1863 Dec 17
Thunderbolt Battery
December 17, 1863
My dear Companion,
I received two letters from you.
I am in good health, hoping that these lines may reach and find you well and also Mollie, too, also the rest of the connection.
I eat a fine dinner today.
My tobacco came safe. I want you to take all the tobacco Wash has got. I will send you money as salt to pay for it. And if I send salt, I want you to speculate on it. Write me word what salt is worth in your next letter. If I can make it pay, I will buy it and send home. It is worth 20 dollars per bushel to get it home.
I have not drawn any money yet, but will in a few days. I will draw another cap, pants, shirt, and drawers and coat and maybe shoes. I will send these home the first chance I have, once I got them, but Captain Martin has got them in his tent, so I know I’ll get them. I have got as many clothes here as I ought to keep. If you can get mine wove, do not cut it out yet awhile. Maybe it will be best to sell the clothes at 10 or 20 dollars per yard and pay debts.
The old man Brooks has shit and dabbled in it, ain’t he? It is about like I expected. He can no longer claim the friendship of good men, but she is as good as he is.
If Tom comes down here, I will have the chance to send some things home by him. I want to get Pa some oysters to send if I can.
I am glad to hear that John Pat got home at last.
Jim Harden will be taken if he stays until after Christmas.
It is raining now very hard. We have very hard weather here but we have comfortable winter quarters to stay in.
If I get sick, I will try to get up the country to a hospital. You must send to Zebulon and get your salt sent. Let nothing slip that is worth anything at all. It is worth 12 dollars at least.
I wish I could see my little girl. I think she ought to be going to school where she could get some whipping. I want to see my baby very bad. The first chance I get, I will come home.
Tell Sammy that Lieutenant Johnson is in Griffin and, if he or Wash has to go, if they will see him, he will do all he can to get them to this company.
Those that can hear good can hear the cannon at Charleston plain. Sometimes they fire every second for three or four hours at a time.
Sometimes they talk like there will be a fight here, but I can’t tell. It may and it may not.
We had General Review yesterday in Savannah. I stood the march finely and Colonel Gordon treated the Regiment. Some of the boys got tight. They say we have to go once a week to town for brigade drill and it is equal to seventeen miles march.
I will stop for tonight. May the Lord be with you the one night and forever.
W. H. H.
Good morning.
December 18.
I am well this morning and my good breakfast makes me feel happy to know that I have one at home who cares for my welfare.
I drew one pant, one shirt and drawers last night. I will send some home by Mrs. Orear, if not sooner.
So, I will close.
Yours, etc.
William H. Harden