Portsmouth, Virginia

Wednesday June 10^th/63

 

Friend Euphemia,

            Your kind letter written by your sister on the 24^th inst. came to hand several days ago but our company having moved since I have been unable to reply til the present moment. I have indeed anxiously waited the reception of a letter from you, but knowing that you was unable to write to Charlie and as I had requested you to not write to me until you was fully able, I saw but little prospect of my anxious hopes being realized. It had been so long since I had received a letter from you that I was afraid you would never be able to write again and that I had received the last kind words from your pen that I ever should. But through the blessing of Heaven you are still spaired and your letter proves, notwithstanding your suffering and affliction, that I am not quite forgotten. You was not able to write but few / words yourself, which was read with the greatest pleasure. I hope the effort did not prove an injury to you. Please tell your sister Miss to accept of my most sincere thanks and best wishes for her kindness. Since I wrote you last I presume you have been informed of the two removals of our company. First from fort Norfolk to Davids Mills, and from there to the city of Portsmouth. We have hardly got settled in our new quarters yet, this is the first day that a detail has been made from our company to do duty here. Our duties are Provost and Picket duty. We are comfortably quartered in a two story brick building standing near the Navy yard, which was formally used for a grocery store. The building has five apartments, three on the first floor and two on the second, one of which is occupied by the commitioned officers of our company. The office a small room on the first floor, is occupied by D. Redfield, F. Chapin, your brother, and myself. We are pleasantly and comfortably situated and thus far are very much pleased with our new situation. I am aware that your brother writes to you often and I presume keeps you well posted in regard to our / movements and situation, so that I shall be unable to give you much information on that point. Our company is enjoying general good health and spirits, and it is better situated, and all are better pleased with their present situation than they have been before since leaving home. you tell me in the few words you wrote, you would write to me as soon as you were able. I shall take pleasure in reading a letter from you at any time, but donot attempt to write until you are fully able to. until that time I will endeavor to be contented with the pleasure of writing to you, and in the hope that your thoughts are sometimes shaired with me. I hope you donot get discouraged on account of your long continued illness and suffering, but still have faith to believe that you will yet be restored to health. I have no doubt the warm air of the summer season will aid very much in accomplishing this desired affect. I cannot believe the noblest work of God, and the most choice gems of Earth was formed to be thrown as chaff to the wind, but knowing that our destiny is in His hands who does all things well, I believe you will yet live to enjoy many years of health and happiness 

 

I have never had the pleasure of enjoying your society but little. I regret that circumstances had not placed us oftener in each others society that we might have been more intimately acquainted. Had this been the case, I am vain enough to believe you could have reciprocated the sentiments I have heretofore expressed to you. But through the fate and uncertainties of war we may never be more personally acquainted than we are at present, but I asure you my last breath shal be breathed in a prair for your wellfare and happiness. If you will send me your likeness sometime when convenient you will do me a great favor, and I will endeavor to take the best of care of it, and will faithfully return it when called for. When you are able to write again, please tell me if you will send it, if so I will send you the case I wish it placed in. I trust this may find you in better health than you have recently enjoyed

 

Allow me to subscribe myself as ever

Your most cincere and devoted Friend

Russell F. Wright

 

To Miss Euphemia O. Gillet

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