I was happy to learn that you are enjoying yourself so well at "Cottage Home" & that you esteem my (our) people so much - you have spoken in several of your letters of them  Yes my dear one I can surely commend you to their confidence.  They may not have the polish the world calls refinement - & to the casual observer there may appear to be a lack of gentility you will discover the mettle to be pure - & I am proud of this, there is no bogus aristocracy - This trashy polish paraded everywhere I have seen enough of it - It displays itself especially in the army.  There has but little transpired since my last. except skirmishing with the enemy ocasionally by our mounted scouts, last fryday about 100 of our men went up the bay toward Lavica & had called at a house for dinner, while they were eating the Rebs came on them with a dash & captured five of the number our men took two of theirs, so we had the worst of it in that case, although no one was hurt.  We have verry fine times here.  Yesterday I took three men (of our Co) & went out in a small boat on the bay for oysters, we had rakes for the purpose & took from the beds six or seven bushels - There are acres of them under water from 3 - feet - to - I don't know how deep - I thought while using the rake & bringing up loads of the bivalves of the song of the "Old Virginian" Raking among the oyster beds to me it was but play &c."  You like Oysters don't you?  I know you do.  Well Just immagine great dishes of the critters fresh from the shell - The labor of getting them gave me an apreciative appetite & being in the best of health & high spirits you can Judge whether I did the supper Justice.  They are verry large & fine. real fine fellows.  I wish you could have some of them without having to come to Texas for them
