Southern Tennessee, March 26, 1862

My Beloved Wife
Late yesterday evening I received your letter.  I read it in a hurried manner for the first time but very carefully the second time.  I was extremely glad to hear that all was well but was very sorry to learn the condition of your mind.  I am also sorry to learn that you have failed to get at least 6 letters that I have written to you in the past month as they contained a lot of valuable reading.  One thing that seems to trouble your mind very much was that I said that I would only write to those who wrote to me.  It is true I made that ascertation but had no reference to you or Em in the least.  I mean distant relations of mine for instance Bill Grizell and wife and several others too tedious to mention.  I have fulfilled my promise to you to the letter which is to write once a week and sometimes I have wrote oftener.  I have done the same with Em.  I always write a letter to you on every Sunday certain but I am so far away that it takes a lettera long time to go and there is so many letters sent that they are liable to be missent.  A six mule team could scarse pull the letters that is wrote in one week by this regiment and another thing that was troubling your mind was that I was sick and unable to write.  Now Sarah I hope that you don't think that I am so near out of friends that if I was so sick that I knew nothing that they would not let you know it.

Yes my dear wife although I am a long ways from you I am among many friends and I am also in the best regiment that has ever left Indiana.  Our officers take great pains to keep us clean and healthy.  We are often called in to ranks not knowing what for until the Doctor and Colonel comes and inspects us and if the Doctor finds a man that is dirty either in person or in clothing the Colonel orders him taken and washed clean.  You had better believe he is never dirty any more.  Our company has the praise of being the cleanest and nicest company in the regt, and also the healthiest.  I have enjoyed the best health since I have been in this regiment that I have never had in my life, although the weather is very warm.  The sun shines almost as warm as harvest time.  The ground is dry asd warm. Oats and gardening stuff is growing fine.

O yes you said that you was nearly out of money.  I have plenty of money and could get more if I wanted it but I am at least 100 miles from the express office and our mail is carried in wagons to Nashville and from there in a steamboat and I am afraid to send you any money in a letter.  It is true you have got all that I have sent but I am afraid to risk any more by mail.  If you neeed any John Sprot told me that he would let you have all you want and you had better borrow some of him until I can send you some.  The government owes me $50.00 and I think that we will be paid off this week and when I get it I cant send it to you till I get to some express office so I think you had better borrow some of the neighbors and replace it when I send you mine which I will do at the earliest opportunity.

We are now 40 or 50 miles of Alabama I think and I know there is between 75 and 100 thousand soldiers camped --- together.  The country is white with tents and the ground is alive with soldiers.  I am now some distance from camp sitting on a log with log for a table to write on and I think I am well fixed as nearly all the boys use their knees entirely.  The squirrels are numerous both in and out of camp and we have good carbines that will shoot near a mile and plenty of ammunition but the Colonel wont allow us to shoot them.  I have not space enough to give you any more news this time but I think I will give you some in my next letter.  I heard yesterday that the president had given the rebels 30 days to lay down their arms and come back to the union again and if that is the case the 30 days will end the war but when I will be home is more than I can tell at this time but I dont think it will be many weeks.  Certain I must close and go to camp as it is about dinner time.  Write me Sarah as often as you can and don't be uneasy about me for if anything happens to me you will know as quick as the mail can carry a letter to you.  I will write as often as I promised and oftener than I have been.  I shall wait patiently for and answer to this letter --- at present only hoping to hear from you soon.  I am as ever your affectionate husband and sincere friend.  O yes direct your letters to Nashville, Tenn. as this is the closest postoffice.

This is from Joseph C. Taylor to Sarah E. Taylor and Family.  I now bid you good bye hoping to hear from you in a few days.