Q.M. Dept 3^d M^d V.V.I

Near Cold Arbour V^a

June 5^th 1864

 

            My dear Hester

                                                To my great surprise and delight I yesterday received three letters from you dated as follows May 17^th 22^d & 27^th my joy at hearing from you once more and learning that you were enjoying good health I am unable to express on paper; but it was a disappointment to me to learn you did not receive my last letter which was written from Fredericksburg V^a about the 19^th of May, I was then with the wagon train and have been with them ever since, but I intend to return this afternoon 

 

I came to the wagons on the 17^th of May on pass; I was suffering greatly at the time from a severe sprain in my right knee which happened to me while we lay at Alexandria V^a previous to starting on our present Campaign. My Colonel was kind enough to grant me permission to remain with the train until my knee was well. it is not well yet but as the Colonel desires me to return to the Regiment I have determined on going this afternoon but I fear sleeping out nights without any shelter will soon make me as bad as ever but never mind I shall until I can go no farther, and then I must give. the strongest men have to give in sometimes you know

 

            Now as it is impossible to write three letters in succession in answer to the ones I have just received I will make one / good long one answer all three and say something about each of them beginning with the earliest date and ending with the latest date

 

            I was very sorry to hear of the death of your Grandmother and of the illness of your cousin, but I agree with you in saying "it is the will of God (God is good and just) although I know it is hard to part with those that are near and dear to us Yet "Our Heavenly Father doeth all things for the best"

 

            I heartily agree with you in your opinion of that patriotic set of men who sit by their comfortable firesides enjoying life to its greatest extent, continually complaining and grumbling about the heads of our different departments from the President down; and also finding fault with the operations / our armies and navies when they are doing their best to crush this rebellion it is a very easy task for them to talk: how I should like to see these men out here fighting in our ranks and enduring all the hardships of a soldiers life in active service. they would have a right to grumble then but now they have none. I think that after a hard days march through a heavy rain, and then participate in an engagement with the enemy for two or three hours, and then lay on their arms all night, and not dare to sleep, or to speak above a whisper, then they would earnestly cry 'I want to go home'. but let them slide we do not want that class of men with us, we despise them, they would do more injury than good to our cause. we want none but men will fight and / mean fight. those who talk and never do anything will not do for our army now. so much for letter number one. now for number two

 

            A chat on paper as you call it is very pleasant to parties separated from each other especially when the letters go right through to their destination with delay but never-the-less it is very pleasant in this instance if it has been two weeks coming

 

            I can sympathize with you in your disappointment in not receiving a letter but it was not my fault. I wrote every chance I had but they are like angels visits "few and far between". I have chances enough to write, but the trouble is to get the letter off after it is written sometimes I carry a letter two weeks without a chance of sending off. by that time / the contents of have become so stale that are not worth sending so I tear the letter up but whenever there is a mail going I make the most of it and write

 

            Yes, I think it will agree with you better than working at 'West or any other place; to live with your old friend as her companion: and as you say she being an old friend will make it much more pleasant for you. I think you acted very wise in accepting the place

 

            Mr Tompkins was very kind to offer to send me papers I received a paper about two weeks ago addressed in a strange hand-write I was very glad to receive it. so scarce are papers out here that when one is received it is read by all hands. You will please tender my thanks to Mr Tompkins for his kindness for me and now for letter number three, which informs me / that you have again been doomed to disappointment, no letter in four weeks. it must have seemed an age to you, but it is strange in that four weeks I wrote four letters and not one of them reached their destination up to the 27^th of May. I cannot account for it unless they are held back at Washington, and I cannot imagine why they are held back so long. it is very annoying to me to think that after all the trouble I have to get a letter off it never reaches its destination, but "while there's life there's hope" they may turn up yet.

 

            I think the gentleman who asked your husbands name was very inquisitive and impertinent to ask such a question, but about the folks at Newark couldn't you tell me about that affair now.

 

            Since my last our army has advanced from Spotsylvania C.H. to within five miles of the Rebel capital Richmond / and we hope soon to see the glorious Stars & Stripes waving triumphantly over that Rebel stronghold. Yes the Army of the Potomac never done so well as it has during the present Campaign and under its present leaders; hitherto it has advanced a few miles fought a battle and then fell back and laid idle for two or three months but Grant is determined this thing shall be no more, that its motto shall be "ever onward", and God grant it may be so. Since the fourth of May there has been more or less fighting every day in all of which we have been successful, but not without a fearful loss, and now we find ourselves in front of the enemies greatest stronghold stronger in numbers and hope than ever we were before and confident of victory. Our little Regiment has suffered severely for its size we have lost upwards of fifty in killed, wounded & prisoners since the fighting commenced we have now only 110 men fit for fight but still we do not despair And now dear Hester I fear I have not made this letter interesting to you but you will please excuse if it is not so and with my best wishes for your welfare I close

                                   

remaining as ever

Yours devotedly

Bob

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