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Headquarters Brookhaven Artillery Bay St. Louis, Ms. July 23, 1862
My dear Wife
Yours of the 15th came over by the boat this morning and I am sorry that you had not received any of my letters before you wrote But I know you must have got one by Mr Lewis And I hope you will be down with him in time to come over on the boat that leaves the city on Wednesday night. As tfrare is some doubt your getting this before you leave if you^come then I will not write much. The news is disponding but it is no time to give up. Now is the time to stand square up to the question and look the issue plainly in the face. I never intended to talk about giving up until part of our company is whipped and part killed & the balance prisioners. For as long as there is any loose with a weapon there is still hope. We have had some little excitement consequent on their bringing in some of the prisoners from the New London,We burried one behind our Camp that was killed by an oysterman last Thursday night. The Oysterman made himself quite a hassel of the Exploit. I would write you a description of the affair only I know that you will see a detailed account of it in the papers before you	see this.
No news here we are all well I am going	to church in a
few minutes It is one of the loveliest days you ever saw. Mr. Carter wil be on the boat as you come over & I told him to introduce himself to you and you would be glad to see him. I spent the evening there last evening and had a very nice time. I wrote you by the last boat that I have got Mrs. Esterbrooks home for you to stay in while here. The main reason?^hi^.I want you to come soi^bed^with Mr. Lewis is that there is to be no more furloughs given and you would not get another good chance . If they	send us from	here	you	would go
with us to New Orleans And if	they kept us	here	you	could
stay. I am sorry to leave our__home all alone. But it is this war. If the War ~wi~ndsdown' I can fix it up to leaf?
j? with you. If it does (how end soon it makes no difference.
^ And if I am to be killed in it I want you to be with me as much as possible while you can.
Tell E______ that her Pa wants to see his bad rascal?
mighty bad. Tell Milton that he must be a good boy & learn his books & Pa will love^Jjim & bring him & Iky? some thing good when he comes home 'fon the w$ar>if they are both Isood boys.	^	g*od
Kiss them all for me & take a thousand for yourself from your affectionate husband. James Aousting?