No 40  Des Moines, Iowa; Saturday Morning May 23rd /63  
Dear Husband, I have just received yours of the 4th, 5th & 8th, you may be sure that I was rejoiced, just to think that my husband has been in a battle; My dear Lyle I do look on it as providential that you escaped when your comrade by your side was killed, O! I so thankful that you escaped; I feel that is a direct answer to prayer that you are preserved; but I am constantly anxious for you; I see by this mornings paper that Grants army have had another battle at Jackson Miss., and were victorious, you say that your division was left as provost guard, but with the order that you were to be ready to march at a moments notice, and consequently it is very probably that you were there; my dear husband I feel that if I did not know you were a Christian that I would be almost crazy about you; you know now and feel in your heart that there is a reality in religion I did not go to the country when I expected, I felt so anxious to hear from you and my eyes were so sore and I am doctoring them with Homeopathic treatment that I thought it best to stay; I am going out this afternoon for I know that they will be very anxious to know of your safety; my eyes are much better, but I fear that they will be well enough to go to my school next week, they are so much better that they do not pain me at all, but are very weak, you see by this scribbly that I do not see very
