Beverly 6 A.M. Feb 26^th 1862

           

We are on the eve of starting dear wife on our march for Huttonsville I have packed up and the others are busy rolling up beds and putting away all that belongs to our camp life. Breakfast will be ready in a few moments, and then at seven precisely I march the regiment. I would not leave before writing a line to you to say good morning & good bye. No letters have arrived here from you and therefore I am without news from home. I know that you have written, but the fault is with the mails. The roads have been so bad that no mail has arrived since last Saturday. And thus it will / be darling wife during this winter in Western Virginia. You must not therefore fear that anything is wrong because you do not get your letters regularly. The mail will probably bring them all together. I feel very much the deprivation but I know that you have written and I will not make myself unhappy by imagining that you or the children are not well.

 

The call is made for breakfast and I must say good bye. Write to me at Huttonsville. Love to all the children and the family. God bless & preserve you & them all darling wife.

                                                                                               

N. C. M^cLean

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