Lake Springs Mo       

May 6^th 1863

 

Dear Wife

                        Shall I have to write again in vain to hear from you It seems a month since I heard from you I seem to almost forget you wrote me by Irvins it was so short To day I was so disappointed that I did not hear from you not even a word by AB who wrote to Moulton directing to me but there was but a few words to me in it & not a word about you how is it I will still wait as I can do no better This is the 3^d letter I have written to you or perhaps the 4 since you left A only said Charley was having the ague but plowing there Monday About now as I write Saml is leaving the cars to meet his dear ones / were it only a permanent meeting & all the rest of the Reg there what a glorious time it would be I hope to see the day & that soon when we may have the pleasure yet it may be many months I cannot think so I am in fair health but have a severe cough at times now last night & to day is verry cold & the men seem to suffer from chillyness I have fears for the fruit at home how is it I hope not hurt Samuel will tell you some things I think if you see him Those specimens I sent you can label as some of them are labeled as blue glass from Merrimac Iron Works Iron oar the same White stone from some place Stalactites from Little Riney cave all of them I could not well send more by Saml We have no indications of moving yet & we may stay for days or weeks yet 

 

I send by Hanley Stewart a roll of Company I Records to be left at Thompsons Drug Store for you. you will see 3 of the first roll are for AY & JO Barnard & E Busick these you will leave at Crothers drug Office & the inside roll give to any one from Little Mackinaw that calls for them all the others has the names wrote on them the owners will call for them You may give one of those I send you to [?] you pleas & have a frame & glass put on the other if you think it worth it I did not think it worth while getting more If A wants one let him have it as he does many things for you no doubt I will send you a photograph of camp if they succeed in getting good ones of fair size The soldiers had a ball in the college building of mostly Officers & some citizens girls & women / & perhaps some Officers wives But sure it is they had a great time & 3 or 4 couple still lay or sit locked in each others arms at day light this morning I think such things very demoralizing to an army but your Col Mack does the same & did while you were here. We have verry little sickness in the Regiment now & have in our Co now & only 1 unfit for duty no deaths since Philips & none in the hospital tent I have sent two more of those records to be left at Thompsons one for Wm Kent for his father & one to Francis Johnsons Mother or any one that calls for them Moultons & John Dawsons son will send to Amoses and any others that belong on that side of the grove But I suppose that is all there is I will write so you will get another letter on Saturday a week before Saml starts back & if we stay you may send me some canned fruit or butter if you can do so handy the Orderly has been

 

[upside down interwritten]

 

verry liberal with what he brought & so has Howell & I can repay them in that way & at the same time be verry palatable as well as some dry fruit but do not send much as we may go at any day now good by my loved one remember me as ever yours O Barnard

 

[front top margin upside down]

 

This is a little hurried as I want to send by Stewart & save 3 cts you know

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