Dauphine Island on the Gulf March 9^th

My Dear Wife

I once more take my pen in hand to write you a few lines.  My health is good again and I am enjoying myself as well a circumstances will permit And I circerly hope these few lines may find you enjoying good health and in good spirits.  We are confined on Dauphine Island at the mouth of Mobile bay on the same island Ft Gaines (Saines) is on.  We left New Orleans Tuesday the 7^th on the steam-ship Empire City (a regular ocean steamer.) and arrived here yesterday morning the 8^th had a vary good time except many of the Boys got Sea Sick coming around the Gulf, the weather was a little stormy.  I never saw such a time vomiting(?) in my life I believe there was not less than two or three hundred aheaving up j--- as they call it all at one time.  I just laughed at them it never hurt me in the least most all the company was sick, but they soon got over it and was well as ever.  We have a nice sea breeze here all the time and I think it will be vary healthy here.  Most all of the boys was out gathering oysters and they come in loaded with them, we can get all we want here by going out and gatherine them along the Gulf in the morning when the tide is out.  I ate about two dozen this morning for my breakfast.  I cant tell you how long we will be her when we leave here we will move on Mobile I presume, troops are coming here every day and there is a large army here now.  We are camped on a regular sandbank nothing But sand.  The weather is vary mild always cool enough to be comfortable.

I haven’t received a letter from you since the one dated Feb 15^th and I am vary anxious to hear from you and my boy  I hope I may get a letter from you the first mail we get.  Oh how ell I would like to see you and our darling little boy.  Well the time will soon pass around when I can once more enjoy your society- if my life is spared.  The Boys are all well and in good spirits.  There was quite a revival of religion in our Regt before we left New Orleans.  Our Chaplin awakes them up generally. 

You must keep up good spirits and do the best you can and I will do the same.  I cant tell when we will get pay but when ever we do I will send you some money.  Our wages are raised again I believe I heard so at least I hope they are.  I think they ought to be don’t you?

Well I must close once more biding you good by. Please write often I send you much love  good by    From your loving husband J.O. Burgess to Mary L. Burgess

Below I will write you two verses of poetry which I composed

 Spring

The swollen buds apon the trees
Seems bursting forth with every breeze
A sweetness fills those spring days
And warmer shines the suns soft rays
Her silver thread the spider weaves
Apon many trees there are green leaves

With every step come around the years
In spite our smiles or bitter tears.
Our yearning hearts awaits the day
When this cloud of war shall pass away
Then shall this might of sorrow cease,
And freedom dawn with lasting peace

J.O. Burgess