Duvalls Bluff Ark Apr 24 /65
	     Dear folks at home
		I wrote you the
middle of last week.. but I have
received a letter from home and one from
Ed since. I will write now, I received
the silk hankerchief you sent a week
or two ago. Ed did not probably think
that I did not chew tobacco, when he
sent the box, evrything tastes quite strong
of the weed. excepting the dried beef that goes
well. I had some griddle cakes and maple
shugar this morning for breakfast this
morning, we put in vinegar & [illegible in original]
they were pretty good..
any little exposure. seems to make my
bowells sore, I am quite weak.
but gaining. Father writes not to take
doctors medicines. he ought to be General.
enough to know that a soldier takes an
oath to obey his officers,
If a man is not able to do duty he reports
sick, and if the Doc. excuses him, he is
not put on duty, if not excused, he is

A person is not very apt to refuse to
take medicine. if he has taken opium
and evry thing recomended by the soldiers
and still growing worse and weaker. 
all the time. My diarrhea is better now
what has helped it I do not know but
I am thankful to be as well as I am
now, when I see others who have had it
for months and years.
Some think we will get home by the
4th of July, There a quite a number of bets
				the
on going home by that time in ^ Regiment
     You better keep the turkey fat
any way. I mis Mothers table, very
much, I would like to get home
by blackbery time, their must be a
good many, near by your place
     Fathers farm is shure to raise
one good crop I know by experience
that is mosquitoes. I always
		   a
thought it rather ^ pleasent place
though, if it was healthy,
You must write all the 3 Oaks news you
can, Ed is not very good to write the news

Agnus [illegible in original] wrote ^ know if she could
have my [malodion?] to use, I did not like
to disapoint her, but I had very much
rather she would not have it. so I wrote
her I prefred not to lend it,
I have not worked at watches yet, one
reason I have not felt like it. another I am
in a shanty with [nine?] persons sometimes
carrying on like time, my watches might
get smashed up. I shall have to wait untill
I get out of the army before I can make
money that way.

I received a couple of papers of Sam
Churchill to day.
It has been very cold for the past
few days I could hardly keep
warm, with my overcoat on
it is warmer now.
The boys instead of going on
scout went down the river
in a boat to get some Rebs that
wished to surrender
		From Fred.