"My Dear Wife..." Letters from a Civil War Soldier

Transcript

Fort Saint Leron, Camp Kenyon, Department of the Gulf, New Orleans, La., Feb. 22nd, 1864

My Dear Wife,

I now take my pen in hand to address you with these few lines, to let you know that I am quite sick at present with the fever and ague(1). I was taken about 3 o’clock in the afternoon of the 21st Feby., and I was so weak that I could scarcely walk across the floor; and I wish that you could make it convenient for me to come home and recruit up again. Tell Sissy that her Poppy has got the fever and ague. It is sometimes very hot here and sometimes very cool, especially nights and mornings. I shed a great many tears when I was taken, thinking about you; but still God has remembered mercy.

All of the boys from this way send you their best respects. There is a great time in New Orleans today on Washington’s birthday. We left Dutchs Island a month ago today. There are a couple of ladies that Ihave been selling cakes for. There is a lady [who] made me a present of some eggs and made me a cup of tea and I hardly knew what to say. There is a good many of the boys that come over to see me and that helps me a good deal. I want you to please not forget your likeness and tell Mary that she need not be afraid of her likeness frightening me, according to her statement. And I am a great deal fleshier since I have been in the quartermaster’s department, as I weigh about 10 pounds heavier. The passage affected Uncle Alfred Seymore(2) and his son James(3) very much.

A young Creole lady me me a present of three eggs and the old lady or mother made a good cup of tea which I think will do me much good. I think it is rather a bad thing for me to eat eggs. but the young lady brought them and would have me eat them. I have enjoyed good health ever since I was sick on Dutch Island until now, but God has seen fit to lay the hand of affliction upon me, yet I can rejoice in the God and rock of my soul salvation. If I never see you no more on earth, I hope I shall meet you in heaven.

I think the same as you think in regard to petting as I have no one to pet me. I cannot find no fault with the women around here as I am in as big quarters as the generals.

We have a minister out here by the name of George Mitchell(4) but not Silas Mitchell(5). Elisha(6) has got quite smart since he has been on land, as he was quite sick on the water. Old miser lays in the bed but Benjamin(7) goes out and sells cakes for me. I have not received a red cent of our monthly pay yet(8) and I don’t know when we will.

We caught four rebels just here about, as far as from your house to David’s(9) and they had the camp all drawn off on a piece of paper with the tents and guards and all. They were caught by the provost marshall of this place. We are close by the Mississippi River, a good sweet steam of fresh water purified by thecarcass of dead animals of all kinds; but I don’t drink the water, as I drink out of the doctors’ spring, a well dug about four feet in the ground of clear running water. I just drank some tea that the ladies brought down for me, the ladies of New Orleans, and this fort thinks a good deal of me. I don’t how it is I have a plenty of cartridges by my head; but they would not tell me a thing if the rebels were here, as I should get up and burn the ground. I offered to pay those ladies for their service but they would not take it.

When I do come home, I think that I shall be a good deal like Tom Plump. You and Sis will scatter like mice.

I, Benjamin Barker(10), intend to be Simeon’s nurse and will do all I can to restore his health and all I ask in return is your prayers and the pleasure of sitting beside you on the sofa that I asked you to get home.

No more at present but remain your true and affectionate husband,

Simeon A. Tierce

Write soon to this camp as it is head on the top.