Camp Lake Springs   

Sonday May 17^th 1863

 

Dear Sarah

                        Your very short letter mailed the 14^th wrote 11 I had to day for dinner or before I eat my dinner you know I am always thankful for small favors so I am for that But some how they seem so short the one you sent in Samls & your last I hope you do not work so hard you cannot take time to write more or perhaps you do not get time Though I learn by one from Amos that he had one on the 12 for you though that was after you wrote then I wrote one on the 10 & 13 also The one I got to day was the 4 I have had since you left for home I suppose one or 2 are lost but why I cannot see It is sunday, I am on duty Officer of the Day the / day & a fine day it is warm & breesy Those letters or sheets from Mrs Martin are certainly verry kind & she seems to feel as she says & if so it must be a great pleasure to her to have a letter from those she seems to think so much of I hope you will write her a long letter You may not write so well but she has sons enough to overlook that & receive the offering as kindly as though done in the best style It is the mind & sympathy that tells its loveing story to the listener.

 

I will write to her again if we stay here & I see nothing to hinder & much to cause me to believe we will stay here for some time especially if Schofield should take command of this department which is now stated to be true much feeling is manifest by Officers & men about such a change / Capt Mann says he will resign he thinks if such is the case but I do not think there are much hope of that as he has talked Resign so long I shall tell him if he does not resign I will but will give him the first chance & then I could fix things more to my notion Though it does not look much like it when he has wrote to his wife she might come down again if she wanted to I should like verry much to have you here again but there is so poor a chance to stay & to stay in camp is to dirty for you to enjoy though some seem to be quite satisfyed but they look dirty & care less more so than would give me any pleasure to see you look & then you can not well leave home as I can see how did Franky & Charly get along was there any thing unpleasant in their lonesome stay I hope not 

 

I have no doubt but Mrs Powellson could be got to stay while you were gone But perhaps you had best not think of comeing down again now but if we stay long I will have you come then as to the calf you may do as you pleas about keeping it If you do I guess I would not sell it to Amos but if the Butchers want it & it is so large ask ten dollars for him at 6 weeks & if you think of keeping it have him altered soon no doubt you will have milk enough to use if you milk both cows If you keep the cow in our pasture do not let the little cow go to the bull only so she will have a calf next fall say not until winter & then I hope to be at home to attend to it but the old one as soon as she will I suppose you milk the young cow & have sold her calf or will I was at church to day & think I will go this evening at 4 Oc I wish I was at home to go with you to church but rather to stay at home but let us not think of that until there are more hope of such an event but in that time let it be with you & me as to what I write & say Is Amos loaning any money for himself me either if not I am loosing more than I make by my money laying idle but perhaps he sees no chance to loan he does not say in his of the 12^th only Stubblefield has paid of his note I will write in the margins

 

[side and top margins]

 

I found some of those little flowers in one letter but no more I hope I shall get a long letter from you on tuesday at fast night

 

[top front margin upside down]

 

You may give one of those records to Amos for Frank & he will have it framed or you can & the other as I said one keep now good by Sarah

O Barnard

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