Camp Sheridan West V^a

Head Quarters of the 116^th Reg^t N.Y.

                                                                        March the 14^th/65

 

My friend

                                                                                                I take up my pen once more to write you. it has been a long time since I have heard from you oh! why have I been so neglected have I done any thing to deserve your disaprobation or are you tired of my corispondance. I sincerely hope it may be neather. I will confess you have had patience and many lonesome hours has been britened brightened and spent agreeably with in reading your very interesting letters I had hoped I mighted have had the privalege of being one of your corispondants untill my exile in the armey come to an end if not longer. I will/say in this that I wrote you the 8^th of J^an and have not heard from it. I have waited verry ancious & patiently for your answer I had thought I would not trouble you with any more of my scribling but wishing to know the reason of your not writeing I have set down to ask of you an explanantion. you will confer to me a great pleasure by granting this. do not think me to burdensome for asking this of you. I should be miserable indeed if I thought I had said any thing in eather of my letters that was displeaseing to you allow me Kind friend to say I have formed an attacthment for you by the kindness you have shown me heretofore It seems as if we wer old acquaintances. I have often looked at your likeness and/wondered if I ever would be favored with an opportunity of looking upon the origenal. I wish it may be so. I have often thought how singularly we formed an acquaintance by letter it is allmost romantic but I will not write more this time.

 

            we are enjoying ourselves first rate it is getting warm and every thing looks beautiful the fields look green & every thing looks like spring. oh! how pleasant it would be to ramble through the fields if peace was restored & war was not known. I do hope the war will come to an end this spring I enjoy good health now & am looking anciously for the end of the war or the expiration of my term of service so I can enjoy the society of my relitives & friends. do please write soon. you can not refuse one this one wish. I will close saying my best wishes are all ways with you.

I am your friend sincerely. Stephen A. Matthews.

 

Give my best respects to Hattie.

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