Pittsburg Landing, April 19th, 1862Dear Sarah,
Again I have undertaken to write you a letter and I have nothing to write, not even anything that will interest you. I sent four or five letters home by James McKee. So if I had anything to write, it is in them. I do not think uncle Jimmy enjoyed his visit much. He was not satisfied till he got started home. It is strange men cannot stay away from home one week without getting home sick. Mr.Fletcher is here and I believe he came calculating to stay and correspond for some paper, but he says he can't stand soldiering, thinks it would kill him in a few days, and I believe he is going home today or tomorrow. He is rather a clever fellow and I was even glad to see him, a man I never had seen before and scarcely even heard of him before, but I am glad to see anyone that can tell me anything about my dear home. He is a poor judge of human nature and believes too much. He speaks well of my folks and especially you and Rebecca. He told me about taking tea with you, said it was the best supper he had eat in the state, but I understand flattering talk, if I am nothing but a soldier. I do not think he is very sharp, but as sharp looking as the reporters generally look. I have not had a letter from any of you that was written since the fight. I am very anxious to hear form you. Three mails have come lately, but no letters for me, Hugh, or Silas, and I never missed getting letters every mail before. I could hardly stand it. I suppose you was very anxious to hear from me after you heard of the fight. But McKee said you had not heard a word from me or any of us when he left. I know it is not my fault, for I have wrote to everyone of you since the fight, and twice to part of you. I have wrote anyhow ten letters to Centralia since the fight. I see hundreds of citizens from Illinois here since we had the skirmish, but no dear friends have visited me. But you know I did not look for any of you, so I was not
©2006 C.S. Parkinson