David S. Morgan, Letter #13

Vicksburg
June 13,1863
Hospital in the rear of Vicksburg

Dear Wife and Children

I seat my self in the shade the beautiful Saturday eavning to answer your most welcom which came to hand day before yesterday bearing date of June 2nd 9 days from the time it was miled I received it I was glad to heare from you again through the mercies of god I am well hoping this will reach you and find you all enjoying the same like blesings I am still waiting on my wounded friend Jack Keynon as I have rote before I would answer your letter sooner but I had just started Father Decker a letter I shall not give you much war news in this letter for I am tired of writing about the war you stated in our letter that you had a great hail storm on the last of May that was a clear day here I was glad to heare that your oxens looked well and that you had such nice young pigs I think you have old apples enough about you to raise plenty of hoggs you said your cow had a fine young calf and if I would come home you would give me some cornbread and milk just bring your milk and bread over if you want it eat and I will swap you coffee for it you stated that your old mare was about fail Well she has lived to a good old age if she wants to die just let her die But if you have to by another dont do like me by one that someboddy else has worn out so enough on that I must stop and read 2 letters that has just come I have read them one from S B Morgan dated May the 2nd he was well the other from W.A. Mack same date he was --- all to his throat Now Rachel I lay down after dinner today I went to sleep I dreamed I was verry thirsty for water I thought I went to a cistern nearby but nothing to drink out of But who comes by but you and Mary Goss you watered me and I passed on I awoke and was verry dry I got up and went to the cistern but no Rachel or Mary thare I often dream of you and the children in my slumbering hours Now Rachel you stated in your letter that the last letter you got from me was April the 20th The next letter I started was wrote on the 6th of May and started the 10th giving you a full history of our bombardment at grand gulf on the 29th of April and our hard fight at timsons hill near Port gibson on the 1st of May the next letter I wrote was near Raymond Miss on the 15th of May I have wrote often since that time I get your letters thare is some talk here that our mail dont pass Cairo till this fight is over -- if they dont I guess you will get a big pile when they do go But I hope that is not the case the fight still goes on here this the 25 day of the fight thare hasnt been as much firing yesterday and today as common I stood yesterday and watched one of our big guns shooting at a fort when the shell would hit the fort I could see the dirt bile up over 75 feet high I must close and help carry up the wounded boys supper Now I taken a hearty supper of bacon crackers and coffee I proceede to write Now Rachel this beautiftil Saturday eavning makes me feel lonsome I cant keep from thinking of the times that we heve gathered up our beloved children and went to Father Macks or Brother Micklers or Deckers to stay all nite But alas how different this eavning We are separated by a distance of a thousand miles and I am bound ---- under military authority But I have a hope of rejoining you at home again But my hope is mingled with fear but let us try to make shure Work for heaven Now my dear companion remember that ever nite your unworthy husband prays for you and the children last eavning after reading in my beautiful testament till dark I entered into thick cane break nearby and while I prayed for myself and dear family and class mates and country the tears streamed from my eyes thank god for the comforts of religion in time of trial the sheet is full and it is time to close for the nite

David S. Morgan to Rachel Morgan

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

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