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La Porte Ind May 3rd 1864
My dear good wife,
It is a very pleasant night & not as cold as it was yesterday. There is a great excitement here in war matters. The governors of the Central West have offered the president 100,000 men for 100 days to man the fortifications & so let the old veterans go forward & take part in the approaching gigantic struggle. The West has done nobly in this war. Illinois is a long way in advance in men of all calls made upon her & so is Indiana & yet there is an instantaneous rally & response to this new call. I feel proud of the West. Were I able I presume I should have been in the army long ago. Our family have however furnished its quota. War is a terrible thing. I shrink from its scenes of carnage & its demoralizing influence & yet it seem to be