1861 October 17

[from the diary of Francis G. Hale of the 34th Ohio Zouaves]

It is still rainin this
morning but not very
hard the frogs
are hollowing here like
every thing it sounds
like spring there
is a piana left here
the boys are make
ing it ring like
every thing
there is a man to be
bueried to day here
he died com ing up
on the boat of the
feaver they got his
coffin mad it sett
on the portch all
night I do not know
where the buerying
ground is here
There is a monument
up on the hill in
front of this house
it is made of wood
with a pailing fence
a round it we have
no heard of our boys
lately how they are
getting a long but
hope they are all
wright. some of them
are bare footed and
I am very near the
same if we do not
get some soone I
will desist or kick
up a big fuss I
am a bout strapt
or I would buy me
a pair of shoes
there is no chance
to hook any or I would
have me a pair pretty soon
if I could I do not
mean to say I would
hook them but I
would get some body
to get them for me
it is no wonder that
a soldier is
hard if you Could see what
I have saw you
would think the
sane there us a man that died with the
feaver yester day that
layed out in the
air all night last
night with nothing
but a blanket over
him he lays there now
and it is near night
has layed there all
day the same I spoke
of before if ever
I get out of this
I will never try
my hand again
at soldiering if I
can help it it
is still raining but
not very hard
I bought a pair of
shoes to day for 50 cts
they are pretty nigh new
but are second hande
they took the dead
man out to night
to beary him
it is still raining
and no likely hood
of quitting. soon
I have to weight
on 18tteen men now
by my selfe the fellow
that was with me
is played out and
I feele like I would
soone if not relieve

MSS 13405