Waterboro Apr 9th 1865
Dear Brother & Sister:
It is now quite bed time but I will prop open my eyes while I write a brief letter to you
Perhaps you have already learned that sad axident that has befalen Paul though not half so bad as it might be yet we feel a little uneasy about him
He with his Regiment was engaged the 31st of March near Hatchers Run and in the first part of the action he received a wound in the right shoulder and as we understood it, the ball passed clean through knocking off the upper part of the shoulder blade. he rode 12 miles that day and wrote us the next day with his right hand, he thought he should come home, so we are daily expecting him. Mother is very feeble I think / she has failed within a few weeks fast. dont worry if she continues to grow worse we will let you know it Her nerves are very weak and she cant get much sleep. this is her great trouble. last night we gave her resting powders and she slept some, and seems better to day.
Every thing is looking lovely the snow is all gone, the roads in very good condition.
Don't we have glorious news? no more war I hope when we got the news the old flag went up in haste
The Copper-heads are all very quiet
James Chadbourne has just learned the death of Nathan; he died some time ago in prison they feel very bad
Lizzie haint you glad that cloth is down where we can once more have a skirt? I have been without as long as I care to. We are very buisy making soap and cleaning house. I suppose you have got yours all cleaned. How are the children? can Gussie walk? Martie can run like a spider. Is Baily going to school this summer. You must all come down this summer if not before
Lizzie wants to write so I must close
Write soon
with much love
Mellie /
Dear Brother
As I am hear to Mothers and Melly is writeing to you I will write with her and let you now what we have ben dooing since I wrote you. we have sold our place or a part of it wee sold the house but not the bigest lot. Horace is to Baltimore to work on a hospitle has 2 and ½ dollars a day I expect to move to saco so that the children can go to school this summer we are as well as common Mother is very feeble I tremble for her she is so weak but hope for the best and pray for strenght to bair it all we are all very thankfull for the joifull war nuse that we do get and the sines of peace that canot be far of altho it gives us sorrow yet in order to do grate good wee have to suffer that we may obtain the victory we feele ancous to here again from Paul and to now how bad he is hert I hope he will be home soone I expect the copperheads have said that Lee could not be taken will hang down their heads and weepe /
I must close for the boys want to go to the office give my love to all of the family
write soone E A Peusell