you
can without paying the money you
had better take some more sheep
after shearing but not sooner ask the
ad vice of the neighbors as to how many
the place can supply you can sell the
steers next fall if I dont come back
and save the feed for sheep you know
for next winter the officers here
think the war will be wound up
this next spring but they dont know.
I hope it will the mail is very un –
certain here we get we get it about 


			Dec. 19, '63



once or twice a week you asked me if I was
tired of your style of writing well I will tell you
your last letter had one blank leaf I am
tired of that style so that is enough. C.
Martin got a letter from his little girl only
six years old and it was wrote quite well.
I want Arden to learn to write so he
can write to me it would be more to
me than all the rest till Mr Luce to
take good care of the place and he
                          lose
shall not [illegible in original] anything by it is
dolly with fold if she is be carefull lest
she should loose her colt. dont fret any
more about me for I feel I shall come out
all right by the effects of your prayers.
Cap Gifford is in Detroit yet he has not
been here we have not been mustered yet
for pay. Electa need not expect anything
from here before the first of April but she
may get some sooner. [Deline?] is just what
I took him to be but you know it would
be no use to say anything to John for he
is so willfull. You must excuse me for this
time how are all the folks I shall number
my letters after this letter No. one. Goodbye
		S. Howe to his wife