October 4, 1863
On October 4, 1863, Private Ephraim S. Weaver, a member of Co. K, 68th Regiment, OVI, wrote to his parents, Samuel and Mary Weaver, from Vicksburg, Mississippi.
Vicksburg Waren County Mississippi
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Oct 4th 1863
Father and Mother;;;;;; Again I am permited to answer yours of the 20th Sept; Which came to hand the 2nd Oct and sure was glad to hear from you
I am well again and do hope this will find you the same. Further the weather is cool here now Especialy the nights it has bin dry weather here all summer; it rained a little the other day but is clear again. The troops has all gone down the river and up so there is only logans divisions left here; I think we will tay here all winter and it may be we will stay here till our time is out; I wish we would
We are still doing gard duty in Vicksburg the mail has just come and I cant write any more till I see if there is one for me; Well not much; disappointed no letter for me this time; I come on gard tomorrow again so I thought I would write a letter today as it is Sunday but if you was here you would think it wasent much Sunday; we have the same work to do on Sunday as any other day; Now I havnt give up the notion a coming home after furlow yet but I ges I will put it of a while yet; they are furlowing very slow the talk is that they will send all home at two relieves if they do I think I will be there for chrismas; that is as soon as I want to come
We was fooled some with our two month pay we havnt got it yet. But I think we will get four months pay the next month. I still keep up the barber shop, shaving and cutting hair. I make enuf for spending money; Ii got a new suit of cloaths on today; I got a new coat to wear when I come home; beauty of a coat; we will settle up our clothing bill next pay day; we are allowed fourty two dollars a year for cloathing; I think my cloathing will overrun some but not much; the rest of the boys is well in the company; Stinson is on gard toay; he stands it bully; we get our watter hauled from the river so we got things tolerable handy here
We don’t hear any grumbling here about valending hamm;; It is all for Brough and heh will be governer of Ohio too; let me no how you get along and how times is; I dident get any papers yet; I think some of our mail got burnt Up on one of th boats that got burnt up; mother, you want to no what likeneys?; Is cost down here they are a bout the same they are up there; So no more; Only don’t work so hard take the times as easy as you can; with these few line I will close; I fell stanter and healthier for the last month than I have sins I bin in the service and hope I may stay so; I wish you all to keep well; write as soon as you get this address as before
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;Ephraim S Weaver
Good
; By;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Samuel and Mary Weaver"
