Yorktown Virginia

Thursday Jan 28^th 1864

 

Dear Euphemia

                                    Will you allow me to use such an expre. I arived safely in Yorktown on the 24^th inst and found every thing quite as when I left the place. I stayed at Mr Munsons the night after leaving your house and he took me to Canandaigua next morning in time for me to take the early train to Elmira. I had a pleasant passage to Yorktown, or rather nothing occured to prevent my having a pleasant one. the weather was warm and pleasant and as I drew near Baltimore the snow gradually disappeared, and in and about the city there was but little to be seen, and when I arived at Fort Monroe the weather was so clear and warm that it had more the appearance of May day than the 24^th of January. But notwithstanding the fine weather / and the many cheerful faces I saw about me, I could not suppress the feeling of sadness which stole over me when I thought of the friends I had left behind. I found it very hard indeed to leave my sisters, but I find there can be a much stronger attachment than that which one can feel for a sister. Phema I shall ever look back at the few hours I enjoyed in your society as the happiest moments of my life. I most earnestly hope my visit did not prove an injury to you. I am aware that it must have been very fatiguing and I should regret it very much if you had injured your health in striving to make it pleasant for me. I hope I may hear from you soon, either by letter or some other source, for I am anxious to learn how you are and if you are any worse since I left there I hope you will endeavor to keep up all the courage you can til spring opens. then I trust there will be a change for the better. Our Regiment received orders last night to hold themselves in readiness for active field service. I feel thankful / that we are not to remain in Yorktown until warm weather. I am not aware of where we are to go or how soon our services will be required. I hope it may be a movement to relieve our poor suffering soldiers in Richmond. I should be very much pleased to have an oppertunity of forming one of the number in such an expidition. A quite a number of troops have arived here in the last few days and have been sent on to Williamsburgh. Charlie is enjoying good health and seems to have no reluctance of going to the field. I have but little news to interest you with. If we go to the field soon I will endeavor to write to you often so that you may keep posted in regard to our movements, and I shall be glad to hear from you as often as your friends can find a convenient moment to write for you. but I would not task them to much, for I shall prise it as a great favor to hear from you occasionally. but I trust you may soon be able to do your own writing and I feel confident you will be better in the spring if you can keep up courage til that / time. I think of you very often Phema and am very sorry I cannot see you oftener but I hope we may meet under more favorable circumstances than we parted. May the most choice blessings of Heaven allways be yours. Please give my kind regards to your parents and to Miss and tell her I shal be ever grateful for her kindness.

 

Please accept the assurance of my cincere love and friendship

Russell F. Wright

 

To Miss Euphemia O. Gillet

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