[Letterhead:    Post Quartermasters Office,

                                                                                                            Nashville, Tenn.,]

                                                                                                            June 20 [1864.]

 

Much loved brother.—

                                    I thank you very much for the pleasure, the perusal of Uncle Joseph’s letter gave me;—I have a genuine sympathy for the poor man’s afflictions & wish it were in my power to assist him in any way, but all he needs is to have his son restored to health & that can only be occured by the help of God & the wisdom of his physicians.—I wrote a long letter to Uncle, which please forward with yours.—To your question, whether I heard from Sarah lately I reply yes; she wrote a week ago to day, “one hour” before she started for New H.—Uncle W^m was with her & was going to see them off on the boat;—is not that kind in him?—they were all well then & in good spirits. Sarah had an attack of sore throat, which detained them several days.—She acknowledged the receipt of a letter from you in a previous letter, but said nothing about any money,—like as not, she forgot about it;—she’ll get it safe enough; her present P.O. address is:

                        Tuftonboro’ Corner

                                    Carrol County

                                                N. H./

 

The German Dictionary is in the middle drawer of our Bureau;—I enclose the key for it, which you may keep, as I have no use for it & is only subjected to be losed.—The drawer is very heavy & you will have to be cautious, it don’t break.—I am sorry to hear of a drouth in your part of the country & trust ‘ere this, you have shared with the abundance we have here of it. The air is very hot during the day & the sun fairly burns the skin.—I can not think, brother, of the continued expense to you of sending me two Papers;—one is all sufficient & you must not do it; besides the Democrat is received at the rooms of the Christian Commission & I can read it there; the local news is all that interests me & one of either is all I can need. Hyatt, by the by, gets up a very neat looking, interresting Paper.—

 

            Your letter of the 13^th, my dear brother, has had its due weight & influence.—Not remembring what I wrote, I know not from what you divined the state of mind I was in,—but being past, I own with shame & regret, that it was a most severe attack.—It was more self condemnation for a want of that tact, which carries so many to a successful end,—a failing of Faith for the future, than any want/of appreciation of any of the points, you so truthfully & fitly name.—Let it pass;—I suffered terribly for three long weeks;—I did not want any one to know about it & am sorry, you got as much as an inkling of it. I’ll learn by & by to appreciate the true blessings of life;—would now, if I had not such a desire for money;—it is an experience, which although hard, will not be wanting of some benefit in the end.—Going to the front merely, would not be such a terrible thing,—I would a thousand times rather be in that exitement, than remain here in that state of mind.—

 

            Isom will either soon be relieved or waiting his time will soon be mustered out next month. I cannot tell now, how it will effect me.—Stockdale has a position for me with him, just as soon as he himself has a settled place on Sherman’s Staff; changes are about to be made among the Officers of that Staff & he has the promise of a prominent place. I did not ask him for the place,—he came to me & voluntarily offered it, saying, he is bound to have me with him; so I wait the issue of things patiently & cheerfully. He is well aquainted with Mrs. Mel Smith, having made her aquaintance at Memphis, where he acted as/Assistant Prov. Marshal to Col. Smith;—he speaks highly of her as a lady.—I heard direct from Tommy Cole through Charles Ericson (formerly with Elder Parrish) who was here yesterday & left again for Chattanooga to day.—Tommy is improving, but will never be able to use his arm.—I have made arrangement, by which I shall know, when he comes here & take care of him.—Anything his folks want me to do for him, they have only to let me know it.—Col. Marsh is in Chattanooga, “recuperating”;—is not sick, but tired out.—Nieman still keeps in good health.—

 

It is midnight & having had an usual hard day’s work, am tired & will therefore close.—

 

            Much love to Lona & I only wish, that Kiss she sent in the corner of the letter, could be got direct from the corner of her—lips,—however, that time will also come again.—

 

            God bless you, my dear, faithful brother.

                                                Edward

 

I wrote a letter to aunt Ann about a fortnight since, that I am not a little interrested to get a reply to;—I think, I have done just the thing in doing so & always meant to, when the proper time arrived, which I am very glad to say has “arrive”—.

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