Carrollton, La., August 17, 1863

I received your letter a few days before we left Vicksburg for this place and would have answered had we not been on the move. We left Vicksburg last Thursday on board the steamer John Raine for down the river. Saturday night found us at Carrollton six miles above the great Crescent City in sight of its Majestic spires and with railroad trains plying between here and there every hour and for the small sum of one dime you or any other man can be placed in the heart of the great city of New Orleans. We came off the boat yesterday evening and out here to a beautiful green, but low sod as nice a place as one could wish for a summer camp if we had shade trees. This, the great distance to bring water and wood which will all have to be hauled are the drawbacks. There is not a shade tree in sight. The health of the boys is not as good as it might be. Ike McCullough is sick, John Stimmel is not well, Jon't Williams still complains, Newt Gorsuch has gone home on furlough and Robertson on sick leave, so you see I am the only well one left in the mess. There are but four of us in our tent and if the rest were only well we would have the gayest kind of times. We will not always all be sick I hope. I am well enough.

I like to hear you are so well pleased with your place and give me such a glowing account of your employer and his family. I did not know the Martin family I believe. You say you live near Mr. Robertson's are you on the road from Anderson's schoolhouse to Fredricksburg? I guess the cooper trade is a good one but is very hard work, straining on the back and shoulders as you are always working in hard wood. Can you stand it -- think? I would not like to advise you for I don't know. The apprentice you speak of did as well as one could wish; what are your cooper's wages? What does Mr. Martin's brother-in-law offer you for this winter? Weigh both chances well.

I received and answered the letter you wrote me about the first of April containing the eight postage stamps, but the perpetual diary you started never came through. I hear Jehial Killgore was dead, that he died while in Jackson prison and was surprised to hear he was at home. Give him my best wishes. Give my best respects to Mr. Killgore and his family and to all inquiring friends, ladies especially, Love to Uncle Sheiley's and tell them I have not heard from any of them for a long time nor have I had letters from Virg., Homer or Maria since we went into Mississippi although I have written to them all and twice to Ria since I heard from them. Tell Tid to remind them that no cannon ball has knocked my head off yet and a letter from him would not be thrown away without reading.