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Lauderdale Springs Miss July 22/62
Dear Fannie
Dr. Brownfield leaves for home
this evening and I have a chance to send
a letter to you by him he has done
me a great deal of good since
he came and I hate to see him leave
very much. he has walked all over the
country for two or three miles around
for something for me to eat such as
apples and milk tomatoes and potatoes
There has been nothing that he could do
for me that he was not been willing and
anxious to do. I have improved very
fast since I have been here. I walked about
3/4 of a mile to dinner and back
yesterday and eat a good vegetable -
dinner which I think done me good
I think I shall try it again to day
though it tired me yesterday made me
sleep better at night I don't think you
would hardly know me if you were
to see me now I am as poor as a
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snake and my nose looks about twice
as long as usual Old man Sledge was
here yesterday and he didn't know
me at first came up and spoke to
all the boys around me took me
for a stranger until I spoke
Your box has never come to hand
Dr. Smith lost it. If you ever send
another be particular and send it by
some man that will take some interest
in it though I thought Dr. Smith would
have done it. I don't know how he lost
it. it must have been through carelessness
I am getting mighty tired of being a
soldier unless I could have health
and unless I do get stout and
strong again pretty soon I want
Dr Brownfield to hire me a substitute
if I have to give Masiah and child
to get one for to lie sick in camp
or hospital not doing my country nor
family any good [illegible, crossed out] for two or
three years is a condition not enviable
and one that I can't bring my mind
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to consent to if I can in any
way prevent it. I have been sick
ever since I left home though I never
have been so that I could not walk. If I
could get home and live on vegetables
and fruit for two or three weeks I think
I would get stout again, but that is
out of the question. We have some in
our company and Tuckers that are very
sick Mr. Gillespie will die I think
Are you getting our pigs fat?
You must keep them fat if you
expect to make any meat out of them
this year. How are my grape cuttings
are they alive? Write all about every
thing. How is Ma and Babe & Sister?
Tell them all to write to me I
must make one letter answer for
all as it is very hard to get paper
here and stamps are hard to get.
We have hard times before us if we don't make
corn. and I am anxious to hear of rain about
home. You must treasure your salt sugar
and meat & molasses for if the war continues
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those articles will be as scarce as they
can be in fact almost impossible to get
Em I have not forgot you help Fannie
all you can and save your dimes
God help you all. I leave you in
His charge. He will Take care of you
and me. Do your best to train our
children firmly and kindly never get
mad God bless you all
Write often G.W. Cherry
I have'nt heard from home since
Brownfield came by letter. Sledge says
all are well. I want a letter from
home.
Have you heard from Joe since the
battle at Richmond and have you
heard from Nick since he left home
I have not I recon he is in Columbus
Miss I have heard that Dowdells Regiment
was in Columbus don't know whether
it is so or not.
Good Bye G.W.Cherry
Cherry Family Civil War Letters
