Suffolk Va. Sat. Night 4 1863

 

Dear Dear Wife

                        Your letter which I received last night makes you dearer than ever to me I am so happy to think that we know each other so well so glad that you humor my whims It seems to me that it would be impossible for two to love each other better than we do seperated as we are it seems more like some romance But by the blessing of God we will meet some time & then discover to each other that it is a reality that shall endure as long as time lasts * * * We have moved again!!!/

 

It has been talked for some time that the 21^st was going into a fort well we are We moved for that purpose We moved on the first day of Aprile the regular moving day The distance we moved was about 5 miles right away from all the rest of the troops We came out here to build a fort & have already commenced upon it When it is finished I expect we shall occupy it & shall then be comparitivly safe but now we are in a pretty dangerous place The people are all Secesh & the country is full of Guerilas There are no pickets except those we/send out Picket duty here is such as you have heard of where the pickets have to keep themselves hid and are liable to get poped over it any time The situation is on the Nansimond river which runs from Suffolk into the James river The Reb Gen. Longstreet is said to be about 4 miles from us with 30,000 troops. We do not expect him to attack us however Our camp is beautifully situated in a pine grove which we have cleared up “keeping an eye ahead” for shade trees for next summer. which we hope to spend here if we do not come home/

There is a rumor afloat here that we are to be reconed as nine months men Tell me how much the rumor is worth at home. It will take about two month to build the fort & then if we occupy it we shall probably stay here till the war is over It snows to day night & is cold out doors but I am comfortable I have a nice large tent which John & me occupy when he is here & which I have occupied all alone since he has been gone I moved everything both his and mine & have built a nice brick chimney & laid a Brick floor & to night it is so warm that it is rather uncomfortable I am awfull lonesome all alone if Mary was with me we could be happy even in a tent—Court

 

Give my love to mother how is she going to manage the farm this year & how did the election go, for Seymore “I hope” C.G.S.

 

That matter of praise came from Sarah Ellen

SOURCES