He looks at a daguerreotype of Sarah and misses her and the family. The are commended by the colonel and to expect an attack.
Bayou Lafourch L.A.
March 12th 1863
My Dear Wife the letters for the mail steamer leave here on saturday and I thought I might as well write 4 more pages to you as not so here goes.
I have just been looking at your Daguerotype and I can well remember the likeness of all the pictures. you my dear wife look in your picture the same about as I remember you expect I think it makes you look thinner. my dear I laid down to night after supper because I had rather be by myself where I could think of you and the children rather than listen to the boisterous merriement of the soldiers. you know dear how sweet it is in ones thoughts to commune with those we love even if we are at a distance. I like to lie and imagine what you and the children are doing. I suppose that by this time that you have got the children to bed unless they are sick and I hope they are not. you spoke of Katies being sick, I hope it will not prove anything serious. I tremble to think that it is any time within the possible that we may not all meet again but I hope the good god who has watched over so far will not desert us now.
we think the Box has arrived at N. Orleans but we have not received it yet. I think that I shall write more tommorrow after the cars come in from New Orleans about whether we get the Box or not. it is now tattoo time and I have got to go out and fife.
Well my dear the Tattoo is over and I will write some more yet. the Colonel complimented our Co & Co I for turning out so promptly night before last. so far we have escaped without an actual attack but the Col. thinks that we are liable to an attack any night and we have increased our guard so as to be prepared for them.
my dear wife it is most 9 o'clock and I suppose if I was home that I should be tired so as to wish to go to bed.
