No 10 - Ft Esperanza Texas Dec 18th 1863
  My Dear Wife - Through the blessing of that Providence Who has watched over us & has protected us in all our past lives.  I am enjoying the best of health & pardon me if I say I am happy; I cannot say I am contented.  How could I be really contented away from those I hold so dear:  But we are surrounded even here, on this low barren island which is almost baptized every day by the tide with many blessings.  The greatest trouble with us is the want of mail facilities or rather the long distance from home & the length of time it takes to get mail. To day I received your 3rd letter of Nov 15th - I have received no papers.  I am afraid Mitchel has forgotten his generous promise to send me a club of the "Register".  I see from the tone of your letters that you are not contented, & in fact you are frank to admit that you "are not contented long at any one place".  I know that by my own voluntary act I threw myself & family out uppon the great sea of life "for three years".  But was our country not reeling - staggering - & bleeding under the blow of traitors - Could we fold our arms in our own happy & tranquil home & say "we have no interest in this struggle for nationality?"  No! my dear girl I know that my wife has a heart too big to stand in sight of the topling temple of liberty & see it crumble to dust for want of strong arms - while her husband is capable of wielding the battle axe, And now as the murmering echoes of treason are almost hushed amid the shouts of victory - like the low murmur of the sea after a tempest - I say that now when rebellion is almost dead & when victory is heard on every breeze comes the great danger. We are now like a ship out on a rough & troubled sea, drifting toward the shore - the inexperienced crew look away with glad hearts to the firm land - but see not the breakers that intervene - so with the weather beaten & war scarred soldier.  He in all the innocency of his honest heart looks at the redened field
