Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas April 4^th/64

 

Dear Wife

            I am still a "Prisoner of War" in Texas with a very slight prospect of being exchanged. my health is good at present and I hope will remain so. opportunities for sending letters do not often happen. I have not heard from home in fifteen months and many others are in the same list with me one or two of the Officers have received as many as 6 or 8 within 6 months. I suppose you hear more about exchange than I do and have your hopes raised as often. there will about 400 men and Officers leave here in a day or two for our lines, one of whom promises to take this letter along to our lines. they were captured in September last eight months after I was. it seems rather hard for those left behind who have been here for 15 months to see those last captured taken first, but we console one another by saying we hope our Government will remember that there is such a place as Texas

Kiss the children for me. I think of you all quite often

                                                                       

Yours &c

Henry W Washburn

Acting Master U.S. Navy

 

to

Mrs H W Washburn

New London

Conn

 

[overleaf]

 

Mrs H W Washburn

            New London

                        Conn

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