Morganza, Louisiana August the 23rd/64 My Dearest Elizabeth once more I am permited to drop you a few lines in answer to yours of Aug the 4th which came to hand yesterday you said that you had just received 2 letters from me & one a love letter some times when I feal like writing I can write beter & I beleave you can two for some times your letters have a mery tone while at others they have a fretful aperance & I presume that I am subject to the same defects yours of the 4th had a lovly aperance & realy it is a sweet letter & deserves more prase than I can be abel to give it now owing to inabilitys I have nothing interesting to communicate to you to day more than comon things I have not binout eaven as far as the picket line for 2 weaks being on other duty in place of picket to day I was at the boat landing unloading a boat load of hay as that is 10 days forage for our horses I did not have to work more than two hours tho one of my eys hurts to day it is a litle sore a bug flew in it when I was going to water my horse & made it soar my horse is as fat as a buter ball & he looks nice sometimes when I get on him he kicks & rares up with me & makes out lik he feals his oats ( beter off than I am ) Twelve months from the 13th day of this month we are to be musterd out of servis of the No 1 John Clark has come up here talking about going home to vote for president bare footed & with one gallis[?] & I told him to get to his quaters & not talk to me about going home to vote he is as talky as ever I do not think that the 87th is going to veterans much we are all anksious to be free once more thare is no talk of leaving here soon I would not move that fence in much for George Michel crowds the monky thare any how to much tel Bety if she taks that land that I want 10 acres of it leaving her 40 acres & she may live in the house as long as it lasts I wil pay my equal part all payments I received a letter from George Carey the other day thare is about 15000 troops here & they are stoping all steamboats coming down the river now & that looks like an expidition was on foot probely to Mobeal I do not think tho that we will go if thare is for they have to keep some cavelry here & there is not much here now Col Crebs has bin detaild from us he is at N. Orleans on duty thare at the camp of instruction some think that we are going to the city as to Natchez but shaw this plase is good anough for me = I am well & harty hoping that this may find you well & now my Honey I have no more to tel you only for you to remember me & you must do by the farm as you think best or proper I am aware that my complyments are of a cold natur but it is for the want of words to express my feelings & not but what my fealings are of the depest kind I would eaven trust my life in you hands beleaving that you would preserve it Lizzie your charge is heavy this year & you must bare up under it with soldierly fortitude & ever remember to do your duty at all haserds let cuts go as they will & now good by I am yours truly the gurilers thought that Davey Groves was dead but he come to life again as I learnd to day from pater they went in Ashlysburg & took 3000 dollars worth of goods good good good good I wish they had taken old hare & hung him I am yours truly til deth M A Hooker to Elizzie Jane Hooker M A Hooker Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723