The following letter was written by Simeon G. Royse (1837-1867), the son of John W. and Mary (Garriott) Royse of Fredericksburg, Washington county, Indiana. Simon enlisted as a private in Co. H, 66th Indiana Infantry on 19 August 1862 and mustered out of the service on 13 June 1865.

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Headquarters Co. H, 66th Regt. Indiana Volunteers
Camp Lafayette, Tennessee
October 6, 1863

Dear Mother,

I seat myself to answer your kind [letter] which I received at Collierville today. Me and five of our company went down there today to carry a dispatch to the Colonel. The guerrillas had cut the wire and we had to go on foot on the account of the wire being down. We come back on the cars then.

I eat my dinner. Me and Bill Durnill had a pot pie made out of pigeons and squirrels. Then I took my gun and went into the woods to kill another mess but I did not get enough. But I will try again tomorrow. I forgot to tell you that I found a new hat and sold it for a dollar to a negro. I make a little along. I make enough to keep me in tobacco and paper.

It has been a crowding time on the railroad for the last week. We have Simon Potters with us tonight. He belongs to the 49th Regiment. He said that General Logan’s Division come up to Memphis today. We are looking for the 23rd Indiana. They will pass by this way in a few days. The 59th passed by here last week. I seen Paleys and a good many others that I knew. I don’t know whether we will go or not. I don’t think w will go for we have no orders as yet. The boys are all well as far as I know.

William Thompson will write to you today or tomorrow with this. I will close hoping to hear from you soon. I have written 7 or 8 letters to you the 15th of last month and you have not got but one since then. Your son with due regard, — Simeon Royse

to Mary Royse