No 31  
Morganza La  June 10th 1864
  My Dear Wife:  Although I have not received a letter from you since I wrote last, & there was a small mail to day I will write to you any way.  I have read your last letters over 3-4 times & to day I read your verry last one again.  O my dear wife such a good letter as it is if it was redated it would to to read once a week & the sentiment and devotion it exhibits all the way through is good at all times.  This last letter has if posible increased my esteem & devotion to one aready as dear to me as life itself - What would life be to a broken down & war-worn soldier even amid the songs of Jubilee borne on the breeze by the noise of the thousands of hearts made happy by the sweep of our arms - if the kindly, heart of those we love does not beat in response to our efforts.  But I look forward to that happy day with the brightest anticipation.  I know that the warm & devoted heart of my wife beats in unison with my own on the great question of the day & that her prayers have followed me amid all the dangers of the camp & field and that when the din of war shall be hushed & the dust of battle shall have been shaken off - her arms will be stretched out to receive & cheer the heart of one who sometimes - will in spite of all considerations - notwithstanding a preponderanting characteristic of hope - building castles in the air &c.  Well I know sometimes I do see too many bright sides to "the question" but never mind - you'l see - things go if we
