Helena Arkansas May the 14 1865 My Dearest Elizabeth I seat my self to inform you that I am well hopeing this may finde wou well All is still in Camp to day nothing is going on of importance atall. Pickets do not stay out of a day time now only of a night The river has fell so as to leave us on dry land once more and renders our Boats a nuisance; Some of the boys try to amuse them selves by fishing some by hunting tho all very much desires to go home and every news paper is caught to see if it contains and order to muster us out but all in vain Uncle Sam got us cheep and he wishes to retain us I see that it is stated that there is an order to muster out all the one years men. Tho I have not seen the order and of corse do not know that it is so but hope not for some one has to stay to finish this war and if they go back home then of corse we have to stay but as there is no justice in it I do not think that it is true I see it stated in the St. Louis papers of the 12th that there is an order to muster all soldiers out whoes Term of Servis expires prior to Oct 31 1865 if so we come in but we wish to see the order its self then we will beleave not till then Whether we will get home leave our time is out is a mater of hand as yet and a thousand rumors is aflote concerning it. The {Charitys?] do not take steps so as to make us able to gess eaven they are waiting for the Army of the Potomac and James and Sherman to get to Washington and the some dessden[?] steps concerning the reorganizing the Army will take place Boys never was more desirous of coming home than we are but if they think we have not stade long enough we will stay 3 or 4 months longer 3 months from tomorrow our time is out A scout went out 50 milds and found only 3 rebels they brot them in. You must excuse me now for writing for I cant write to day my mind is musttee So I must close I have said all that is worth saying and I will write again on the receipt of yours next I am as ever yours M A Hooker Patrick J. Anderson http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=patanderson 9654 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20723