Franklin County: David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, January 16,
1864
Summary:
Demus talks about the possibility of receiving a furlough and says he expects to be paid
soon.
Mary Jane Demus
January the 16th 1864
Morris island south CarolinaHeadquarter
My Dear
I take this opportunity to inform that I am Well at present and I hope When these few lines Come to your hand they may find you enjoying the greatest of health i receive your your kind letter on the 16th of January and i Was happy to hear from you i Thought it Was about two year since i got a letter i thought i Would get home before now but the reason that i did not get home on a furlough Was because they think that We Will all get home soon and if We all Come Why We Will be home in a months time and if We don't all Come Why i Will be home anyhow me and Jacob Watson for We have got the furlough now but We thought that it Was no [unclear: uces] to Come till We all Come then We Will be paid all our money before We leave but you Can write as soon as you you get this letter for if We have left the island Why the letter Will follow us i am happy to hear that you get along so Well since i left home and i Was happy to hear that you had a Christmas dinner for i had a great dinner myself i had a tin of Coffee and two hard tacks for my dinner i set down on my bed and i said this is a hard Christmas dinner then i thought of you i said to myself if i Was Close to you i Would a thought my hard talk away but then i [unclear: tok] a [unclear: nether] [unclear: thot] i Would [unclear: thot] them away for if i Did i Would a to done Without all day
but i am happy to say that i have only taking three drinks of Whiskey since i left home and i don't think that i Will ever take any more it is time for dress parade i must bring my letter to a close give my love all the friends nothing more at present but still remain
your Dear husband
David Demus
to Mary Jane Demus
