Camp Lake Springs                           

May 31 1863

 

Dear Sarah

                        Yours of 29 was gladly Recd I was expecting it yet I was glad to get it & I think you no doubt have acted verry proper in staying as if I come home I will likely get off in 10 or 15 days but nothing certain for things of that kind go verry slow I started my resignation on thursday last & this morning I came back for lack of the Surgeons certificate which I now have & will start it again to day how long it will take for it to go through I do not know but will await my time as best I can which you know I can do verry quietly without freting We have drawn 10 days rations to day so I thing / is little prospect of us leaving here verry soon as has been reported We had a beautiful rain here last night Oh it did pour down a while Do not have any fear or give your self any uneasiness about me or my health I am quite able to be about & on duty all I am required but I have much symptoms of palpitation I suppose by my lungs being some out of order I do not think it worth my while to stay in the service any longer as I feel satisfyed I cannot stand it on marches & bad weather so be of good cheer for I have no doubt I will be able at least to get home in a month or so for if this resignation be not accepted I will resign unconditionally But no doubt this will many of the women are here yet & some I think / had better be at home with their babies out of the mud I do not know but I might say I am almost glad you did conclude not to come as it is such a poor place for you here but I should have made you quite comfortable by carpeting a tent & making a bedstead But now I shall not look for you here unless something different turns up than I now know of I am sorry I did not write you ere this as now I can hardly expect a letter from you before Thursday or friday a long week this ahead though A or F may wright me I should much like to be be with you to eat strawberries but I presume I shall not have that pleasure hardly this year but if any peaches ripen I hope to / to eat some of them with you & others for surely there will be quite a crop all together of them I had thought if you came down & I got to go home with you we would go by your mothers but I do not care I had rather meet you at home than here or any where els I am sorry to learn sister is yet so unwell I fear she may not get over it as she gets so down hearted when she gets sick Then Ben would be left in a verry bad condition sure I should pitty him But I hope for better things & change in her health You do not say whether Jenny has got a colt or not I suppose you forgot it if she has It is truly cheering to hear of such fine showers as you have had I had feared you were going to have dry weather It shall be rather uninteresting as I do not feel verry well to day I was out on monthly inspection to day & I have eaten but little since yesterday the mail leaves in a few minutes & I will close hopeing to hear from you on receipt of this by my loveing Sarah

                                                                                               

O Barnard

 

[margin upside down]

 

I have scribbled much as my hand is not steady

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