Fairfax station. April 3^d 62

 

Remembered Friend Lottie

                   I received your letter a few days since. you did not direct my letter as I told you to precisely. you did not direct it in care of Captⁿ Chamberlain. consequently it laid in the Office some time and was advertised. however I received it after a long while. Was glad to hear from you once more as you and Cassie are about the only correspondents I have from Norwich. once and a great while I receive a letter from A. P. Brewers people but very seldom. I am now with the Regt. I left work at convalescent camp March 4^th and went to the Regt the 6^th Joined it at Fairfax. My Father came to see me at Fairfax C. House. He came to Washington after my Brother that was wounded at Bull Run although / he had not been out of doors after he was taken to the hospital until he started for home. I have just recd a letter saying that he arrived home safe which I did not expect. I was sorry that I left convalescent so soon. If I had staid untill Father came I could have got a furlough. I did not know it at the time but I was so lonsome after I got through work I thought I must go to the Regt I was glad to get back with the Boys and I hope I shall have occasion to leave it again. My health has been very good the most of the time since I came back. We have had very bad weather here for a long time the mud is very deep I hope and presume we shall have good weather soon. We expect to go to Alexandria soon to do duty. We are all waiting anxiously to hear of the Battles soon to come off. I read a letter from Cassie yesterday. She said your school has closed I presume you are glad of it 

 

If you see Miss Elizabeth or Eva Martin you tell them I shall hold them to their word. But I will close.

 

please write as soon as convenient and give my regards to all and oblige your Friend

Horace G. Babcock

 

to Lottie L Lasher

 

p.S. direct your letters to the Regiment

 

[front verso upside down]

 

Respected Sir

                        Seeing your advertisement in the paper saying that as your circle of female acquaintances was somewhat limited, you had not as many correspondents as you would desire I thought that perhaps a few lines from me would not be unacceptable. I deem it a great privaledge as well as a duty to write to all soldiers who desire my correspondence, knowing that they are our countrys defenders who have taken their lives in their hands and bid farewell to home and friend perhaps forever and gone forth to battle for right and Liberty, and shall not we who stay at home and enjoy the privaledges of which they are deprived and for which they are fighting for not only for themselves but also for us. I say shall not we do all in our power to promote their happiness which is not much at the most. I deem it the duty of every true American woman to do all in her power by writing to the soldiers to encourage and cheer them on. You know it is always said that the darkest hour is just before day. I think that the morn must be dawning for it certainly has been dark enough this past winter, but I feel very much encouraged now

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