And now my precious wife what anxious days & nights I will pass from this time on for I expect that communication will be cut off for a while at least.  there will be a mail or two from Rolla & then it is thought that our next mail will come down the Mississippi & up White River or possibly Arkansas   I know that you will feel a good deal of anxiety about me for it will be imposible for you to hear from me as regularly as you have done, but you must keep in good spirits & I will try to do likewise.  We feel ourselves able to carry on the war in Arkansas successfully if we are let alone but how discouraging is the reports from all or nearly all parts of the north.  that the traitors are saucy & impudent . & some states refusing to give us any more men or money to carry on the war.  Why not rush the matter through & be done with it & let us go home to our families.  O! the though of home & family!  I feel as though I could sacrifice almost every thing but my country & my honor to be again with my family at home.
