#20

		Bridgeport Alabama
			       Feb. 10 / 64

Dear wife I have looked in vain for another
week for a letter from you which makes
two weeks hard running John got a letter
from Electa both times the last one said
you had just been to Mill and you had so
much to do you did not have time to write
that time but said nothing about your not
writing the week before so I think that one
of your letters have not come E said that
money I sent came all right well you ack-
nowledged $.500 in your last but I sent
five dollars more the 15th of January and
five more the 2nd day of Feb. which makes
fifteen in all please acknowledge all as
fast as you get it so I can tell whether
any of it is lost or not we have not been
paid anything yet I shall g send what
money I can get for cooking five dollars
at a time untill it gets lost on the way then
I think I shall stop there is a mistake in
my descriptive roll of one month which will
cheat me out of seventeen dollars: and I think
I shall not sign the pay roll untill it is
corrected unless you get in need of money
if I do not sign the pay roll this time it
will be two months longer and perhaps

four months before I get any pay. I dont
know as it would make any difference
about getting the mistake corrected if
I should take my pay now some say it
would let me know if you are needy
and I will run the risk if not I shall not
we are trying to get it straightened before
the paymaster gets here. please write
every week if you are able if you dont
write more than three or four lines
are you well is the children well my
heart is with my wife and children where
a man treasure is there his heart is aso.
I am in good health and spirits we have
lost 3 men by death since I came to the
regiment out of our comp. I attended a
funeral in Com. L. last Sunday I will
describe it to you 1st the Brass band play-
ing the dead march then the ambulance
			      '9
carrying the Corpse then nine men with
guns reversed then the private soldiers
of the Co then the Officers of the Co marched
to the grave yard on the hill about 66 rods
from camp formed around the grave
then lowered the coffin which was made
very neat of white wood boards then the

			Feb. 10th, 1864


minister read a chapter and a few verses
were sung ^ then pray(er) by the speaker then
three vollies were fired by the men with
guns across the grave and then each
Co returned to their respective quarters.
Electa said mother was very sick is
she any better yet. write and let me know.
I shall not send any more money untill
I hear from what I have sent. dear wife
you must try and keep up good spirits
as possible and dont get so despondent.
I feel that by your prayers and of my
own and the childrens I shall once more
be permitted to enjoy the blessings of family
society I believe the lord will carry me safe
			                path of 
through the dangers that besett my ^ life
Are you going to have fodder enough to last
if you dont have the place worked without
hiring by the day or month dont work it
at all sow grass seed and take some sheep
and let it run. I cant write any more on
this sheet So good bye. A kiss for all and
some in return from     your loving husband
		Sgt. Howe to his wife C E. P. Howe