Evening 8 O'clock

Before Petersburg V^a

March 19^th 1865

 

My dear Hester

                                    Your kind favor of the fourteenth arrived safely late last evening and I assure you it was pleasing to me to learn that you had been enjoying yourself by a visit to Staten Island a beautiful place it is too in my estimation; I often used to spend a day roaming about the Island and always enjoyed myself very much, and I judge from your letter that you did the same, especially as you talk of going there again before long 

 

The eighth of March I suppose you will not soon forget for by your letter I see you done considerable travelling on that day and I do not wonder at you being tired when your journey was over (I see you can be very smart when you wish to no offence at that) what is the one failing that your bachelor friend is afflicted with

 

            It really was too bad that you meet with such a disappointment on your return home but then you know it could not be helped. but never mind the harder the struggle the sweeter the victory and it may come sometime

 

            In my last I told you we were under marching orders. well we are still under them and when I wrote that letter I did not think I would be here to night. It is now thought that our Corps will not move immediately but will / remain here and hold this line while the fifth, sixth and second Corps open the campaign by a combined movement against the enemies right flank but it is not known how soon the campaign will open. meanwhile active preparations are still going on. the Sutlers have been sent to the rear. the sick sent to Hospital, and the surplus baggage sent to Alexandria V^a for storage in fact every preparation that needs to be made is rapidly nearing completion the weather for the past five days has been delightful and consequently the roads are in a good condition for active operations. recruits are arriving in vast numbers daily, one Regiment in our Brigade received upwards of five hundred within one week. Let them come we want as many as we can get and the more we get the sooner the / war will be over; an event which I think every body both Rebel and Union would like to see. The enemy in our front have become quite docile of late. not a shot is fired during the day and but a few straggling shots during the night

 

            About your living with your uncle & aunt as their daughter I really do not know what to say in fact I would rather not say anything either one way or the other. Use your own judgment and do as you think best (but I suppose you would do so without my advice so I might just as well not said so) You ought to be the best judge knowing both parties and all about them while I know nothing of them

 

            Now dont you think I have been unusually smart lately as this is the third letter I have written you in ten days. very good for me I think

 

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Remember me kindly to all your folks and with love to you I close

 

            Remaining yours Devotedly R.S.S.

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