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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