Headquarters 33^rd Wis. Vol.

Camp near Vicksburg Miss.

January 14^th 1864

 

My Darling Wife:—

                                    For some reason or other I can not tell what, I feel as though I must write you a letter today, although I can not think of a single item of news to write. Nothing of importance has taken place here since I last wrote you and as I have received no letter from you since I wrote I am afraid I shall not write a letter of much interest. I do not write however to you my dear wife as I do to any one else, only when some matter of business or interest demands it. I write to you as I would talk to you, and for the same / reason, because I love to do so, whether what I have to say would be considered of much interest or not. How much I should enjoy a good long chat with you this afternoon my poor pen can not describe, and shall I sit in my tent all day with nothing to do and not use what facilities I have for communicating with you, I can not do this darling and be satisfied. I have been thinking of you almost continually all day. Have wondered many, many times what you was doing and how enjoying yourself. I know that the days and weeks seem to you like long, dreary periods of time that you almost wish you could pass by in a state of unconsciousness, and it is my constant study by day / and night how I can shorten the time of our sepparation or what I can do to relieve your anxiety during its continuance. Could I make you happy my darling wife, my own troubles and privations would then be endurable. Not because my own trials and anxiety to be with you would or could be any less, but the secret consciousness that you was happy would enable me to bear them without a murmur. My daily prayer is and shall continue to be that God will comfort and sustain you and that His protecting care may ever be over you. Let us be hopeful my darling Annie. These long, long weeks of painful suspense will sometime, I trust soon, be at an end / Then we shall be happy.

 

            I wrote to Mother a day or two ago. I had thought that I would not write until I could tell them something definite in regard to my coming home, but I finally concluded that it would not do to put off writing to them any longer. There has been considerable in in the river below Cairo and I am afraid that it will obstruct navigation to such an extent as to deprive us of our mail regularly. I do hope that this will not be the case for to be deprived the privilege of hearing from you now would certainly be almost unendurable. Give my love to all our friends, and believe me ever

                       

Your Faithful & Loving Husband

George

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