#19


			Bridgeport Al Feb. 2, 1864
Dear wife I sit down again to write to you
	       over
it has been one a week since my last was
written but I wached the mail last Sunday
in vain for a letter from home but it
did not come   John got one from Electa
and I felt so disappointed that I could
not write but will try and make it up 
now if you will overlook this seeming
neglect on my part. I am well as I ever
was in my life how are you and my 
dear little ones O how I should like to see
you all. I am very busy cooking I dont
get much time to write. only as I steal time
from my work the work is not hard but
very busy the Cap arrived here this morn-
ing for the first time. the health of the
Company is Improving much the weather
is getting quite warm here it has not
froze any for over two weeks so you see
it is almost summer here. if you have
not started that box you need not start
it the express agent says it will not
come farther than Louisville, Ky. I don't
stand in need of any thing I get all
the reading matter that I have time to

read some of the boys buy the daily
papers every morning I dont think
I can afford to buy any papers I shall
save all I can possibly for my loved ones
at home  we have lost by death since
I came to the Company three men one
was buried last Sunday over one hundred
men followed him to the grave. it was
an impressive scene. my prayer is that
I may be resored to my family again in
this world there is but few troops
here now they have gone to the front
once more to give the rebels fight once
again may God give them the victory
that this war may soon be closed
I want you to try and get some help from
the County Enough to buy what you need
to Stores which will make up for the bounty
paid to volunteers Since I went away    I 
shall send you five dollars in this for
your own use but you must not let any
one know about it. If I remember right
doll will fold about the first of April
Give her plenty of room and leave loose
about that time get Bassett to help you
see to
with her if she should [large?] bunches

			Feb. 2, 1864.


Swell up under her belly wash it in sheep
manure tea – let her get some grass if it
comes up in time and I guess she will
do well enough. I hear that everything
is very high there I think we had
better keep all of the stock over another
winter at least. I have been washing
this forenoon and must go to baking
this afternoon I can get almost anything
here that you can get at home only at
enormous prices for instance a tin
can of one quart of any king(d) of fruit
sauce will cost $1.50. I have not bought
any nor dont think I shall one [qut?] of
buttermilk 25 cents and other things
according if you send me that Book
I spoke of dont seal it for if you do
then you will have to pay letter postage
but put a wrapper around it and then
stick the wrapper to the cover. tell the
children to kiss you for me and then
send me the kisses in a letter I dont
think of much more to write at present
So I bid you Good bye again hoping to
get a letter from you again next Sunday
I would like to get a letter from you every

day but I dont expect only one a week
do write every week if your letters are
not quite So long but long letters from
you seems short to me    Good Bye
from your husband
to his wife		Simeon A Howe
     C E P Howe