.NTk0.NzYw

Note: Letter begins on Pg 2 goes to Pg 3, Pg 4, Pg 1, Pg 1 marginalia, Pg 4 marginalia.

[Marginalia - is written across top of Pg1 & 2]

• if you all have enough to send there, & risk their being lost[underlined] – which[underlined] is not very probable I think.

Tell Charley I got his letter, - Have you received my likeness yet? – What do you think of it. Mr. Howison said it was very flattering – but he doesn’t know. It was sent by Willie [bileen’s?] wife. It isn’t quite as good-looking as I am now, since I have gotten over the Jondice. abe sends love

[Pg 1]

of this kind of reading matter. If you get an opportunity, send me any book of the kind you may see about home, which will not be worth much in a library. I like the arrangements your Pa proposed about getting Mr. Harris a third of his time very much, - especially if Smiley is not drafted. It will be better anyway than any other ar- rangements I can think of. Oh! Darling, you don’t know how faithfully & [...ingly?] I have tried to get a short furlough, to see you all, and with the appearance the last time of almost success – but failed. They have made it now much harder for us even to get a pass to Richmond – but if you & Aunt Judy should come down, I think Sam & I could get leave to spend at least two days with you. If you do come, let us know a week before you start (or more) at what time you in- tend on coming. Also if you send a box

[Pg 2]

Camp Chaffin’s Farm Saturday Sept 7th ’62

My dear Precious

Yesterday evening Sam came from the work camp & brought me your good long letter of Aug. 31st [containing?] Charley’s, for which I thank you so much. The mail goes now [to?] where the working party is, so that I can not send off or receive letters [we are alone?] [here?], but the party will be back in a short time. I have sent several letters lately which were broken off very abruptly on this account, and because the mornings have been so cold I could not write before breakfast. I in- tended writing you a long letter yesterday, but heard that the[crossed out] 25000[last 0 crossed out] Yankee prisoners would be exchanged at [Vienna?], & concluded to walk down to see them. It is only five miles below our camp, & I had been working so closely for some time thought it would do me good. I went, but the prisoners didn’t

[Pg 3]

come. When I got back late this evening, I found Abe D., & Dr. [Flo...y?] at camp. Dr F has come down with Abe to join us. He will fill Doc’s place in our mess finely. They slept with me last night on my [ ? ] bed. Abe tossed and turned over all night without sleeping any and Dr. F declared if I had been sleeping on that bed for a month I had corns[underlined] on shoulders & hips. I slept like a log. Abe & I laid awake until late. I made him tell me all about you & the children, & your Pa & Ma & all at waterloo Felt as if I had almost been reading a long letter from home. I felt very thankful when he told me that you & the children were well, & that you were very cheerful. (Sunday evening) I started to write this yesterday morning, but was compelled to stop in order to do some writing for the court. If I had written it through, it could not have gone off, as we have no

[Pg 4]

mail here now until the regiment returns. I may possibly get this off tomorrow morn- ing. Abe & I now have come down to the court room to find a good place to write. We at- tended preaching at the 46th Regt. this morning. Had a moderately good sermon. Dr. F has gone with several of our compy to see the exchange of prisoners which will take place to-day. I felt very anxious to see it, but thought it wouldn’t be exactly right to go Sunday. While in Rmond last week, I examined the book stores for some good light reading for camp – Couldn’t find a novel at all except Robinson Crusoe & the Pilgrim’s Progress – I got the Pilgrim’s Progress & Wm Haye’s Blind Bartimaeus, & intended getting Rob. Crusoe, but forgot it. It is impossible to do any reading but the lightest kind in camp, on account of the frequent interruptions, and the book stores are almost entirely destitute

[Marginalia at bottom of Pg 4 written across Pg 3 & Pg 4]

Urge Mr. Harris to put in as large a wheat crop as possible, & on the best land, and to sow it as early as possible & to have it well limed.[underlined] I [wasn’t? ] as much trouble[underlined] about [Lenny?] as you think, but was very much provoked.[underlined] I have been attending courts martial too long to get myself into any difficulty[underlined], as you seem to fear, about coming home. We will be through with the court about the middle of this week & will go back to duty. May God bless you my darling & our little ones, & keep you safe & [ ? ] Yr husband N.V.W.