Bowers Hill Va.

                                                                                                            June 1^st 1863

 

            My own dear Mary

                                                I received your letter last night I should have answered it before I slept (if I had not sent one explaining all.) you betrayed so much anxiety about my sickness. I hope my previos letter will disipate all yours & mothers fears about the boy I feel quite well to day with the exception of a nervousness which would well become any old maiden lady I feel as if I wanted to kick some imaginary object all time I am still off duty. If this should happen to be written nice attribute it to my being a good/penman & also to the nervousness It is about as hot as they can make it to day There is a strong wind blowing but that blows warm air I think it will be warm enough here this summer to boil the blood in a mans veins If I thought I could afford it I would spend the summer at some northern watering place My family are all anxious to go to some such place But the difficulties of getting a pass since the military rule are so great that it will stop many that are quite anxios to go north I think Erastus Minier’s marry was a big thing/Well I suppose he wanted to—& didn’t know any other way. I wish him much joy & hope he will have a good time during the warm weather I expect “Little” Clark & Elease Parteto will & “sich” new “marred” folk will have large families by another year. I ask the squaws that come about the camp after washing if they do family duty every night & the invariable reply is “Oh yess Massa “tree or four times” Great coun cuntry for raising niggers this is A great many of the officers & men go down to Norfolk nights I cant imagine/why they will go nights they could trade so much better in the day time But they will eventualy learn better for I have heard quite a number of them complaining to the doctor that they got cheated making change in the dark—The nine month fever rages here yet I must close.

 

                                    My “luv” to “muver”

 

Good bye darling no need of my telling that I love Mary.

                                                                                                Court.

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