#18


		Bridgeport, Al.
	          Jan. 24th '64
My Dear,
My Dear    I received your letter of the 15th this 
morning and I tell you I was very glad to hear
things are no worse was afraid you would
suffer for the want of wood get Albert Herrick
to chop that wood by all means I am glad
that money went through safe it is Sunday
to day and the men are having a general cleanup.
Some are Sweeping the yard front of the tents
some are shaving and some are washing and
some are writing like myself I am sorry to
have you so[illegible in original] down hearted but dont feel
like chiding you any I did not intend any
complaints nor commands in my letters
about your fretting but will not write that
word any more   I have sent you five dollars
more the fifteenth of January I think the
Neighbors were not very neighborly in turning
out to your wood bee. but I think they chopped
a nice lot for so little help as you got You
complain that I dont get your letters I think
that I have got all the letters you have written
so far I have got one every week except last
week since I came here. I am well as I
ever was in my life You must remember
that it takes about three weeks to get a
letter and an answer back which makes it
seem so long. I think iff you have not
sent that box when you get this you need
not send anything but the butter and the
sauce I spoke of. You have not sent
me your likeness yet I think you mean
to cheat me I want yours to pay for
mine  I shall send you five dollars
more as soon as I can spare safely,
and I know when you get it I know it
is in good hands. I intend to send
home as much money while I stay or
more than John does. 25 cords of
wood will last you untill spring with
what you have already got ^ John of
course wil pay half for the wood I
want you to make application to the
Supervisors for help as that is the only
way you can get your taxes back for
paying those new recruits it is just
as good for you to get something from
the county as for other women our orderlies
wife has drawn and he gets $34.00 per month
we have not got any pay yet you must
not suffer for things you need to save
money for me because it would suit

			Jan. 24, 1864.


me much better to have you use it y
yourself. I did not pay Orlando for helping
me plant corn only he had the wagon to use some
which I thought ought to offset on that score
he had nothing to do with the manure
unless paid for it I shall send you my
certificate of Enlistment or roll of Honor this
week it will be inside of a pact [board?] roller
you can punch it out with a round stick
with out soiling it  I have got a ring most
done which I will send to Helen as soon as
I finish it I am going to make some breast
pins as soon as I get time  It keeps me
busy to cook most of the time and the rest
is employed in writing to my wife my family
is always in my mind and the dear ones at
home are all I care for in this world.  I do not
think my wife such a silly thing as you
think her tears are sacred emblems of
her love and I do not think it below
a faithful wife or a faithful husband
to shed a few silent tears as a tribute
of love to each other.   I should like
to see you all very much I have not
got any papers from you and you had
		         to
better not send any here me as they never

come here I want to see your likeness as I
cant see you. when this war is over we
will have good times again I feel that it
will be so I believe the lord will restore
me again to the bosom of my family.
from your ever loving and lonesome
husband to his wife. not friend as
you signed your last letter.
			Simeon A Howe