Harpers Ferry Va Mar 15-63

 

Dear Parents

                        It is with pleasure that I now sit down to write a few lines to you We are as well as usual and I hope these few lines will find you the same. Nothing of importance has transpired since I last wrote to you that is worth speaking about consequently (as old Dean says) you need look for but little news from me this time

 

Our boys have been to work all day (sunday) preparing for to lay the new ponton bridge. When this bridge is completed the old one will be taken up and then it is quite probable that we will have to make a moove of some sort or other. We received a letter from you yesterday and I was very much pleased to learn that Ella was getting better again and I hope she will soon be well and feel like herself once more. Daniel I have not answered your letter yet but when I write to our folks it is intended for you as well as for them so dont expect me to answer yours separately every time but I want you to continue to write to me just as often and oftener if you can than / you have heretofore I suppose your school is about closed for this winter and you will soon have to commence your summers work or springs work I should have said and you wont find Charley to help you nor boss you around as you used to say I did so you must now take my place and fill it and your own as well as you can and take good care of yourself and try to be a good and wise man for now is the time to improve and remember that habits formed in youth be they good or bad generally follow us through life The drum has beat for roll call and it is now nearly bed time so I will close this from your son and brother

                                                                                   

Charles W Personeus 

 

Sunday Evening nearly

bedtime but as Charley has left this sheet unfinished I will write a few lines to you we are very busy as he wrote you preparing to build a new bridge it requires a grate deal of work with good luck we will complete it this week Why it takes us so long we have to cut and prepare all the timber for it as it is just as it came out of the mills we work every day including sundays this I would not do for my self but the Government does not know when sunday comes if there is work to do

 

            This evening we are having another snow storm quite a hard one there is nearly an inch of snow

 

            There was a report yesterday that we was having some fighting out to Winchester but the excitement has all died out to day so that I dont believe any thing of it there was to or three Regiments ordered away in the afternoon but I learn they have returned to day I believe we are having about as much fighting here as in any Department which is very little and I dont think there will be any until after the first of / april

 

            Charles received a letter from you yesterday wrote Wednesday the day of the wedding which must of been a gala day I was glad to hear that Ella was getting well for I wanted her to enjoy the wedding for me

 

            I am troubled to death with our stove it smokes most unmercifully I believe I shall try to get different quarters in some place where I can have a fire place and do without stoves as I am getting tired of them I have three different ones during the winter and they was all alike in the smoking line

            If you dont get letters from me as often as usual or as long you may conclude that I am very busy send that money I wrote for the other day as board bill is getting big this from your Husband & son &c &c &c

                                                                       

W V Personius

U.S.Army

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