N. Stonington June 7^th 1865

            My Dear Court—

                                                Your letter containing the checks together with the money which you sent by express I received yesterday all safe. was very glad to hear from you and Oh! so happy to know that I may expect you home soon and that too for good. never to leave me again. Is it possible that this separation is so near ended? that I shall soon be clasped in the arms of my Darling Court. I can hardly realize it. I have been so long pining for love, the love & society of my Court. but you’ll soon be with me,/and then how much better shall I appreciate the blessing of your company, for having been so long deprived of it, and how much better shall we love, for having been true to each other all this long time. we can trust each other now I see no reason why we shall not be perfectly happy when you are home.

Don’t ask me what I think about your becoming “a soldier for life”. you know what I think of it. There is not gold and silver enough in this world to tempt me to sign your death warrant, and I would as soon do that as to consent to your joining the Regulars, for would you not be dead to me?—/Herm Hillard is home but I have not seen him. in fact I never go to Milltown it is such a mean place.—Ben’s folks were down Saturday and staid until Monday morning They said the 14^th regiment came home last week. There is no news that I think of now. I will tell you all the news when you get home Hoping to meet you very soon I close,

                                    Yours affectionately—

                                                Mary L. Stanton