Vicksburg
June 13,1863
	Hospital in the rear of Vicksburg June the 13th

Dear Wife and Children
	I seat my self in the shade the beautiful Saturday eavning to answer your most welcom 
which came to hand day before yesterday bearing date of June 2nd  9 days from the time it was 
miled I received it  I was glad to heare from you again  through the mercies of god I am well  
hoping this will reach you and find you all enjoying the same like blesings  I am still waiting on 
my wounded friend Jack Keynon as I have rote before  I would answer your letter sooner but 
I had just started Father Decker a letter  I shall not give you much war news in this letter for I 
am tired of writing about the war  you stated in our letter that you had a great hail storm on the 
last of May  that was a clear day here  I was glad to heare that your oxens looked well and that 
you had such nice young pigs  I think you have old apples enough about you to raise plenty of 
hoggs  you said your cow had a fine young calf and if I would come home you would give me 
some cornbread and milk  just bring your milk and bread over if you want it eat and I will swap 
you coffee for it  you stated that your old mare was about fail  Well she has lived to a good old 
age  if she wants to die just let her die  But if you have to by another dont do like me  by one that 
someboddy else has worn out  so enough on that  I must stop and read 2 letters that has just come  
I have read them  one from S B Morgan dated May the 2nd  he was well  the other from 
W.A. Mack same date  he was --- all to his throat  Now Rachel I lay down after dinner today  
I went to sleep  I dreamed I was verry thirsty for water  I thought I went to a cistern nearby but 
nothing to drink out of  But who comes by but you and Mary Goss  you watered me and I passed 
on  I awoke and was verry dry  I got up and went to the cistern but no Rachel or Mary thare  I 
often dream of you and the children in my slumbering hours  Now Rachel you stated in your letter 
that the last letter you got from me was April the 20th  The next letter I started was wrote on the 
6th of May and started the 10th giving you a full history of our bombardment at grand gulf on the 
29th of April and our hard fight at timsons hill near Port gibson on the 1st of May  the next letter 
I wrote was near Raymond Miss on the 15th of May  I have wrote often since that time  I get 
your letters  thare is some talk here that our mail dont pass Cairo till this fight is over -- if they dont 
I guess you will get a big pile when they do go  But I hope that is not the case  the fight still goes 
on here this the 25 day of the fight  thare hasnt been as much firing yesterday and today as common  
I stood yesterday and watched one of our big guns shooting at a fort  when the shell would hit the 
fort I could see the dirt bile up over 75 feet high  I must close and help carry up the wounded boys 
supper  Now I taken a hearty supper of bacon crackers and coffee  I proceede to write  Now 
Rachel this beautiftil Saturday eavning makes me feel lonsome  I cant keep from thinking of the 
times that we heve gathered up our beloved children and went to Father Macks or Brother Micklers 
or Deckers to stay all nite  But alas how different this eavning  We are separated by a distance of a 
thousand miles and I am bound ---- under military authority  But I have a hope of rejoining you at 
home again  But my hope is mingled with fear  but let us try to make shure  Work for heaven  Now 
my dear companion remember that ever nite your unworthy husband prays for you and the children  
last eavning after reading in my beautiful testament till dark I entered into thick cane break nearby 
and while I prayed for myself and dear family and class mates and country  the tears streamed from 
my eyes  thank god for the comforts of religion in time of trial  the sheet is full and it is time to close 
for the nite 
 David S. Morgan to Rachel Morgan

* as always, I do not correct the spelling or change the text.