No 39 Des Moines, Iowa Thursday Morn May 21st /63  
Dear Husband  You will be surprised to see my letter dated at Desmoines; I went to my school on Monday and taught that day, but my eyes were so sore that I was obliged to dismiss for this week; they are a little better this morning; but I have not heard from you since yours of the 25th of April, and you must know that I am very anxious, as I see from the location of several of the battles that have been fought on the lower Mississippi that your regiment must have been engaged in two or three; O! I feel like I cant stand it another week; you see by the writing that I cant see very well, and you will excuse this short note, as I cant write but a little at a time, and indeed ought not to write any, but I will try to write to you if it does injure my eyes, for I know that it must do you a great deal of good to get letters from home; my health is good, all my trouble is about you my dear husband, I fear that my eyes wont improve much till I know you are safe; I saw Father Mother and Mary Jane last Sunday, I think I shall go out to Fathers Saturday I would have been there now but I thought I could doctor my eyes better here and could wait for war news and letters; My dear husband you are not out
