Duvalls Bluff Ark Apr 17th /65
           Dear folks at home.
		             Monday my
writing day has come around I have received
three letters this week March 29, 31. & Apr 5th
also 4 papers for which I am thankful
     I have not received my box yet, it 
may come in on the mail boat.
My health is poor yet. At a celebration
aniversary of the fall of Sumpter. Apr 14
I marched down town with the troops.
but my liver & bowells were so sore that
the belt and cartridge box set them to 
aching I was in great misery for a
while. I got liberty to come back to camp
got into my bunk an lay in misery all day
I have reported sick since then. till yesterday
the Doctor told me I must try to do duty to
day.. I feel to weak though to do anything
my stomach and liver are out of order


I shall have to be very careful of my
stomach in order to get well I dare not
eat but part of a slice of bread for a
		 is better
meal. My diarea ^ I only have to go the
rear [illegible in original] three to six times a day now in
the place of from ten to twenty.
The mail was just brought around. I
received "Waverly" and "Phrenological
Journal."
There has been a good deal of rainy
weather during April yesterday Sun.
was very warm and pleasent,
Sunday is hardly known from any other
day by the soldiers Picket and Provo
[illegible in original] duty goes as usual. the only
the only change is inspection of arms
in the morning, a general parade
at 5 in the afternoon, yesterday being
excused from duty I took things easily 
ate my breakfast in the morning read
till about 10 Oclock then went down
to a brook behind the camp. (about like


one in the 5 acre lot,) Striped off and
washed me and changed my clothes.
all along the brook can be seen almost
any time Soldiers washing their clothes
I spent the day in reading & sleeping
I went out a while to see Col. May
train the soldiers, There was no meeting
short o town, & I did not feel strong
enough to walk there.
Noon. While writing this morning the
orderly cam along and put me on
fatigue. I did not feel much like going
			   and unloded
but went, four of us loded ^ two loads of
hay. and one load of beef which
was plenty enough work for me.
this afternoon we load manure.
I did not eat anything till this noon.
I must lay down a little while before going
to work.
5 oclock. I have dragged through
my work.
There is a rumor here that
Lincoln & Seward are killed
		Fred P Warren