at home No 34. Mead Street

Charlestown, Mass. June 6^th 64

 

Mrs Asa Wheeler

           

Dear Madame,

                                    It was my honor, as well as great pleasure, to be the friend of your late son, Richard P. Wheeler. I formed his acquaintance at Newbern while he was in his Regt. and met him very often. Was with the expedition that went under Maj. Genl. Foster, to South Carolina, & there, upon St. Helena Isl'd, saw Dick often, after he was permanently detailed upon Genl. Heckman's staff as A.D^e. Camp. When the Expedition was ordered to move under command of Maj. Genl. Butler, I was ordered to report to Brig. Genl. Heckman, as Signal Officer upon his staff, which I did accordingly, & consequently was again thrown into company with him. We landed together / and made the advance, and the same night tented together with the Genl. and staff.

 

                        Afterward, I was ordered to report to Genl. Weitzel, and while with that Genl. Richard was ordered to report to him also. I saw R. again, just as he was being brought out from the deep darkness of the woods. on that ill-fated morning I took him by the hand and tried to speak a word of encouragement, but found he needed only to be placed in an ambulance which I went back and ordered up immediately.

 

                        I mention the above circumstances because they are the little items which have occurred during our acquaintance, and which have allowed us many a pleasant hour together. There are still other items which I am sure will prove interesting to you with which I am familiar and which refer to your dear son. I / shall go down to Salem on purpose to make you a call. I have Richards gold watch and chain, which Miss Fisher thought I had better deliver to you in person. I had intended also to take to you Richards two months pay for April & May and for which he signed Pay Rolls and an order for me to get the amt. from the Paymaster, but Lt. Col.        of the 1^st Va. Loyal troops at Norfolk took them to hurry up the matter, and I have not since heard from him nor them.

 

                        Shall take the first opportunity to call upon you—and I trust it may happen by Thursday of this week.

                                                                                   

Very Respectfully & Sympathizingly

Your Friend

A. J. Colbrook

Lieut. Signal Corps

U.S.A.

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