Caroline A. Reed to Charles E. Reed, 10 October 1862
Richmond Mills. Oct. 10th 1862.
 
My Dear Brother.
                                    Sam recd your letter yesterday. We were all glad to hear from you again. We are all well except Father. he has been growing weaker ever since you left. can't sit up only long enough to have his bed made. has suffered terribly, is so poor you would hardly know him. Dr. Paull performed some kind of an operation on him Wednesday. since then he has been easy. Dr. P. thinks he will get better, but we have been very much afraid he would not ever get well. Mother has taken care of him all the time both day & night until this week. Cousin Wheeler has taken care of him one night, John Reed one night, and Philip is here to-night / They lie on the lounge part of the time and get up when he needs them. Mother takes care of him daytimes.
 
            Uncle Willis and Aunt Theodosia have been here to day. Uncle Willis has sold his place for $1200. he is going to Dansville to see how he can do. They will not go to housekeeping before spring. They are coming here in two or three weeks to stay five or six weeks. Father & Mother want to have them come. Uncle Willis is pretty well now but cant work any.
 
Edward Chipman was taken prisoner in the second Bull Run battle. the rebels found him so useful they kept him taking care of the wounded a long time. I believe he has got back now any way his Mother has had a letter from him. Albert has gone to Michigan with sheep. Tom went with him. John A. and Eve got home to-day from Michigan. Mr. Day called here Wednesday. he got to Geneva two hours after / the regiment had started. Miss Green started for home last Monday. she was going to stay in NYork a week.
 
Augustus Stevens is married to a sister of Stella Richards. Mrs Lydia Warner called here to-day. she says there is a great many Lima boys in the 130th reg. Emily Reed has learned that one of her schoolmates is in your regiment, his name is Charlie Redfield he is in the company that has a minister for Capt. he is engaged to a Miss Chapman a young lady that visits at Widow Adam's
 
Sam gets along very well with his work has got the clover in. John is husking corn to-day. John says the colt is very handsome about equal to Dandy. Sam has sold a cow, two calves, & seven hogs but I dont know what he got for any of them. We have had summer weather here until yesterday it is quite cool now and raining to-night You said you was acting as sergeant. we did not know whether you was sergeant or only acting for some one else. /
 
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Adelia and Margery are awful homesick
 
Mother wanted me to tell you to be sure and wear your bandadge. it may prevent your being sick and caution you about eating anything that pedlars or 'sesech' offer you. I should not suppose, though, they could poison raw potatoes. We think about you when we eat, and I guess mother is thinking about you pretty much all the time. Mr Adams has been here this week, & John Ray called here to-day. Dr. Paull took dinner here to-day. Willie called to the Doctor one day after he had got into his carriage to know where Mate Paull was. Doctor told him, she was in Michigan, then he wanted to know when she was coming home he was very sure he saw her to meeting last Sunday. any way there was somebody there that had a hat on just like hers. Sam has written to you once and I sent you three papers this week. Write as often as you can if it is not but a few lines.
 
Almeron wrote that postage stamps were scarce there. if you havent plenty we will send you some.
                                                                       
Yours affectionately
Caroline
 
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I thought soldiers were not going to use the shovel and spade anymore. I think it is to bad to set them to diging.         Sam will write again in a few days.
15362
DATABASE CONTENT
(15362)DL1926.006X.1Letters1862-10-10

Tags: Farming, Homesickness, Illnesses, Money, Prisoners of War, Second Battle of Bull Run, Weather

People - Records: 2

  • (5118) [recipient] ~ Reed, Charles Edward
  • (5120) [writer] ~ Reed, Caroline A.

Places - Records: 1

  • (3075) [origination] ~ Richmond, Ontario County, New York

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SOURCES

Caroline A. Reed to Charles E. Reed, 10 October 1862, DL1926.006, Nau Collection