Low Moor June 28. 1863

 

My own dear George,

                                    I have just had a nap and now am ready to write my weekly letter. to-day for the first time in 6 weeks we are trying to have a little rain it has rained just enough to lay the dust but it looks as if we might get a shower yet. my garden needs it badly. it is dry nearly a foot deep. last night I & Elisa set out nearly 125 winter cabbage. I have about a dozen early heads looking nicely. my flowers are doing nothing many have died for want of rain the beds of moss have not grown at all but would yet if we only have rain. I have looked anxiously for the box it has not come yet Magden I see by the paper is in Clinton & that had ought to be here. I fear it will not come. Thursday & Friday I had / the pleasure of a visit from Miss Earhart & Miss Spooner, Lieut Sages intended. I enjoyed it much. Miss Earhart or Honie I cald her (it is her name) said she did & that she should come again the first chance, is bound to come if you come home. I promised to send or go for her if you did. she talked with me a good deal but did not want I should tell for fear some body would hear of it. I want you to still keep a eye on him for me remember & see how he conducts himself in every respect & inform me from time to time. we talked a great deal. she talks full as much & fast as I. so you may judge. she asked what you said about Grozer I told her nothing. she says he dose not know any thing or is no thinker. that he is engaged to a girl just like himself. Miss Spooner is quiet but a very good girl. she & Honie are not a bit alike. Honie has black eyes & hair, dark skin, is just about the size / of Mary ann Gross. she said lots that I would like to talk with you about but think it is not best to write. she commences a privat school Monday will keep 4 or 6 weeks if her health will allow. she needs a rest but necessity forces her to teach when this term is done she thinks she shall go to Davenport to teach.

 

some try to find fault with her but I like her now. I heard from Lizzie Haskel last week. she found John quite well able to walk around. she is going to try & get a furlough. I hope she may succeed. if she dose it will be a fine chance to send you some things, if you think the prospect is not good for you to come in course of 6 or 8 weeks. write me if there is any thing in particular you want in way of clothes or any thing I can get. I expect you have your things from Henry by this time. Sage has had two boxes sent him lately one with / the clothes he ordered. one thing I will send unless you can get without, a lot of postage stamps. after the first of July a commisioned officer can not send a letter without it is prepaid but you must manage to write just as often as you can. I have no letter from you this week think Magden must have one for me. with this I enclose a letter  from Elvire & one from Mr C. Jones brought it. also some things from the Transcript. the 6, 9 & 11 N.H. Vol. it seems are at Vicksburg you will find some one you know in the 6^th I think. It seems by the Clinton paper some are prophecying that Col Smith will be Brigadier before many months. some how I think the prospect is fair for you to add a nother bar to your shoulder. I only tell you. I feel proud of it with fear. how I wish you could come home for good when Vicksburg is taken it seems Mr. C. is very hopeful now. I wonder why. I can see nothing very encourageing. why the Rebs are makeing raids into Pen. & Indiana burning & destroying every thing. that will tend to unite the north & I hope bring things to a crisis. I made soap & Wendell a little cap last week. he walks altogether now he nor Ralph do not cough yet. the baby & della cough badly. Jones went back Friday is going to stay there for the present. his wife & children spent the summer here. Remember one thing you must ask for a furlough as soon as there is a prospect of getting one & not loose it by delay.

 

[front upside down]

 

Honie says Johnson is only takeing D [?] that he has returned but Johnson wants to stay & see Vicksburg taken if it is not delayed to long. if you ever have have chance to confiscate a nice dress or something of that sort do it for me I will write no more now. Good night dearest.

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