H^d Qrs. Baty F 1^st Pa Arty     

Jan 20^th 1865

 

My Own Dear Laura.

                                    I have just rec^d your kind letter of Sunday Jan 15^th which afforded me much pleasure. I am well as usual save a lame back caused by my horse becoming frightened on last Tuesday morning on my way back to get my breakfast, although I am much better from it and in a few days I hope to be all right.

 

The weather is pleasant since the recent storms, indeed like spring. I have just finished my supper and Lieut Campbell has gone to H^d Qrs. to see Maj. Ricketts and he requested me to stay in camp until he returns. he has a comfortable house more so than mine. he has it built up with pine timber hewn to be well adapted to the use he made of them. I tell you it makes a nice little home here in this barren forsaken country. I have a tolerable good tent and live nice I wish you could come and see me. I would give almost anything. I could show you so many new and to you wonderful things. I have my sections of guns bearing on the doomed city. /

 

I have been firing some to day and yesterday. the Enemy returned the fire doing no damage to me Pickett firing continues along the lines. Some casualties occur along the lines, but tis not noticed among so many men.

 

Lieut Wireman is well on his way home, if nothing has happened him he started for home on the morning of the 19^th you may see him, he will I think call on Meal and Campbell says he will stop and see C. G. Morgans. Now you must go and see him he is a perfect Gent. and if he asks you to go and show him Mr. Geeslers dont refuse and go right along. Sargt G W Mowser from Troytown has gone with him. they will have a splendid time as they both know how to travel. Say Bully for Lib Young and some one else. how can she kiss him when he stands upright on his pony. I know you can keep a secret, keep this expression dark. he could and no doubt would bring me to account for being so frank. Well I think he is good enough for her. he is industrious and of sober habits, which is as much value to her as a fortune, as her happiness would much depend upon this. but Say Laura do not understand by this that I am fishing. Not so. I did not think of my position in this world as you know me, this would be useless. /

3^rd

I am much pleased that so much good is being done in the old Church and I hope those who profess may possess. Say does Sister Lib profess to have experienced a change like Ella Bastian I wish I was there to go and see. I think some one would go along. Well I will come one of those odd come shorts when you least expect me. I think you remember the 19^th Dec. 1864. how are you. that was the time I caught you napping. well thats past and gone, we will look to the next happy time.

 

I did not think your Pa was in need of money. I did not intend him to think so, but he has a large family to support, and I am young and why should he pay money out for me. I told him to have the paper sent me and I intend to pay it. I too am a good Dem. he has already done more favors for me and treated me so kindly, which I did and could not expect. I cannot repay the gratitude I owe to him, he has given me the privilege to extend my heart and no doubt will my hand, without saying aught, to one I hold so near and dear, I did not expect he would consent to it. And if I thought he was opposed to it I could not have proved to you what I longed to do. I am quite sure under circumstances he could not Say No. 

 

I am too sorry that your present was damaged I thought it would be a curiosity and I had not seen anything like it.

 

you remember the ring I promised to send you. I cannot get one just now, but as soon as the man gets some of the kind I will send it to you. I am sure it will please you. I am anxiously looking for Joes letter of the 15^th Jan. tell him he must be as good as his word or I will flounce him

 

            tell Sallie Bucher I intend sending her a better photo soon. I only brought six (6) to camp or rather ordered them I did not like to pay for more until I seen some of them I intend ordering more in a few days.

 

            Laura, did I say that Luther Harrison said you wrote to him. if so I made a mistake he informed me that you had written a line in his Mothers or Fathers letter.

 

I must learn Lieut Wireman not to tell tales I will put a flea in his ears he must take care he wrote to Meal in the morning as I arrived at noon on Sunday.

 

            I must close. my kind regards to your Pa and Ma indeed all your friends 20 000 thousand kisses I am ahead to my Laura. I am as ever yours.

 

Please write very soon.

                                   

WHThurston

Lieut Baty F 1^st Pa Arty

2^nd Corps

Washington D.C.

 

[sideways]

 

When I say that

I did not intend

to imitate your

sheet do not take

me wrong.

I mean neither

Something may come

to your memory that

passed, while I was

with you, see you.

WHThurston

 

P.S. Lieut C. has just returned, and I must close.

SOURCES