Dear cousin Mary

     I received your letter Saturday night, and it was with very much pleasure that I read it, we are always glad to hear from friend in NH & Vt, Father [i.e., Abijah Tucker] got a letter from Uncle Joshua to night. they are all well. Nancy and Sted write quite often N writes about her visit at your house. wish I could been there to. we are all usualy well. I have been complaining some. can pity Aunt, as I have had the face ache most all the time for two weeks. I guess I took cold and it affected my head and eare. I think it is awful to have the tooth or ear ache. I had three teeth taken out while in Galena. I went out there the first of March stayed two weeks Flora was sick and I stayed untill she was better. and have been sick myself most of the time since I came home.
     you ask about the boys they are safe and well, and we do not know hardly how to be thankful enough. R. [i.e., the author's brother, Cpl. Rufus B. Tucker, Co. E, 15th Illinois Infantry] was in the battle at Pittsburg [i.e., the battle of Shiloh, 6-7 April 1862] Sunday was wounded in the left leg above the knee. the ball, (a minnie) went through the flesh on the out sid of the leg. he is at home now. we were so glad to see him. Henry [i.e., the author's brother, Pvt. Henry Z. Tucker, Co. E, 15th Illinois Infantry] was sick so he could not be in the engagement he is well now. J D Parks S K Miner & G N Townsend went down to Pittsburg soon as they could after the battle Rufus came home the 19th, he wrote to us but we did not get the letters and we could not hear much about them. the first news we got in the papers was about the 15 reg, that it was badly cut up and the field officers all killed. and then we did not hear any thing more for two or three days. then letters came that some were wounded and some killed. Ben will be sorry to hear that Lycurgus Haskell [i.e., Cpl. Lycurgus A. Haskel, Co. E, 15th Illinois Infantry] is killed he was shot in the breast lived three or four days I believe. I dont remember how long at any rate the Dr said he did not think him dangerous altho he could not get the ball out. they thought he would get well untill about an hour before he died his Mother and sisters are most

crazy his body is expected home tomorrow morning he was buried at Savannah. but his Mother said she could not have him lie there in a slave state and they are having him brought home. Co E. suffered most of any in the 15 reg. 10 killed & 20 wounded Emery Cowen [i.e., Pvt. Emory H. Cowen, Co. E, 15th Illinois Infantry] of Nora was killed, the others were nearly all from around here. I suppose you have the names in the papers by this time. the Capt of Co E. was at home at the time and the first Lieut was General Hurlburt's [i.e., Brig. Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut's] aid. so the command fell on the 2d Lieut he was wounded in both legs. he is at home now. he lives in Nora and is a good fellow his name is John Luke. I dont know whether they lived here when Ben was here or not, I think we can realize now what war is, we see anxious faces all around us, and those that lived through the last battle may be killed in the next R furloug lasts 30 days. and his leg will be well by that time I dread to have him go back. H. wrote the other day that he was well now and would be withe the boys next time. he took his gun and was going with the rest of them but the Lieut told him to go back, R said he was so sick he could not hardly walk (he had the dyesentery the boys nearly all had it, it was so warm there,) R said it is as warm there now as here in harvest peaches are most as large as an hens egg.
     I wish you could hear R tell about the battle he says all wee read is not half as bad as it realy is. he had thinks the Gen. [i.e., Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant] is to blame about the great loss, as there were no Picket Guard out, and he knew well enough that the rebels intended to attact them the Genrals head quarters were at Savannah 10 miles from the battle field, and R says he did not see Gen Grant on the field the first day, and he was there all the time. he was wounded in the early part of the day. so were nearly all of them the attact was so unexpected there was a great many more killed than need be if every one had done his duty. R sayes he hopes Gen Grant will be hung but I have washed a large washing and three bed quilts and am very tired and have not half written this. so I will put it away untill

to morrow Father wants to know if I am writing to Mary I have got such a big sheet of paper.
Tuesday 29 after washing comes ironing and Mart [i.e., the author's sister, Martha Tucker (b. 1843/4)] and I have been busy all the morning. Flora Miner came out this morning and is here now they all well. Lycurgus Haskell's body came this morning. the funeral is tomorrow at two o clock.
     It is quite pleasant here now. has been very muddy we have had a very backward spring. some sowed wheat last week but not much it is so wet Lute commencd yesterday he says it is so wet he can hardly get around with a team I am in hopes we will have some pleasant weather now
     We got a letter from Emily last night she is in a great hurry to see Mart the river has not been open to St Peter untill now. they are all well, and she thinks her boy the smartest ever was I wish I could go with Mart I suppose she will go before long. I have not got my carpet ready to weave yet I want to color some yet. I do not know how to weave. there are two or three around here that weave and I will hire it done. I wish I could see you I could talk better than write at least tell you more. I have not done much this spring but housework not much sewing I have embroidered a shirt for Mrs Miners little girl. not very much work enough though I dont like to work as well as I used to. I guess I am getting lazy.
     I dont know of much news. the folks are well that B is acquainted with as far as I know Mrs Good Warner was here last week. Mrs Carver was buried last week in fact we dont hear much about any thing but war now adays. the report last night was that New Orleans was in the hands of the union army. if it is so the prisners the rebels took at Pittsburg and sent there will find friends I hope it is so. another battle is expected at Pittsburg daily we heard and the rebels were leaving Corinth but dont know whether it is so or not, I think they are cowards. wont

fight unless they have a good many more men than the union side. O dear when will this war end it is awful to think of it. I believe we do know more about it than you we live nearer. we can hear the news quicker and so many have gone from here there is not many young men around here now. a good many that have been killed have been brought home. and we realize it more I think to see the coffins. they cant be opened, we can see through the glass in the top but the face is covered, Lycurgus had been buried nearly two weeks. the men that took him up said he did not hardly hold together to be put in the case.
     Col Ellis [i.e., Lt. Col. Edward F. Ellis, 15th Illinois Infantry] and Major Goddard [i.e., Maj. William R. Goddard, 15th Illinois Infantry] were brought home.
     I cant bare to think that Rufus is going back but he will and of couarse I would not have him do otherwise but it is so hard to have so many of our young men killed. and for what, Henry says he is not coming home untill the war is over I hope he will be spared.
     Rufus said the morning the rebels attacted them he was asleep he was on guard untill two o clock Saturday night and did not wake untill the long roll was called. he jumped up dressed and fell into ranks without a mouthful of breakfast, and not any thing all day untill dark, and then hard biscuit and raw ham, the boys were in Hurlburts division the enemy occupied their tents Sunday night and what the was there they took if wanted. but I fear you will think I am tiresome and will not write any more this time, we had not heard any thing about Uncle Icks folks I am real sorry for them if they have lost their propity. Nancy writes me Minerva is going to teach near where they live I hear from N quite often I am sorry B's wife is in poor health it is hard to be sick hope she will get well. wish I could see B would like to talk to him a while tell him a few lines from him would not come amiss we are always glad to hear from any of our friends all joyn with me in sending love to you all, hoping to hear from you soon

I remain your cousin
Mary A Crowell

Please excuse mistakes for they are all talking around me and I am in a hurry Mrs Haskell has sent for me to go up there this afternoon