.Njcy.ODgx
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Chaffin’s Bluff Batteries Feb[ruar]y 15th, 1863
My dear Precious: - I received yours of the 9th, a short time after mailing my last, and would have answered immediately; but, as it was then so inconvenient to write, after thinking about it while, concluded it would be better to wait until my usual time for writing. Am glad you are beginning to re- ceive my letters regularly again – I almost know to the day when yours will come. I have gotten all you have written, from the first, written with a pencil, to the one containing the little sealed note, about [struck-through] in which you seemed a good deal troubled about some of Tom C[arrington]’s doings; & which was the last I have received. I was sorry to hear that the fever still continues at your Pa’, but hope as it is wearing out, the cases will all be mild. I know how anxious you must have been about dear little Minnie, from my own uneasiness about her, until I read on to the last of your letter, when you said she was “nearly well, & you did not feel uneasy about her now.” I hope, Darling, you will not allow yourself to be vexed and worried by any of Tom’s unneighborly acts. His claiming the rails was what I rather expected before I left Home, though I don’t believe I mentioned it to any one. I almost thought I was doing
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him a wrong to entertain the idea. Unless your Pa objects to it, I would like very much for him to claim the rails when he settles up the land matter; (that is, if the rails were not hauled from any fence or timber, on the land he bought of me.) I wish this, not on account of the value of the rails at all; but merely to let him know that I will not quietly submit to such imposition. He does all this because I quietly submitted to his treatment about the seed wheat I bought of him. He either thinks I am an easy, good-natured sort of a fool, & will allow him to do such things because I hav’n’t sense enough to know better (for which compliment I thank him); or he himself hasn’t sense, (or honesty) enough, to know (or care) what is right. But if he acts thus, I do not wish to retaliate; I only wish to put a stop to it. His treatment of Irving, is in the same spirit, and still more un- just and unreasonable – and mean [underscored]. I am glad, Darling, you “took the responsibility of forbidding Irving to marry there.” You seem al- ways to wish me to endorse any little thing of this sort, which you may do. You have a perfect right [‘perfect right’ underscored] to take any stand [‘any stand’ underscored], or give any orders [‘any orders’ underscored] about my matters (for they are equally yours) [‘for...yours’ underscored] you choose; - I didn’t express my self strong enough – it is not only your right [underscored], but your duty [underscored] to so this. I here not only endorse everything you have done [‘have done’ underscored], but
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everything [underscored] you may do. [‘may do’ underscored] You know my views & feel- ings better than any body else, & I never fear they will be misrepresented by you. In fact, did you know, Darling, how much my acts & opinions are influenced by your own. You would have only to consult yours to know [underscored] what are mine. You have no idea how often, even here is the army, I ask myself, about little (& big) matters which trouble me – “what would Nannie say about it?” But about Irving: - I was so much vexed about Tom’s treatment of him, I was almost tempted to write to Tom myself. I wish you & your Pa, to tell Irving, that under no circumstances & on no conditions will I allow him to have a wife at Tom Carrington’s. As much as I like him, I had rather part with him than suffer this. And if Tom should send for him again, I wish him to send word back that I have ordered him not to go. If your Pa or Mr. H[arris] would tell Tom this, it would ^ stop him from persecuting Irving. I would have told him while at Home, had I not thought that it was all over. This evident want of principle which sticks out in all of Tom’s dealings, makes me so anxious for the land matter to be closed. I do hope it will all be fixed up as speedily as pos- sible. And here I will mention that Tom has a bond on me for $45. As an affect I paid his Taxes, about $46 & some cents, while he was in the army. By referring to my book your Pa can see the acc[oun]t & the receipt for his Taxes are in my bundle of papers. My land sale shall be my last dealings with him.
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I know they must be getting on badly on my farm, & saw that Mr. Harris could do but little toward pushing [underscored] up matters; and, as I maintained in my last, suggested the propriety of trying to employ Tom Pittard to see to my hands some every day. I think this would be much better; but you & your Pa & Mr. H[arris] may manage this as you think best, and I will be satisfied. I have, some time since, pushed off these business troubles from my mind, or endeavored to do it; but they will return & worry me right much sometimes: though there are others so much greater, which you share alike with me, they always, after a short time, sink into insig- nificance, & I feel perfectly willing to let my farm matters go for what they will bring. I am getting used to my mess, & think it best that we should all be together, even if it isn’t so pleasant to me. Joe [Tomy?] has become a permanent member of the mess, which give us eight in our room – four bunks & two in each bunk. Tom [Tomy?] is again temporarily with us, & will stay until his discharge is permanently made out, which will now require several days, so (unnecessarily) slow on the military authorities in doing such things. Tom T. is a little [queer?] sometimes, but is a sensitive, refined gentleman, & at heart a first rate fellow. He has been, as a great many others are, very badly treated by the tools of Government.
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[duplicate of page 4 above]
