When I last wrote to you we were expecting to go up the river to some point in Ark but it seems now that we are to settle down here & pass the present at least in idleness - except so far as picket & a kind of camp or garrison duty is concerned - such a monotonous life don't suit me. I can neither enjoy health or good spirits at it. We have been looking again & again for the paymaster for a month or two but that verry popular individual - when present, has not made his august appearance - & we are in a great straight for means to supply our table - We are drawing our rations now from the Q. M. department.  Hard tack - bacon &c.  There is great complaint among the men on account of their scanty rations.  There is no vegitables to be had - the consequence is that Scurvy is begining to make its appearance - in our Regt.  There have several Regt came up from N. O. & Mobile  They are suffering verry much from this cause - some of the men (of an Indiana Regt) have great sores over their boddies all this is for want of antiscorbuties of any kind whatever.  The mail has Just came in - nothing for me this time what can be the cause!  I see some of the letters are as late as the 6th of sept from Nevada.  I hardly know what to say further.  I am afraid you are sick & not able to write, but you would surely in that case get some one to write for you - I cannot write further at present & the mail will close in an hour.  I will go & see Marion it may be that he has letters from home.  News this morning from Faraguts fleet in Mobile Bay is that the fleet is in line of battle in front of & in range of the Citty - next news we have will either be a surrender or a fight.
