says that your grapevines have rooted finaly & he will attend to setting them out soon; his own did not take root at all, he got 48 apple trees for me & set them out, but I won't write you any more on that subject as he says that he will write you in a few days, I tried to get them to write so last night to send in my letter, but he told me to tell you that he had been branding stocks & his eyes were so full of dust that he could not hold them open to write, but that he would write in two or three days:  The other day just as I was starting to town Father called me into the bedroom with a mysterious look & quietly to a sheet of paper out of his trunk on which Cy had been trying his best to write you a letter, he had made a very good beginning but had written but two or three lines before he stalled & could go no farther, he said he wanted me to see it before I wrote to you again so that I could tell you that it was not because he did not want to write but because he thought he could not write.  Father feels badly about Cys not writing to you & wanted to make all excuses for him that he can he is doing first rate now, Austin said the other day that Cy worked like a man; I am so glad & I know that you will.  We had a stranger come to our house last Monday the 6th, a rival for the 2nd Lieutenancey, a fine big boy, a ten pounder, Ellison came home just two days after it did is very much pleased to have a son; the 6th Cav passed through Desmoines last Thursday, we had all intended to go up to Mrs Epsons to see them as they passed, but David E. said that they intended to stop at the barracks a day or two & we thought it would be  more interesting to go & see them on dress parade, but they did not stop at Desmoines but went on 4 miles the other side & camped on Walnut, Ellison went up to the regiment yesterday to learn when they would go on, he came home late yesterday evening & had to leave very early this morning, he started this morning before any one was up, they are going to Sioux City & from this away up into the Indian country, Ellison don't seem to like the idea of turning his back on the rebels he makes a fine looking officer he had a sword presented him by his company which he says is the finest in the regiment.  I am delighted at the prospect of your promotion.  I do think that you deserve it & I shall look with intrest for news from you, I shall not say any thing about it to any one, & anything that you wish to write confidentially, will be safe with me, & I don't you need fear that it will fall into other hands, I receive all your letters, Strains folks say that they don't get half of Davids letters he is some where near Vicksburg, I presume it is because the are not directed plainly; I will send you a Tribune perhaps you will get it sometime it has a speech by Gerrett Smith & some editorial that I should like you to read; I suppose before this reaches you, you will have received my picture write me whether you think it a good one my health is quite good, I don't think that I am quite so hearty as I was in the winter, I have to work rather hard for my health, I came up here to rest a little while & saw a some, I am going up to Desmoines next week, and stay all the week and perhaps longer, since Libbie has been sick we believe had more work than ever, they named their boy Edward Garrett,  Ellen Strain is waiting to take this to the office so I must close, I will write soon again  good bye dear husband, all well at Fathers, again good by may God shield you in the day of battle is the prayer of your  Mary
