No 23)

Lafourch Crossing. June 18^th 1863

 

My Dear Mary

                        I received your letter of the 2 yesterday and will try and answer it. I find it full of love for my poor self you must not think you did not do all you could for me when I was with you for I am shure I had all your love and that you done all you could for my comfort I think if there is anyone toblame it is myself for leving a young fond loveing Wife at home to come to such a detestable country as this and on such an erand. but what is the use in finding falt with any one as here I am and here I shal have to stay for a while yet and it will make it no beter for either of us to grumble. let us then loock on the bright side and hope and trust that all will yet come out well and that we shal love each other beter for the short seperation 

 

I came here to the Reg^t Hospital June 7 and have not ben very far from my bed since our chaceing Rebs and sleeping on the ground was a little to much for me I think I got a little over het I staid in camp as long as I could and then came here and I think it is well I did as I have had a tuch of the chils and fever and I think if I had not had medacin I should have had the shakes as it is I have got rid of them all I think as I feal well except I am very week but I am gaining and expect to go to the City in a few days. Oscar has ben up this morning and brot me a cup of goat broth and some crackers he is up here nearly every day he is well. there is near 100 sick in the Hospital now but I beleave there is none concidered very dangerous the first 5 days I was here was sorowful times there was a death every day the Chaplin died and one man from our company an old man from Ridgefield 

 

Dear Mary you wish very much to have me come home to watch over and give you my advice and council let me advise you not to trust to much to my week nature but learn to put your trust in your God and be prepared for what ever changes he may have in store for you. do not think by this that that I would not have you long for my comeing and loock forward to the time with bright hopes of a happy future for this is rite and I hope for the time very much myself but while we hope for much enjoyment here on earth let us remember this earth is not our dweling place but rather a place to fit ourselvs for that world above where sorrow is unknown let us so live that there will be no reproach brot on our profescion but rather that we live in acordance with it and let us conduct ourselvs among men in such a maner that we may have a name above reproach and be respected as a famely receive these scatering remarks in love and take them for what they are worth /

 

what in the world has become of sister Kate you havenot mentioned her in a long time and Oscar has not herd from her he had a letter from Frank the last mail I received 2 papers there was no marck on them I do not know who sent them but I think it was your Father. I am very sorry to hear of Grand Fathers death I was in hopes to se him on earth but I trust we shal meet in Heaven. Nelson Peck died very sudenly the 6 he was nocked off the bridge by the cars and drouned we learn that life is very uncertain any where. I am glad to hear Hattie is geting along so well you must be careful and not make her to proud I think her dress is a nice one and she must keep it nice as papa cannot get one every day what has become of Father and Mother I have not had a letter from them in 3 weeks give my love to them and all enquireing friends I hope I shal be there and bring some myself before long the time is geting short Goodbye From Edwin to Mary and Hattie

 

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Mary as I lay here on my bed last Sunday I thot where we wer 9 months ago that day that is one shure sign that my term of servace had aut to be out but dont it seam as if we had ben married 9 months it does not to me the time will be short when it is passed let us hope

 

19^th 63 as this is to leave this morning I must write a word to let you know I am in first rate health and quite strong and have a good apetite I think I shal go up to the Company in 3 or 4 days I am thin and hope I shal remain so as long as I stop in this country we have had showers here for the last week and it has ben quite cool I hope it will be no warmer than it has ben I have just herd that Geo Deforest is so low they think he cannot live I am very sory I hope we shal stay here but a short time longer keep up good spirits Mary and wait for Edwin

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