My Ever dear Wife

     I seat myself this morning again to write you. I have been in daily expectation of a letter from you for the last two days. Yours of the 13th Just came to hand in due time. The comforts for the inner man would have been very acceptable tho' we do pretty fair in the way of the edibles. We have a tin cup of good veritable Rye coffee twice a day which we buy. Light bread, molasses and pretty fair meat. A friend, the Rev. Mr Evans has furnished us with a bed, blankets, pillows, sheets and bolster. I have seldom met with a Gentleman, who so soon prepossessed me in his favor. Elegant in manners, of fine personal appearance he is indeed a Christian Gentleman. He is the same, who pointed out, I trust, a happy land to the lamented Thornburgh

Thornburgh was gloomy and desponding from the day we started. In vain we tried to rally and inspirit him. I have no doubt the despression brought on his disease. We were kindly treated by the commander J. E. Rylander [i.e., Maj. John Emory Rylander, 10th Georgia Infantry Battalion] and permitted to remain with him for the last two or three days.
I wrote you by Dan that I was greatly relieved that you had gone to my farthers to remain until I return. I hope you will remain. I think it best—and do not desire that Jimmie should be raised about a Hotel. I do hope it will be satisfactory to you and to all.
I had hoped I was not to be perplexed on this subject
Hammonds has not called to see us. We received Dan's dispatch that nothing in our cause had been done—tho' he entertained hopes of success. Mrs Senter wrote of the date of the 15th Inst. that the authroities had had no time for investigation. Althoug we are in a comparative comfortable position I am tired of the place and very gladly

would leave it at any day. There are about some 1200 or 1500 prisoners of war here and we are all occupying about some four or five acres of ground. There are some 100 or 115 Tennesseeans here. Now how long this is to last I am utterly unable to tell. I have no data to reason from. Neither can I imagine what object there is in view by detaining me. I am well satisfied if my friends could obtain the ear of Gen. Smith there would be a change in our circumstances. Sooner or later there will come a change for the better and I shall return to a family and home very dear to me. At what time or how long I cannot now divine.
I have had some cold and not quite so well as when I first came here. Still my health is pretty good.
If any thing the climate is not much warmer here than ours. From ten to four the days are hotter—but the nights are cold. Last night I slept under two blankets and was not too warm From what I learn this spring and

summer are an exception. Being cooler and more mild than usual.
Galbreath, Senter, Johnson and Rodgers are all well. I have been unable to procure any law books or would spend my time mostly in reading. We have the books I wrote you before Byron and some others. As this letter has to under go an inspection my elocution and rhetoric are somewhat circumscribed
Some of the rhetoric of your letter has been eliminated before it reached me. But only a few sentences. No political topics are to be touched and as I know you are no politician it will not require any effort on your part to avoid it. Were you at the funeral of Thornburgh? Were there many at it? Tell Jimmie he must be able to ride with Pa against I come home.
Give my love to farther, Mother, Sisters and brothers your farther and mother and all my friends. I hope to be with ere many moons. Ever yours in

Love
J M Meek

write me soon.