New Berne North Carolina
Wednesday May 6th. 63.
My Dear Martha—
I wrote you yesterday but having another opportunity to send today I will add a note. I am very well this morining. Two car loads of Secession sympathizers have been sent out of our lines this morning. I paid them my respects at the depot. When I thought of them as families leiving their pleasant homes perhaps forever and saw the tears which some of them could not keep back I could not help feeling sad. But when I thought of them as traitors to their country and mine and as those who were partly responsible for bringing on and perpetuating this sad war which has already cost us so much blood and treasure I felt glad that this tardy act of Justice was to be delayed no longer There are a good many left who will go soon I think.
Quite a sensation was created here last night by the marriage of / a member of the 44th Mass with the daughter of one of the leading “Sesesh” Today the brides Parents and family are sent out with the others. The young lady is said to be quite pretty. May the union be a happy one. Lieuts Frost and Powers went to Beaufort to spend a few days this morning. The Adgutan of our Reg has gone to Boston on a furlough of 20 days. It seems to be the general impression here now that the time of our reg will be considered out the 23rd of June. If so probelly the 44th will go home first and then the 3rd and 5th but I do not let thoughts of home and of being there again dwell long in my mind yet. I find that I am the most contented and happy when I go along in the discharge of my duties and leive the future to take care of itself.
Mr James has not returned from Beaufort yet. This is a splendid day, rather warm in the yard but very comfortable in the office /
One of our mess sent a box of flowers to his wife, the same day I sent you yours. they reached her in good condition. I hope to hear that yours did They probably came while you were at Franklin. I think I wrote you that Mr Wood and I sent a box to Marlboro for their May party If they get them in good condition they will think something of them. We are going to have bake beens and lettice for dinner wont you take some with us
I should like to look in upon you today and see just where you are and what you are doing. I should like to have met Eddie as he took his walk alone to Grandpa Wights the other morning.
How does it seem to you to have a child old enough to go alone that distance. It makes me feel old You spoke of his being too smart for his feeble mother to manage Dont use that expression “feeble mother” I dont like it. It makes me feel uncomfortable, although I know that you are not strong. /
I hope to hear that you had a pleasant visit to Boston. Write me about it. Always get for yourself and Eddie anything you need. Without thinking too much about the cost of it.
If you have money by you, you had better keep Addison paid up for board as it may be of service to him. My best regards to Addison and Mary I am so glad when I think of it that you could make your home with them while I am away. I feel perfectly safe in having you there. Always remember me also to your Fathers family. I guess this will read funily I have written just as fast as I could Very much love to you and to Eddie. I must close to be in time for the mail Very Affectionately Yours Charles W Hill