East Windsor Hill,

March 15^th—1863.

 

Friend Wolcott,

                        I promised your sister long ago that I would write to you, but I have always felt as if whatever I could say to you was probaly better said by your regular correspondents, but I promised & you must e'en be bored, but you need not answer unless you choose. I have seen none of your family for some time but they returned home last week.

 

I suppose you hear all the news, political & otherwise; The Copperheads are very venomous & active now, but they are over doing themselves to some extent. Is it true that Gen' Banks is so much more the slaveholders friend then Gen Butler was? & if so why is it?

 

We have just now & have had for a week most excellent sleighing, & every thing & every body seems determined to improve it. I wish I could roll a barrel of our apples in to your tent to night, for the sake of "Auld lang Syne" if nothing else I am sure they would taste good to you. They are remarkably good & plenty this spring.

 

I hear that your officers have all been sick & some of them remain so. I am very sorry for that. 

 

I was present at the festival of "Scantic Agricultural Club" & I wish you would tell the Scantic boys they were all remembered on that occasion, & the wives, sisters & mothers of many of them were present.

 

                        Do you have any good reading? I send a paper with this, of more interest than usual, & hope you will have Phillip's lecture read by all or any, whom it will benefit.

 

I suppose soldiers as well as those who wait at home have need of all the patient trustfull virtues. The great Captain seems to make of all counsel foolishness, but I do believe he will yet give victory to the right, but perhaps as we have so long sinned as a nation we must also suffer long.

 

I encose a few Dovers powders which I hope you will not need, but if not yourself some one may.

 

Is the country pleasant about you? any fruit or flowers? If it would give you no trouble whatever I should be glad if you could put a few flower seeds of any thing wild, or different from our garden growths, into a letter for Ama, my little girl, she is planning great things in the garden / this summer, & would be delighted with something from "Dixies Land" She could get it from your folks if you could put them in some letter, but do not take any trouble about it

 

            Please give my kind regards to all who remember me; tell Henry Avery I shook hands with his wife to day. She is spending a few days with Miss Birge next door. Tell Revillo Lord I have been to Hartford twice lately with his Nelly & Uncle Nelson, & you may tell Charles B— I have seen a certain little cousin of mine lately, & she looked just as pretty as ever.

 

I hear Hezekiah Bissell is ill. I am sorry for that & wish I could send him & many others something good; Please give him one of Dr's powders if he is taking or needs any thing of that sort. I have mailed a paper to Mr Fitts & will repeat the operation if agreeable to him.

 

I fear I have tired you, but here is the end. That the All wise Father may have you & all of us in his holy keeping is the prayer of your Friend,                                  

Martha Rockwell.

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