White House Va.

                                                                                                                        July 7^th 1863

 

My own Dearest Mary.

                                    To night after long & patient waiting I have at last heard from my darling. Your explanation cleares up that which was in deep gloom & mystery I refer to your not writing I have been so anxios to hear from you that I have myself gone after the Mails & after assorting the mail for the whole third division how disappointed I have been not to find a letter for myself But now it is all right I have got one & such a dear good one to./

 

When I wrote you last I told you I expected the Reg. would move that day well I came the next day & found them just where I left them. I have not been down to the Fortress since nor have I done any duty since untill to day. To day I am on Guard I have charge of the prisoners we had some one hundred but got rid of part of them to night Among those we have are four Rebs. one of them is wounded I have got to be up all night & march to morrow under the burning sun. We are going back from/here & have got to march it a d to Yorktown a distance of 60 miles. I am writing by a camp fire at 12 oclock at night as I shall not get a chance to write again till we get to Yorktown. Gen Getty came in to day with the third Division having not not accomplished what he went for which was to destroy a railroad bridge over the river on Lee’s line of communication with Richmond there was to large a force for him & he did not attack them. We have accomplished enough to pay for coming here having torn up the railroad for miles each way & secured the Iron./

 

I think we shall come farther north from Yorktown either to Baltimore or Washington We hear the good news from Pennsylvania a few more such blows & the war will be over & Court at home with Mamie For God sake dont fail to write twice a week hereafter. I know you will not Darling when I tell you how much I prise a letter. I have written you a lot of letters since I came back but it is the second most pleasant occupation the most pleasant is reading yours. You speak of Nell. Truly Poor Deluded Nell I never thought she would marry Mitchell perhaps it would be as well if she should not but Oh! how cruel God forgive her & all such I am happy & contented and always shall be let me be wherever I will as long as I possess the deep love of my darling Mamie I am thinking of you to night as you are in bed asleep I can see just how you are Oh how I wish could be there to wake you up My love to mother, God bless my darling            Court.

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