(No 78) Camp of the 23rd Iowa Inft May 26th 1865
  My Dear Wife; We are yet in our beautiful encampment on the banks of the Bay of Mobile & 4 miles below the Citty enjoying the deep dark shades of the Magnolia now in the freshness of its bloom & dark green foliage= But the sparkling waters of ever so fine a day - or the shadow of trees with feathered songsters trilling their songs of love & praise - or walks over green fields - or fruitful vales - well no difference what all - I am not happy not real happy - only in the consciousness of having done my best for my Country & in the prospect of future happiness. I cannot enjoy my self here on suspense after our work is done And then since writing to you I have been having ague. Yes regular ague & fever - I have had four chills & very high fever following - but this is the third day I have missed it & feel quite well & I hope that the ugly customer will let me alone. He has shook me down considerably - I have missed "nary" a term of duty, I went on guard yesterday morning & came off this morn all right. We have nothing definite yet as to the time when we will be mustered out of service, but it is the current opinion that we will go over to N.O. in a few days & pass Grand Review & either be mustered out there or sent to Iowa & there be mustered  We are making out the "Muster out Rolls" so as to be ready when the proper officers come. I have received two letters from you I believe since I wrote to you - Yours of May 3rd & 6th No (24) is the last. I had made up my mind that it would be better for you to remain at Austins & make ready for housekeeping, but after all it is perhaps better for you to teach - the time will pass off more lively & I know you can do the rising Young Americans good if they will try.
