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Ironton Feb 21st 1863
Saturday evening
My Dearest Wife,
I wrote you a very short letter to let you know how I got along
ect. (sic) I came to town this morning after I wrote to you, and
have been here all day. I have had my hair and whiskers trimmed,
bought some socks, claimed(?) some shoes, and filled myself with
apples, bread and milk and other things too numerous to mention. Geo
Goddard, Serg't (sic) Barnes and I are staying with an old friend of
ours and will stay all night. It seim (sic) seems
curious to sit at a table and eat. Oh how I wish I could be with you
once more and enjoy your company again, but it cannot be at present.
We shall start in a day or two across the country to St. Geneviene,
fifty miles from here and from there will probably go to Vicksburg.
You must not worry about me. The same power that has protected me so
far will still protect me. As for me I wish to go where there is
more fighting, and less marching. I have had enough of the latter.
One last march from Van Buren to Stein(?), from Stein(?) back to Van
Buren and then back to West Plains, and from there here has been the
hardest of the war. It is true I suffered more last summer some
days, but I have endured(?) more since I left VB than in all the
rest of my life. (Note . perhaps this reflects that Grant was
getting his men into marching shape prior to moving south of
Vicksburg to start the operation there.) It rained or snowed as
often as every third day while we were out and we had to poke along
through the mud day after day at the average rate of fifteen miles
per day. Since the 14th of Jan we have marched over 400
miles, slept sometimes without tents, and marched some days without
rations and at the same time carried 40 lbs on our backs. I have
worn out three pairs of shoes in that time and a part of the time my
feet have had nothing between them and the rough stones. I do not
tell you all this to make you feel bad but to show you what I can
(and am willing to) endure for my country. I am glad you feel as I
do about my having to come to war as I did. I think it will be an
everlasting disgrace to those who have to be conscripted if it has
not already. I never enjoyed better health than I have for the last
six weeks, and as long as I am well I shall not think of trying to
get discharged. You must excuse this very short and uninteresting
letter this time for I must yet write to Mary, Jeanette(?)
Erastis(?), Bill and Mell, to night With much love I remain your aff
husband
John M. Follett
I sent you $10.00 by Express (sic) today.
Direct to Co. H, 33rd regt via Cairo
Hortense
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