January the 17^th A D 1862

 

Dear Wife

                                    I take my pen in hand to let you know how I am Well pretty well today that is in body but not in mind I have a little pain in my left leg after walking on the rough roads yesterday We got down safe sarah got a ride from middlesex in a wagon I was in shrivers last night and did not come into camp till this morning now I must tell you of the misfortune that befell us last night I turned into mecklins store to get some cigars and left sarah to go on I was a few minutes after her she went about ten rods from reeds tavern then she turned of the road up to a coal bank and went up the hill a very ugly road then when I came out of the store she had gone out of sight but I thought that she / had walked fast and had gone out of sight I walked like a horse to catch up to her but I went all the way to shrivers and then she was not I started back to the tavern and it was there that I heard that she had gone the wrong way I started after her I went in all about six miles She had got to shrivers about ten minutes after I left she had not went very much further round than if she had gone the right way but she gave me a good walk but we are all safe now I got into camp safe without getting into the guardhouse We do not know when we will leave here they say that we are going monday but I do not think that we will much before spring you must try to come down before / we leave but I will let you know as near as I can I would like to get your likeness I spent nineteen cents coming down I have got a pipe for father and a dutch one it is to I hope you are well and enjoying good health and making yourself contented. no more at present you must excuse my poor writing it was getting dark give my best respects to my parents

I see a great change here

 

I do not get such good usage here as did at home with my dear Wife

 

from your affectionate husband

William Rees

                                               

to his Wife Mary Rees

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