Soldiers Home

N^os 50 & 52 Howard St

May 3^d 1864

 

Brother, Sister and All

                                    I thought I would just drop a line in some camp post trusting that you would soon hear of our leaving the City of N.Y. for Richmond Via

 

            You have expressed so much interest in my welfare that I shall endevoir to keep you posted respecting my whereabouts all through the coming campaign unless some thing should befall me

 

            We leave the City for Fortress Monroe to morrow at 7 AM we are told and from there we are bound for Yorktown. Gen Gilmore is relieved at Hilton Head and he will probably be with us as usual but in another department / I shall feel as we are marching onward to Glory that your hearts are with us. And often I shall hear you wishing that James could share a custard pie with you as I partake of our plain fare. Now all of you will think of me and will pray for me and I shall feel it, and it will be a source of much pleasure. Tell little Berta, that she is not overlooked in my thoughts and conversation I feel that the little innocents hold close communion with God and for that reason I consider their prayers beyond prize

 

I shall endevoir to do right by abstaining from evil and what ever my destiny shall be I hope to be prepared to meet it

 

While I have been in the City many temptations have allured / my path But I have prayed to God to help me where I am weak, and I think he has heard me. He knows that we are all prone to sin but when we will ask for help in the hour of trial his arm is ever ready to rescue or to save 'Tis now nearly bed time I will close with much love to you all

                                                                                               

Yours in Affection

James

 

This Soldiers Home is a grand institution and well conducted I think

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