Yorktown Virginia Dec 5^th 1863

 

Friend Euphemia

                                    After a long silence I again take my pen to write a few lines to you as your Brother informs me that a letter would be acceptable. I hope you donot attribute my silence and seeming negglect to any want of friendship and kind regards, for I take more pleasure in corresponding with you than with all others in the world. but fearing that a too frequent use of my pen for your perusal would be taxing to you and trespassing to much upon the quietness of a sick chamber for one who can scarcely claim casual friendship I had therefore concluded to deny myself the pleasure of writing so often. I am glad to hear that your health, although poor is not declining and I trust that you may soon be cheered with unmistakable proofs / of returning health. Since I last wrote to you our Reg't has been moved to Yorktown. Our situation here is not as pleasant as the one we occupied in Norfolk and Portsmouth, but we find even in Yorktown something to amuse and attract our attention, while our duties are much lighter than they have been in many other places, and I hope we may have a better oppertunity of more substantially serving our country and rendering a more ample assistance to the cause in which we are engaged. When we came here the place was considered quite sickly, but the cold weather has done so much towards purifying the air that at present it is quite healthy.

 

But one of our company have died since we came here he was a young man from Hopewell by the name of Henry Latham. Several of the company have had slight attacts of ague and fever but nothing serious has arisen from these attacts. a little care and a few simple remedies never fails to restore them and our / Reg't at present is enjoying general good health. The weather has been very mild here this fall there has been but few cold unpleasant days and today seems more like June than cold December. Time seems to pass away rapidly. nevertheless it seems nearly an age since I received your last letter and I often ask myself the question How long will it be before I receive the next. I am always glad to hear from you and a word or line is ever received with pleasure. However I hope you will not endeavor to write write yourself until you are fully able to, which I have no doubt will be very soon, for I hope that God whose mercy has preserved you hitherto will perfect your recovery, and that I may have the pleasure of seeing you again in the enjoyment of good health. Your Brother and others from your neighbourhood are well. Please remember me kindly to your friends and allow me to subscribe myself as ever

                                                                       

Your most sincere Friend

Russell F. Wright

 

Miss E. O. Gillet /

 

 

 

 

Friend Euphemia

                        I wrote to you not long since and regret that I am dinied the pleasure of writing at present on account of a slight injury received the night of the fire, but I hope to be able to write soon, until then good bye

                                                                       

Ever your sincere Friend

Russ 

 

Russ handed me this to send in my letter when he was sick in the Hospital. I put it by mistake in a wrong envelope having several directed alike. I send it now that Phe may know that he took the trouble to write it                                           

C. A. Gillet

 

Miss E. O. Gillet

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