page_0002

nearly every man in our regiment would have gone if
this hadn't been the case. Now they will be afraid to trust
to going home at all unless they reenlist after our time is
out. I tell you we would suspend our pay for twelve
months rather than be cheated out of going home. We
have learned to appreciate home and [---?] visiting
home at all [happily?]. Our love of home was the cause of
our [coming?] here, and surely after being about for twelve months we of course wish to visit our friends again.
We have just heard of our success at Fort Donelson
which will compensate in a degree for the roanoke disaster.
Everything is quiet here except our pulse. We are blockaded
by rain , snow & mud. we are still in our tents, though
we hope to be out of them by the middle of May, to go with
[---?] I hope you will pray for me frequently
I need the prayers of my friends. I have been blessed
with health. A good many around a shaking with chills
or has chills with fever, or prostrated by pneumonia, while I
am stouter & stronger than I ever was. I weigh over
a hundred and forty pounds now and am still growing .
Our simplified [---?] diet is no doubt the cause of it.
You speak of the distilleries. I tell you they are giving a
good deal of [—?] to the soldiers. If we have a [d--?]
next year where will get corn, The [convention?] should put a stop to it immediately. They should be held responsible
Give my love to all our friends & wish [---?] to your off.
Brother W--