Providence Lake, Louisiana, Carroll Parish.
Feb. 24th, 1863Sarah Ann,
Yesterday I had the pleasure of getting a letter from you. The first I have had from you for a few days. I believe it was written the 15th. You said you had just received a letter from me written the 1st, the first you had from me for three weeks. My letters do not all go that I write. About that time I did not write to anyone as often as I usually do on account of us moving so often, and being on the boat so long. Generally I write to you twice or three times a week. I have written to you, Zetty, James, Leander, and Rebecca in the last several days. Occasionally, I receive a letter from Leander, but very seldom receive any from James, Rebecca or Kate. Baltzell got a letter from James, said Hugh and Reb had just returned from Salem, and Hugh no better. I was in hopes his visit to Salem and the ride would help him. You spoke of me writing rather severe to you about your writing. It was far from being my intention to hurt your feelings, and I hope nothing I write will ever make you think I aim to do so. I wrote as I did because I wanted you to improve the writing in your letters. I could scarcely read some of them. You say in your letter you and the Society is going to have a supper at the hotel and the proceeds of the supper is to be appropriated to the benefit of the soldiers. You say some poor soldier will get the benefit of it. I think it damned doubtful unless you give it to a deserter from some new Reg as he passes through Centralia.
©2006 C.S. Parkinson