Camp HeintzelmanMay 31st 1863My dear Wife.

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I received your very kind and acceptable letter last evening, dated May 25th. It is a great relief to me to learn that my little boy is better. To have any of our children sick when I am at home is a source of anxiety enough, but to have them sick and be so far from them is a trial to my feelings indeed.

It is a great source of happiness to me that you are so well pleased with your new home. I am very anxious to know how the house looks and how you like the place of it, if it is going to be convien-ant &c&c. I wish I could be there and go into it with you. I know

that we could be happy in it. I hope I may be spared to live in it. Dont fail to get me a picture of it. But what I want the most is a picture of yours. I dont know why you have not sent me one before.

I am glad you can find some sourses of injoyment. I dont doubt but you had a great time at Mr Hows.

I am getting along very smoothly with my duties and with the regiment. I had a very great compliment paid me a few nights since. A mounted band from Washington made our Brigade a visit last week, and the Major of the Cavelry regiment had them seranade some of our officers, and your

humble servant among the numbers. Dr Childe and wife were the first complimented then myself next Col Henry and last Col Jewett. It was a mark of respect that I was not looking for, nor had any reason to expect, but I must say that it was highly gratifying. Perhaps you will think me silly to say anything about it, but you know that I was alway a little tender about such things, so you will excuse my weakness.

We are having very warm weather now. I dont pretend to do any thing in the after noon but sleep. I lay down after dinner and manage to sleep till 3 or 4 oclock, then I go to work and get round by 8 or 9 oclock.

Last night one of our men was shot through the right leg by

one of our pickets, and I had to dress the wound. The fool run the line and would not halt when ordered to do so by the guard. All guards are order-ed to shoot any man that dont halt when chalanged. Today that sentinal has been promoted to a Corporal for doing his duty. I have a beautiful Boquet on my table whose fragrance pleaseth my nostrals. Every little while I find a new one placed on my table by some one of my Hospital boys. I tell you such little attentions are very pleasent. Helen will begin to think that I have forgotten her, but I have not. I intendid to have written a long letter to her today but it being our monthly inspec-tion I have not found time. The men and their quarters have to be inspected by the Surgeon to see that they are all clean.