D [458] 502 Ltr Lady of color providing corn cakes Jan 1865 Huntsville Ala. Co K 73rd Indiana Vol - A delicious dinner spread part of it being provided by a lady of color Miss Flora Putnam Berrien Springs Berrien Co. Michigan [*NASHVILLE JAN ? N*] 1/6/65 H d [?] Co. K 73rd Ind. U.S., Huntsville, Ala. Jan 6th 1865. My Dear Flora, As I have not received any letters for sometime, I conclude to write again, thinking that you, perhaps, have not received any from me. The mails are so irregular that we can't put much confidence in them, though they are running again now, and soon we anticipate better times. The "Johnnies" burnt the Paint Rock River Bridge, just as we had the Road all open to Nashville, and it will be two or three days before that is up again. The trains come to it though from each end of the Road. Had, who has been at Nashville for a month or more, came back last night. He has got well again, and reports everything favorable with our Baggage which is now at Stevenson, on the way back to us. The weather, which has been very fine for a few days, is cold, rainy, and dreary today. The rain comes sullenly down, as if it feared the earth, and preferred its aerial home. Gently it beats against the window pane, in our "shanty", and chill is the wind that comes in through the broken glass on my cheek. [*Will Book tells me that Wess Manifield was quite sick. He received a note from his sister Kate to that effect. If as U presume you did not see her at the "Dress Party" There seems to be a good deal of sickness North. Good By. John *] I don't mind it though, for I have a blazing fire in the fireplace, and the rough room wears a tidy and home-like appearance, much akin to cheerfulness. Perry has gone out somewhere, and Clint (who is living with us now,) is quietly perusing the last newspaper, while I, am engaged in a very pleasant occupation, in which you also may have some interest. Have just been making out some Reports, and returned from taking them to the Col's office. I found him an exceeding good humor this morning and quite sociable. He expressed his views of the progress of our arms in a most liberal manner, saying that Gen. Sherman would probably succeed in cutting the Rebellion in two another time or two before his campaign would end, and each disjointed position of the Hydra-headed Monster Rebellion, would make a few very Spasmodic efforts for life, but thought most of them would avail naught. Hood is safe across the River and Thomas has called his troops off the war trail, and the 4th Confs. have come here and went into Camp. I saw some of the 9th Ind. this morning. Their Reg't is pretty well supplied with Substitutions and Conscripts. Our Reg't is all strung, (or to use a more military word,) deployed along the R.R. between Paint Rock and Decatur, with the exceptions of our Co. and "H". We still remain here in camp and don't know what we shall do finally, as it is presumed that we will be changed soon. I believe I told you that I was at Hosp'l when I wrote before. I came back again yesterday to Co., not having the chills for some days. We got a letter from Jimmy Williams, Perry's brother, who attended the V.M. & F "once on a time". He is in the 7th Ind. Calvary, and was at St. Louis, Mo. He has been on quite an extensive campaign for about 90 days, fighting Price, &c. &c. His health is good. I heard that Father, Nelse and Sister Em, went down to Louisville to see my Brother Uriah, who was there with his Reg't the 4th Ind. Cav. but when they arrived the Reg't had gone, so that they did not get to see him at all. They returned home via of Economy, Wayne Co. and saw some of our relatives and friends there. The rain still continues. I have had my dinner, and just to let you know what a soldier can have to eat when we are on half rations, I will enumerate the delicacies spread on the social board. Good "Lincoln Coffee" with milk and sugar in it, filled the tin cups, then corn cakes, baked in the most approved style, by a neighboring lady of Color; baked chicken, sweet and tender, Irish potatoes, from some northern state, and a dish of fried pickled, or mess pork. This is the sumptuous bill of fare for today, which was a little above the medium. It costs money to procure these things, even at government prices. Potatoes, $6.00 pr. bbl. Pork, 25 cts. pr. lb. Coffee, 70 cts. lb, &c. - While we can procure such wholesome and palatable food, we shall never complain of "hard times". Our [c] quarters here are very comfortable. They are built so that 8 live in a house, each house 12 by 12, and each Co's houses in a separate row. The manner in which we got material to build them was, simply, to tear down certain designated vacant houses in town, bringing windows, doors, & everything else which was needed, or which could be used. The Officers quarters all in one row, at the end of the Co. Rows, [that] is, the Line, or Co. Officers. The Col's Office is in a large building near by. I have not much to read now, the "News Depot" has not procured any late magazines yet, so my perusals are confined to ancient matter and the few papers which I can obtain. I see the Jan. no. of the "Atlantic" highly spoken of in the "N.Y. Evening Post" but can't get to see it yet. The "Harpers Monthly" is also highly commended. There is a kind of Photographic Gallery started in town, I may get some photo's printed, provided I like his abilities, when the weather is fair again. My best respects to your happy "Home Circle', Perry's also. Write me often, whether you can hear from me or not, and remember that you always have the love of John Letter with 3 cent stamp addressed to Flora Putnam from "Job" Headquarters, Co. K. 73rd Ind. Vol. I Huntsville, Ala. Jan 6th, 1865 My dear Flora, content is about soldiers life in camp Jan. 6, 1865. When talking about a delicious spread on the social board " "Good Lincoln coffee" with milk and sugar init filled the tin cups; then corn cakes baked in the most approved style, by a neighboring lady of color" By this time soldiers were willing to accept the product of the "lady of color" not using the common term of nigger Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.