David S. Morgan, Letter #10

November 30, 1862
Memphis, TN

At Memphis West Tennessee Sunday nite Nov the 30th 1862

Dear Wife

I seat my self to nite at the table in the cabin of the Boat to let you no that I am in good health for which I thank god I hope this will reach and find all in good health and fine spirits We got here at sunset tonite We have had a long an tedious trip We have ben on Bord 2 weeks I havent herd a word ftom you since I left the gap Since that time we have traveled about 15 hundred miles I am now 800 miles from home Memphis looks quite natural I can inform you that on our arivel here I met Bruther Hauck at the landing and was glad to see him he is ward master in the hospital here We talked together till after dark he seys he will visit us in the morning again he seys he expects to start home next week if he comes home he can tell you how the old 49th looks Now I cant give you much news at this time as we have just come here it is liklely we will stay here some time though I cant tell I dont no whether we will take a land march from here or go down on a fleet thare is lots of troops coming down in here thare is a battle expected at holly springs that is 40 miles from here We may have to go out thare I can tell you more about these things in my next letter I only rite this to let you no that I got through I had the blews verry bad as I passed down so clost home but I am getting over them now I expect to fight her through or die god being my help W left cairo nite before last it was snowing but this has ben a mild day it is raining some here this eavning the climate is more mild here than it is in indiana We will leave these boats tomorrow I recon and go in camp some where about here Thare is a gun Boat ankored out in the River here with 8 canons looking out at the port holes it looks Wolfish I think as soon as the river raises our troops will make a move on Vikburgh Now I expect to help do some fighting down here I may fall god only nowes I am trying to live a Christian Sometimes I feel like god is ging to spare my life to see my home again But dangers stands thick through all the land to push me to the tomb and fierce diseases wait around to hurry mortals home 2 of our Regt was drowned coming down one died we stoped yester and buried him in the sandy bottom opposite island No 14 in tennessee we fired a few shots over him and left him to molder in the sand this has ben a day of meditation with me I took my seat high on herican deck and red several beutiful psalms and looked over the father of waters and fertile bottoms instead of the cotton as it ust to be it is corn I oley saw 1 cotton field today so enough on that Now Rachel when you get this I shal expect an ancer with all the Back and present news I understand we have a big mail here I may get a letter from you tomorrow I hope so at least tell father Mack to be shure to rite me a letter and Brother Mickler John Ellis and all my old friends if tha consider me worthy Direct to the Memphis Tenn 49 Regt Ind Vol care of Capt charles and think it will be shure to find us Now Rachel if I never see you again try to raise the Boys religous and for the union

Yours as ever
D.S. Morgan to Rachel Morgan

* Note: As always, I do not correct the spelling or change the text.

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