Helena, Ark Jan. 26^th 1865

 

Dear Sis:

                        I have just finished a letter to Mrs. Burnham which I commenced last night, but had to discontinue on account of the noise in the room. And as my Journal says it is just one week since I have written to you, and as I have a letter from you under date of Jan'y 14^th, I will now write to you. We are having some very cold weather. One cannot stand it out doors without taking heavy exercise, such as chopping wood &c. This morning Lieut. Duncan had a skate on a pond a short distance below here. It has thawed a little to day in places where the / wind cannot strike, but it hasn't started the ice. We had a pleasant spell of weather of nearly two weeks duration before this cold snap came on. First came a rain, then snow to the depth of an inch. After that the coldest weather we have had this winter. But I am sure that after this cold spell is over we shall have no more so cold again this season. Next winter I expect to be where it will be much colder. We shall be sent home some time in August. I shall be glad when that time comes, yet shall exceedingly regret to leave the army. Once I supposed it would be impossible for me to like soldiering as an occupation, but I do, and if I were in the regular army, should remain in it during life. I wish now it were possible for me to get a position as Lieut. in it, I would / accept it. But it is not, for I am too old. A person must not exceed sixteen years who is admitted into West Point.

 

            For all we have such inclement weather here, we keep up our dances and surprise parties. In fact a surprise party is intended for nothing more than a dance. But every week, in addition to a dance we meet to sing. We practice church music mostly. We do this because we have church every sabbath. At last I have succeeded in procuring a melodeon for our church, and Miss Wygant is going to play for us. We have large houses when the weather is pleasant.

 

Last Monday evening we had a surprise party here, and on Tuesday evening following we were invited to the affair of Maj Murphy and his new wife, Miss Fox / He belongs to the 60^th U.S. Colored Regt. Of course we couldn't do justice to the occasion without a dance, so we had one, which made two evenings in succession we enjoyed ourselves in dancing. We intend to keep up these private dances as long as we remain here. The great trouble is we have not enough ladies. I wish you were here, then I'd have a partner every time. I wish Alice were here, too, but I expect she is averse to dancing and therefore I could not depend on her as a partner in a dance, but she is none the worse, and I love her none the less for that. I danced a schottische the other night, the first time trying. Made only two mistakes at first, but soon got all right and did commendably well. I am well pleased with your description of your sleigh ride over to Sauk Prairie and back. It was no hard matter to tell who your partner was. It was Herbert I know. And since I have spoken of him I will tell you what I think of his officiating in /

 

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Hobarts' place. I think he does it partly from a sense of duty and partly from a love of show. His small veneration is what causes him to speak so slow when praying. To pray is the most unnatural thing in the world for him. Yet, he is religiously educated and like your Bro, thinks it his duty to pray whether he likes it or not. My veneration is deficient. Yet I think it the duty of every one to pray. A person cannot be the best in the world without it. Give my respects to Herbert. I wrote to him a good while ago, and have recd no answer. He wanted me to write to the Hespians but, I'm not a literary person, and will not do it. We have the good news that

 

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Fort Fisher is at last captured. But I do not regard the removal of Genl. Butler as very good news. I think he is about as good as any of 'em. The Adjt. Genl of the army was here on tuesday, but I didn't see him. So Genl. Gilmore was here, some time ago, but I didn't see him either. I have written this with a steel

 

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pen. They are not fit to write with when gold ones can be obtained. I remain your loving Bro. Robert

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