I hope I will be Col. or anyhow Maj. of the Reg before the three years is out, if I am
so unfortunate as to have to stay that long. But if I ever should be, I never expect to
see the end of the three years if the war continues that long. I have been in nearly
two years, and I do not believe a man can live through a five years war. Still I am
in good spirits, and am not sorry that I came into the negro Reg, although they may
get me and hang me, still I would say I did [it] in a good cause. But I hope for better
things, and oh how I long to get home and live with my family and father, brothers and
sisters. I read a paper (Democrat) dated the 21 of May from Leander today. It is the
first late paper I have seen for a long time. It was rather a curiosity in camp. All the
officers borrowed it from Col. down. Tell Lee to do it again. We have not drawn clothing
yet. Our Quarter Master went to Memphis some time ago, and we are looking for him every
day. We have drawn nothing but good second class guns and plenty of cartridges, and
God grant that we may never have to use them. Your last letter said May had returned.
