Washington N.C.

                                                                                                March 19            1864

My Dear Wife

                        It is with the deepest feelings of remorse and sorrow for my negligence made more so on account of hearing this morning of your bereavement that I commence to write I should have written you afore but have been waiting to hear from you Not making any allowences for the length of time it requires to receive a letter now. I have received two now one of the 25. ult. & one of the 5^th inst. I am very sorry to hear that my darling was sick but hope that the day you wrote was the first of your convalescence & that now or long before you are entirly well/

 

I wish I might be with you to comfort you in your great affliction. The loss of a parent under any circustances is a great affliction. I can realize something of what ones feelings must be all though to young to know when my father died But I have seen the time when I wished to live no longer than my mother But such extremely tender feelings are somewhat destroyed by age & contact with the rough world but now next to the loss of you my darling should I most deeply feel the loss of my dear mother. I hope though that the time is many many years in the future before any of us shall be called to part/

 

I’m writing you before you will notice that we have moved our location at present is Washington N.C. a very pretty little place Stronly fortified The duty on the Regt is pretty heavy having to go on Picket every other night Mine are no harder than usual not having to do picket duty This place they say is very unhealthy in summer but the health of all at present is very good The weather is as bad as at any season of the year very warm days and cold nights. The report comes here that the vetran soldiers at home behaved very badly wait till the twenty first comes if you want to see/men return as they left I am very sorry that the Vetrans should have behaved so as to make people call a slur on all soldiers for there are some of the most noble men in existence in the army I have not received the coat yet but expect to soon If I had known it would have taken so long I would have had it sent by N. W. Perkins who is home on a furlough but it is probably as well as it is I must close to send in to days mail remember me to mother Much love to you my darling—

Court

 

Direct as before via Newbern

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