Morganza, Louisiana    
                                       December 17th, 1864
Dear Mary,
                  It affords me a great deal of pleasure
to again have the pleasure of informing you of my
continued good health, hoping that you & the dear
children are enjoying the same inestimable blessing.
Since writing to you last, as I then wrote you that
I should probably do, I have been to New Orleans.
I left here on Tuesday last & returned on yesterday. My
visit did not avail anything.  I was unable to get my
pay & could get no assurance that they would be able to
do so anyways shortly.  On my return to this place, I
found the Regiment absent on an expedition.  They were
gone 2 days, returning after night last night.  They came
back last night, loaded down with chickens, geese, turkeys
ducks, hogs, cattle, sugar, molasses &   The hospital atten=
dants brought back with them, 2 doz. chickens, 2 hogs, 2 turkeys
& several geese & ducks.  I will probably not leave here for
home for some 2 or 3 days.  I did intend starting today,
but there will be some 3 or 4 of our officers (who will be mus-
tered out under the consolidation,) going up in the course of
2 or 3 days, & they are anxious that I should remain & go
along with them.  I am anxious to be along with them when
they are paid off, as some of them are owing me money.  & if
I do not get it now, I may never do so.  We will have to
go to Indianapolis to get our money, so that it will probably
be along about the 1st days in January before I reach home.