Dubuque Dec. 20^th 1863

 

My Darling Husband

I was writing to you yesterday, and telling you that I had not heard from you for more than a week when Mr Bartlett came and brought me two from Vicksburg, of the 7^th and 9^th and as Hat and I were about ready to go up town I did not write very much after reading your letters, for it was quite late then. I have been to church this morning to the universalist of course. I guess however that we are going to the methodist to night Edgar / and Hat said they would if I would like to and I told them that I should. You did not want me to hear that man preach did you darling, but they insisted upon my going, and of course I did not like to refuse. you need not worry in regard to my believing in any of their doctrines, for the more I hear and know of them, the more absurd they appear to me Hat has gone to Sabbath school Angie and I staid home to write. I do not know my dear whether to be glad or sorry that your Regt is back to Vicksburg again. I am glad for one thing and that is you are not as far away as you would have been had you gone on down to Natchez / but then I always had a kind of horror of Vicksburg. It seems to me such an unhealthy place around about there, if I thought you had to stay there my darling until the warm weather I should feel much more troubled than I now do if such a thing could be. If I did not think that you would be back home with me before that time I would be the most miserable of all beings in this world. All my happiness my dear husband depends upon you. If I could only be blest with your society I would be happy, and all the unhappiness you cause me darling is something that you can not help, and that is in having to be so far from me. I earnestly pray that the / good Lord will soon permit you to return. It is a splendid morning Edgar Hat and I are going up town to do some shopping this is a great place to take all the money one has. friday is christmas and my poor George can not be here with me. it will be a very lonely one for me the girls are making great preparation for a grand ball a military party they all say that I must go Edgar says he is just going to take me but I am not not even though it vexes them all I have told them so decidedly and yet they all keep at teases me all in this house, and several others. there seems to be more going on here this winter than usual. tonight the german turners give an entertainment for the benefit of the aid society, Wednesday / evening the new Englanders have a supper, thursday evening the universalist society have a festival, and friday, Christmas evening is the grand ball. is that not enough for one week dear I am going tonight darling Mr Bartlett wants Angie and I to go and I told him that I would and I presume I shall go to their festival, and that is all that I shall go this week. I think I have to go out some but had much rather stay at home always, because every time that I go out I think that my darling George ought to be along and I feel worse than I should to stay at home. nothing is any enjoyment for me dear unless you can enjoy it / with me. I shall expect soon darling to know whether you can come home now or not Mr Bartlett thinks that you will be here by the middle of next month. If I only was sure that you could be home by the last of the month I would certainly be the happiest girl in all Dubuque county. I have written you quite often but you may never get any of my letters as I sent them to Natchez. they all send their kindest regards to you and hope that you will soon return. Edgar has gone for a sleigh to give us a ride. Hat says she is going to be jealous of him for thinking I am "old gay" but then she says that she thinks that you are, so that they are even any way. 

 

I told you darling all about my visit in the country, and as you may some time get the letter, I will only tell you now that Flory's baby is getting well fast and the rest of the family are well. they say when you come back that we are to make them a visit. Flory thinks that I ought to stay out there the greatest part of my time but it is so lonely and then I do not get my letters out there as readily as I do here I was out there ten or twelve days however that was quite a stay but they are ready to go uptown and I must close. be a good boy darling and hurry home to your ever faithful little wife

 

write often and long letters dear George                                                                                   

Annie

 

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