Burnsville, Mississippi

Saturday, Sept. 27^th, 1862

My Dear Wife:-

I am well today and hope you still continue to enjoy good health, but I rather fear that you will have a sick spell this fall.  I would be glad if you could be permitted to have good health all the time that I am away from you.  I have heard that John Bell now has the jaundice at Corinth.  I was there a few days ago and wrote to you from there.  John was tolerably well then.  Eldridge Jones is stealing the milk from somebodys white cow.  Cows teats suffer when soldiers are about.  Robt. Young and Albert and three others are on a courier post three miles this side of Jacinto.  Four others are three miles this side of them under Sergt. Guy.  I yesterday sent you Harpers Monthly magazine, which I hope you will receive in due time.  I was writing to Lucinda and Diora, so I thought I would drop you a line.

Our Regiment is in an uproar about having our horses branded.  They have already branded the horses of seven companies that are at Rienzi.  We intend to resist the order to brand ours but I don’t know how well we will come out in the matter.  Company “A” resisted and the General called out a regiment of infantry and a company of sharpshooters and Company “A” caved in.  There is two companies of us here, two at Iuka and one at Cumberland Gap.  If we resist the brand you may expect to hear of a rather interesting time.  Our commissioned officers rather stand aloof in the matter.    Captain McDonald is now sick in the hospital at this place.  I think he will go home as soon as he is able to travel.  We have just started a man to Rienzi for our mail.  I hope I may get a letter from you.  I think I will go to Corinth tonight to get a supply of clothing.  Good bye.

William A. Smith.