Des Moines, Iowa April 20 1863
  Dear Husband,  
When I finished your letter last week I intended to write you again that week & send by Dr. Campbell & Lieut Houston of your regiment, but they started sooner than I had understood they would; my health is very good indeed, I was weighed last week & was a half pound heavier than I was in the winter with all my winter clothes on.  I don't look as fleshy as I did then, but I suppose my flesh is more solid; You see from my date that I am still in Desmoines, we (Mrs. Bansman) & I were up to Mrs. Reichenekers all day last Saturday & in the evening we all went to bible class at Mr. Nash's, I do enjoy the study of the bible so much, I am sorry that I am not more familiar with its contents than I am.  Bro Nash is a very interesting teacher; I believe that I did not write you about the quarterly meeting at Rising Sun a week ago last Sabbath, all of Fathers folk went, their Elder, Rev Mr. Coles was there, I presume you have heard of him, he preached a splendid sermon, I do wish you could have heard it, little too much "politics" mixed up with it to suit some people, particularly "Copperheads".  I could see some shake their heads & look daggers at him, but they had to take it or retreat; in the evening Ezra Rathburn preached a very good sermon & if we had been wise we would have come home when the sermon was over, but we did not so we were compelled to witness a scene that was very disgusting to me & presume that you have witnessed the
