Camp Near Point of Rocks Va
Sept 18th 1864
Dear Phemia
I have just returned from picket this evening. A larger detail was made from the regiment for duty yesterday than common and the color guard was sent on picket for the first time since we came to this place. When the mail arived this evening I looked for a letter as usual, but did not receive one. Perhaps I shall tomorrow evening. I hope you have not been sick to deprive you of writing. I will try to believe you have not until I hear from you. I wrote to you the middle of last week respecting Charlie's sickness. I hope you have not been uneasy about him. I have been to see him every day since he went to the hospital, accept yesterday and today and should have went then if duty had not prevented. Frank Chapin went to see him yesterday and told me he was much better and was able to sit up and walk about a considerable. He has / some pain in his head and eyes yet, but he is improving so fast that I think he will be entirely over it in a few days and be able to return to duty. I will try to see him before I mail this letter and will tell you if he still continues to improve. C. P. Knapp is a nurse in the same ward with him, which makes it much more pleasant than it would be if he was among strangers. The last time I was there he told me he had writen home that day, but said he did not feel able to write a very long letter.
Our situation remains the same as when I wrote last. there has been no move of any importance in this vicinity since we arived here and there seems but little prospect of one being made soon. We have not been paid since this campaign opened, but have been expecting to be paid very soon for some time. The weather is fine and pleasant, and gradually becoming cooler, and I think it will be more healthy in the course of a month, and may be before that time than it is at the present time. You tell me you are intending to return to your home the first of / next month, which is near at hand. I hope dear Phemia you will return in good health, or at least a fair prospect of soon fully recovering from your long spell of sickness.
Sept 19th I went to see Charlie this morning and found him a good deal better than he was when I saw him last. He was siting on a bench out side of the hospital tent and looked quite like himself again. I told him I was writing to you and he said I should tell you he was geting along well, and he thought he would be able to return to the company in a few days. His eyes is a little weak yet, and it troubles him some to write or read much, and I advised him to not try to do either for a few days until they were stronger. He said I must make some appology to you for him for not writing to you oftener. he knew that I wrote to you pretty often and he relied on my correspondence answering for both. I am glad he is geting along so well for when he went to the / hospital I was afraid he would be some time in geting well, but he is so much better now, and seems to be doing so well that I think he will fully recover in a few days. In order to get this letter in this afternoons mail I will have to close. This leaves me in good health and less than a year to serve in the army. I hope it may find you as well as usual and in good spirits. I shall endeavor to write as often as usual, and if Charlie should be taken worse again I will write immediately and let you know it, so if you do not hear from me before another week you may know he is doing well. The last week seems unfinished without one of your letters to read, but I will endeavor to wait as patiently as possible until it arives
Please accept of the sincere love and good wishes of
Your Affectionate Friend
Russell F. Wright
To Euphemia O. Gillet