Newburg Feb 4^th 1862

 

Many thanks darling wife for your two kind letters received by me today. I see that you still suffer more than I hoped you would from my absence, but I will not scold as it all evidences your affection. You will I hope dear wife soon be able to look upon my absence as necessary and therefore have to be contented and cheerful without me for a time. I can feel for you in all your business troubles, but in a letter received today from Burnet he says, "Our affairs at home have gone on smoothly, and our little Mama has shown herself quite equal to the emergency in which you have placed her". So however difficult you may find it to get along, I see that others think you are equal to the task before you. I have no doubt there are many more bills / than those I left you, and you must not feel badly if your money should fall short. Remember to keep back two hundred dollars for your own use at Louisville, and you will soon have more. I intend that Nat shall pay over to you all the money which he may receive from any source. Indeed all moneys which may be coming to me I wish you to receive and appropriate as you may deem best. Burnet in his letter says that Nat has heard from Indiana and that Mr Walker cannot pay until his case is finally decided, perhaps at Washington City. So from this source I fear you will not receive anything. In regard to the rent of the house if you have not money enough, Mr Wooley must wait until next month when you will receive enough from Mr Miller & others through / Munroe to pay him off, unless indeed I should be paid off before that time, & in that event I will send you funds. But do not dear wife let money matters trouble you either at home or in regard to me. I no doubt shall have enough for all my wants and even if I should get out our Sutler can supply me temporarily. I have not yet received my watch but will no doubt do so in a few days. You need not get my watch repaired unless you wish. There is nothing the matter with the works inside. It is only the hands that are a little wrong.

 

I am sorry to think that Jane has any such idea in her head in regard to me. I shall be glad to hear from her at all times. I do not recollect of my not asking her to write, nor would it be strange if I did not at such a time. Give my love to her and say that / I have presented her present to Dr Nelson tonight, who in return sends his thanks and desires to be kindly remembered to her, you, and all the family by name.

 

I wrote Johny last night when I expected to move early this morning, but our orders have not yet arrived. My men are already to march with three days rations in their haversacks and have been ever since last night. I expect orders will come in the morning, and I will leave my letter open to say where we are going. If I should send it without any other directions, you must still address me at this place. Today I have been fortunate in letters for I have received two from you & one from Burnet & Evy. I will answer both of them at my first camping ground after leaving this place should I start in the morning, & if not, from here.

Our camp life here is very much the same as camp life everywhere excepting that we have no good drill grounds & can therefore drill only in squads. No incidents / have transpired worthy of record. We have rumors occasionally of small bodies of troops some forty or fifty miles distant, but even this is entirely unreliable, so that we do not even have any more excitement scarcely than if we were at Camp M^cLean. If we move to New Creek we change commanders from Rosecrans to Lander, but I do not anticipate much service this winter under either general until the roads improve. There is certainly as much difficulty here in regard to roads as in Kentucky, where we have the line of railroad.

 

I am glad you are going soon to Louisville, for I know you will feel happier with your mother than at home. Continue to write me often dear wife for your letters are the bright spot in my life now. My duties keep me very much occupied but I will always find time to write you a line / whenever it is possible to do so. You must not think I have not written when you do not receive a letter, for remember the mails in this region may not be so punctual as at home. I am often forced to write with my pencil and sometimes my trunk is stowed away so that I cannot get any paper. So far however I have managed to write very often, and I will try & keep it up. You are the only person I can go to with all my thoughts & feelings where I am sure of being met with loving sympathy. Keep up a good brave heart dear wife, and do not fear for me, but place your heart in the source of all good.

 

            Give my love to Jane and all the children with my kisses them & you dear wife from your devoted husband. N. C. M^cL

SOURCES