Morganza La. August the 6th/64 My Dear Elizabeth yours of the 15th of July is at hand last mail hurah 2 letters for me one from Elvirah Ashby She said her & litle Mack was well & was looking for Jo home evry day he was wounded in the thie at the late fight before Atlanta slitly he is abel to walk abut she said that the gurillers had hung Davey Groves ( such as that maks my hart fluter ) I am sirtain to fight them every chance you say that you are atempted to scold me a litle for not writing not a weak passes now a days with out me writing 2 or 3 letters & in a comon way I write 2 to where I get one tel Martha that it is as much as I can do to get as confiscate as much milk & buter as I can eat when I am out the donation that Eliza speaks of I do not understand did I write home any thing about it let me know - again Frank Moris is mistaken about me geting it in your letter about the corn another letter lade off on our sholders Frank & me is pertickular frends his head was fused tho & I think juging from Shawneetown occurances that he lacks a litle in the uper story which his father must take in conciderations I shal write Mr Moris a letter asking him to forgive you of a sin that you did not commit [written upside down across the top of the page] Frank Moris is going to rectify that mistake he says it was not in my letter [continuing with the main letter] you grumbel a goodeal about your writing & you are looking for me to scold you for your scribling I can give you a remedy for your bad writing not with standing I can read your letters but if you want to write nice & prity & not make K's in the plase of H's & in fact learn to be a thrue person you must practis more for practis makes perfect & then in the plase of you listening to here of me grumbling for geting to many letter you will receive may harty thanks for your many kind letters letters are in good demand now down south I never sean a soldier get half as many as he wanted so send on your letter & you shal receive in return a soldiers complaments The talk of an atack has died out & all is quiet again = I am in beter helth than common the wether is mild (that is reasonable but) river low no news of importance = our duty is not so hard now & what is not on picket is lazly laying around camp last night we had a litle gust of wind but no rain & Morganza is a dusty & dry plase watermellons & ice & other nurishments is plenty my horse is as fat & slick as a mole & he is the pritest litle horse you ever sean his name is ball he knows me from any person else tel George to learn fast & you must all do the best you can & try and be agreable til I get home do not talk to much & try & get along without neighberhood quarls remember me give my love to bety & Eliza Martha Mack Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723