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591 Head Quarters 75h Ills Vol Near Nashville Tenn May 2d 1863 Dearest Lydia I have received your letter of April 24" and I see that the hours and days drag wearily by to you and the only thing that sustains you is the thought that it is only four months more to be sure that is only a little while but we think it will not be that long before we will see home of nothing happens The talk is that the 62 troops are to be mustered thirty days every thing indicates that this will be done there is nothing official on the subject yet but our Division Commander is of the opinion and it is the talk in all military circles - I do not like to raise any false hopes but I am so positive of it that I venture to communicate it to you The paymasters with three millions of money are now in Nashville to pay the 4" corps but we
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the report is that they are not going to pay the 62 troops until they are mustered out and if we are to be mustered out in a few weeks I presume this will be the case however we will know in a few days as they begin the payment this week If I knew that in thirty days I should be at home with yu a citizen once more I should be the happiest man in the world Only think of it the war over our last battle is fought our last march is made and we are homeward bound and peace is in the land after three years suffering strife and bloodshed Oh if ever mortals should be thankful it is ourselves who have passed through all this + seen so many fall by our sides while we are saved to return to our loved ones We have a beautiful camp the weather is fine I have enough to do to keep me busy but not too much My health is good + amvery hapy in the prospect of so soon being with my darling wife -this I know cheers you up and although you are annoyed and embarassed in many ways you will meet them bravely hoping that when your good for nothing
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husband returns he will be able to make your duties less burdensome and your path more pleasant I have now something over eleven hundred dollars due me and there will probably another month pass before we are mustered out congress has also voted us three months pay proper which would be one hundred and fifty more if we stay until the war is ^over and if we are discharged before our time is out I cannot see how they can construe it to mean anything but that the war is over I am however owing some but will have enough with the prospects I have to feel pretty independent I have waited to finish this and the mail is already to go + I will write again in a day or two Ever your loving Husband O L French Adjutant 73 Ill Vol
