Head Quarters Co B 162 Regt
Morganza, LA May 23 1864
Dear Madam
Your letter of May 3rd is at hand & in
replay to your questions I would state that at the time of your
husbands untimely death there was due him one months & 9 days
pay. he having been paid up to Feb 29th & I presume he
forwarded you some money at the time. there is due him a US
Bounty of $100 which has to obtained through the war office at
Washington. Almost any respectable Lawyer can get the claim made
good for you. It is impossible to have his body ____ as it could
not be obtained. it is buried some 200 miles from here in an
Ememy Country. Where one may never go again at least I hope so.
I have forwarded his final statements to
Washington. So I think there will be no trouble in asserting your
claim. There can be no money from here on deceased soldiers
accounts... Dear Madam I condole with you in your affliction
& trust that the good God will temper the blash to the Widow
& her children. I trust in may be a comfort to you to know
that Laban was a good Christian & died beloved by all his
comrades & also that he was buried decently. Which does not
always happen to every soldier who falls on the battle field.
I am yours Madam with great respect
John E Burke
1st Comd Co B 162nd Reg