Burnsville, Mississippi

Sunday evening, Sept. 21^st, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

One year ago this morning at seven o’clock you saw me at home.  What have we both saw since?  How has the year passed with us.  With you it has no doubt drug along.  It has gone quickly with me.  The battle of Iuka is over and I am safe.  Only the right wing of our army was engaged.  Had the left wing been brought up, Price’s whole army would have been cut to pieces.  The fight was severe for a while.  When I wrote to you I will try to give you some of the particulars.  I will try to write to you in a few days.  My paper etc. is at Corinth.  I will try to go there tonight if the cars come.  If I do I have about a dozen letters to write.  I herein send you some seeds of a kind of tree that looks a little like the locust.  It is the Marra mosa or some such name.  It has as nice a flower you ever saw.  You may plant part of the seeds now and the rest in the winter.

I think William Arnold will soon be discharged.  He has not applied for a discharge but as soon as we get settled, we will make out his papers and try and get them signed.  He can’t stand the service.  Amos Moon is unwell for two or three days.

William A. Smith