January the 27 A D 1862

 

            Dear Wife I take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well at present and hope that you are the same I received your letter this morning it was a little before I received it that I heard that Sarah would not come home this week because Shrivers children are all sick with the diptheria and the second child was buried yesterday and the others are lying very low Esther has got it too some of the conan's got it too shrivers wants Sarah to stay there this week levina is working in town over a month 

 

I received your other letter with the post and had to the postage which was 1 cent I did not see any of the jenkinss nor Watkins either and I not been out of camp since last monday and then it was on guard We are still in Camp Orr though the talk this afternoon is that if we do not go before friday that we will be discharged here but I do not believe it though I would not be sorry if it was true but I do not think that we will be long before we will return to our homes for the government has enlisted men in Rhodisland for 30 days which is a good sign that we will not be long fighting I have had great job of reading the heads of the Company / the Captain wants me to read his head but I told him that he would not like to hear the worst of his character We were all down in town to preaching I have sent a to Thomas Davis and to Benjamin Forquer Do not think hard that Sarah does not come home she sent with a man to tell me to let you that she would not come this week We are on guard today I got another fellow in my place till I wrote I do not understand what davis you mean in your letter and who was the one he was going to see I wish I had my old pants here now for these are nearly worn out and there is no / patches here either to mend them I must bring my letter to a close so good by give my best respects to father and mother and all your friends and in particular to yourself from your affectionate Husband

William Rees

 

Write soon if you please as soon as you get this

Monday Jan the 27^th

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