Wednesday morning 27^th 1863

 

As we didnot send our letters yesterday I will write a little more. ther was an extra train up just at night last night as they passed they threw off a bundle of papers and letters most of the men had letters and papers but narry a one for Edwin I can tell you I was disapointed and felt very lonesome last night while others wer reading and I had none and as soon as 9 oclock roll call was over I, Samuel and ordely C went up to the river staid on the stoop at Lanfears and talked about home then went out on the river in our boat in the moon lite it was very pleasant we went back to camp about 10 I went to sleep about 11 and slept till near 6 this morning with but one dream I dare not tell you what that was on paper I will tell you when I get home. I do not know as I had aught to have expected a letter as the last one was mailed / the 11 and the steamer that brot thiss sailed the 16 and yet I think you minght find time to write a letter once in 4 days how often do you intend to write do you have the New York papers if you do you can find when a steamer is to sail and send your letters in time. have you sent me a hat if not you nead not send one as I think of drawing a regulation from the quartermasters what are you dooing this spring and how does things loock at our house have you had the garden planted did the bed of sage live threw the winter. I can hardly make it seam rite to think that you have had a long cold winter and that the trees are in blosom as Sams wife wrote to him they wer you must take care of the flowers and plant what you want have you got that s[?]ingbush that Mrs Benedict promaced uss when we went out there last summer. you must keep the weeds down around the house if / you have to hire some one to do it. I am shure I donot know how Father will get a long with the haying but I hope he will be able to put some in and let the cattle eat the rest how is Susan and who is loocking out for her. I hear that Jarves Beers is missing I received a letter from John Benedict before the battle he was well Charles was in the Hospittle. has Uncle Warren herd from Jerome lately has our folks herd from Fayett. I have sent papers severel times some one in an envelope some with 2 in and shal send two in that way today have you received any in that way have you ever had to pay anything extra on my long letters have you paid up what I owed to the church for last year it was a year the first of May. it will be time for you to draw your money from the State the first of June. what luck did you have with your chickens I know it is a greatdeal pleasanter up there now than it is here in this forsaken place / forsaken except by nigs aligators snakes liserds musquitoes fleas and lots of other varmits to numerous to mention. I want to leave here and get into civiliseation once more. myself and John got a lot of moss and made a bed the other day and I have slept 2 night first rate after seting up so late at night that I could let the fleas eat all they wanted and not distrub me you can have but a faint idea how I long to get on a boiled shirt and lay myself down on a clean sheet once more and not have a drove of varmits crawling over me you had better take of the fether bed and begin to get used to a hard bed if you want me to sleep with you when I get home. there is some remarks in the papers that came yesterday conserning the time of the nine month and 2 years men that I think is trew and I hope the secretary of war will take some notace of them and that we shal not be obliged to stay beyond our time. we that is Sam and Fred Cole are in the house that I and John used to ocupy Sam is writeing to his wife and Fred to his mother. Freds wife writes to him that she wants no more babies Sams wife dont want one and I guess Mary will give it up by the time Ed gets home. has Hattie got threw sucking her fingers. write all you can think of and answer all my questions I have wrote a long letter and will stop by sending lots of kisses to Mary and Hattie From Papa

 

[margin]

 

I am about crazy with the jumping tooth ache once in about five minutes I wish I had it jerked out

 

Dear Mary you say you shal be glad when I get back I am shure I shal and if any one gets me to leav you again they may indead think themselvs luckey and if it should ever fall to my lot to be drafted into the army I shal come when all the rest have ben or I have paid out all the $300 I can get there is indead no use in haveing a husband 2000 milds from home but there is no help for it just now I beleive I tried to make you se that before you toock the fatle step that bound you to such a one but you could not se it and I think you have never complained but have felt heart sick to think he was so far from home and out of your reach I know you have meany hours of anxiety and fear for my safety but Mary I am wiling to leave it to the great disposer of all events and if I am spaired to come home it shal be the business of my life to serve him / and make you forget that we wer ever seperated war allwase brot sorow and tears in its train but this war seams to come home to us as it is in our time and we are the actors. I have the Danbury paper of April 30 in it I find a letter from Mac stateing that David was scurmishing close up under the enemies guns and was seen to fall and had to be left on the field supposed to be ded oh I hope it is not so not only as I wish him to come home to be the friend he has alwase ben to me but on account of his dear famely have you heard the particulars write all you know about it. have you received the money I sent last write all about yourself and Hattie and home as I want to send this away today and the train has gone up I must close I shal put in some sweet fenel seed and you must plant it. no more this time

 

From your Dear Edwin To Mary & Hattie

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