No. "84"  Columbus Texas July 2nd 1865  
My Dear Wife:  We are yet in Columbus and likely to remain here for some time to come.  I have no idea when we will be relieved from duty here, probably not until we are to be mustered out.  I had hoped until shortly before we left Mobile that I might enjoy the coming "Fourth" with you in Des Moine but I am doomed to disappointment - and instead of enjoying society to me so congenial I will have to spend the day as best I can with my comrades, with a people hostile to the free institutions, to the Glorious old banner under which for almost three years we have fought and endured privations and hardships a people scarcely more than semi Civilized, rude and vicious - But we will "hope on, hope ever".  We will better appreciate the blessings of peace and a home when they are ours.  Sometimes I wish I could enter into amusements as other men to it would help pass away time, but when I see the evils consequent upon such a course I am content to keep aloof and as it were - pine away - longing for better days, knowing that they will most surely come.  Since writing to you on the 26th we have buried one of our comrades.  Limen Jorden Co "I" & on Tuesday eve I atended church heard a very good discourse from a stranger passing through from the west - a refugee I think returning to his home, and to day I atended Sabbath School, and at 10 1/2 preaching by a local preacher of this place.  He preached a very good discourse - to a full house, about one half Soldiers (Union) the other half Citizens & Confederates.  I think he is a good man, but acknowledged his embarassment.  He said he had preached to large congregations in his time - but never before under so peculiar circumstances.  He was followed by a large
