Morganza Bend, La. Sept. 12th 1864

Dear Sister, I received your letter of the 18th of Aug. on the Sixth of September. I Received it At New Orleans As we was Coming here. I Got Another from you on the 9th with your Likeness Enclosed. You thought I should find fault With it. But I dont with the Like Ness but with you for putting the Postage Stamps with it. they stuck Right Across the face And spotted It Like A person thats had the small Pox. you say you had Not had A Letter from me for A week. I Guess you will think they Come fast Enough if you Receive All I Send. I have written to John & Arnold. you may hear the same news over again. We have Eight Cases of small pox in our Regiment. its feared the Reg. is going to be prostrated With it. I hear the Doctor had Reported it unfit for Service. they ought to Lay Still till the Disease is Well has they might Spread it Amongst other troops. It Commenced Amongst the Nigers first And they was allowed to run Amongst us before they was well. you complain of the hot weather. we have it Rather warm. Especially In the Middle of the Day. An other Eleven Months And then We Shall be thinking our three years Is ou;t if we Are Living. We talk About going home Already As its got Down to Months. the time Does Seem Short. we May have A trip Up White River, but I hope we Shall be Down here in winter. When we was Up there before At fort Hindman we had A Snow Storm. its Just Cold Enough to be Cold & Not cold Enough to keep it from being sloppy. We May have A Campaign this fall. But we Cant Do much in winter up there. you must Keep up your spirits. Get your teeth Drawn, And Dont Carry So much false flesh on your Face As you talk About. I haven't heard from Harriet for A long while. I Suppose She has plenty to do with her young one. you must calculate this Letter is An Answer to both of yours As I put An Extra one in sometimes when I Am marching And have No time to write. I can Answer half A dozen As well As One when I have time. I Received Nine Stamps with your Likeness, I was five in Debt. So you See I haven't Many Left. Some of the Boys Says their folks has to give two Stamps for a Letter Sent without one. you Never said Anything to me About it. you had better Send the Stamps Enough then Do that. I wont Borrow Anymore unless its some particular occasion. theres Some talk of us going to get two months pay. I would Rather them Settle Up for the year. I have twenty five Dollars Due me for Clothing for the two years. I hope this Note will find you All well. I Am feeling first rate Again.

From your Brother Joe