Camp near Petersburgh Va

                                                                                    Aug 27. 186[?]

 

My Darling Wife

                                    You may not feel so entirely free from dread since my last to you, in which I noticed a fearful struggle which was going on for the possession of the Rail Road, so recently wrested from the Rebels. This evening I am happy to state to you finds our forces still the possessors of it, although our Corps suffered pretty severely, as it was the only one engaged, & but 2 Divisions of it. One of my most intimate friends was killed during the fight. Capt. Brownson, Commissary of Muster for our Corps. He was a Captain in the Regular Army. / I had formed quite an attachment for him, as he was much of a gentleman in the true sense of the word. Yesterday was a day of quiet for us, so far as being exposed to visible danger is, or was. we are very busy making out discharges for those men of our respective Companies, who have not reenlisted. last night, we had a slight scare, the negros on our left conceived that the enemy was advancing. when they opened fire along the picket lines, which of course brought us out under arms and ready for any emergency. it proved to be a scare, on the part of the negro troops, we lay down again slept quietly until morning to day our baggage came up, and after we got our books / we have had a very busy time of it. I made out the discharges for eleven of my Company who go home tomorrow, which will leave me but a small Company. I have had command of Company A of my Regt since the first of July last, which made a pretty respectable looking Company

 

Darling, You would laugh to see the deep anxiety which is manifested by those who were the most anxious to get the Regt to re-enlist. now, as they stand a very good chance of having to stay, the thing has played out with them. they thought it very fine to come home, and have a good time generally, but when they came back & found a stearn reality staring them in the face / they began to play out and a set of sissier men than the Officers of this Regiment present you never saw. there is nothing to encourage a man in this Regiment now. we are having sent to us men from every nation of the face of the globe, and were a stranger to happen near our Regt they would really begin to think that there was another tower, which would verily come to nought, on acct of the diversity of speech among the visitors thereof, but enough of this. I do not think that a history of this kind will be very interesting to my little wife I shall therefore strike off on an other sheet of paper and talk about my sweet & precious wife, than who my God accepted none holds a higher place in my heart. /

 

Well you may think that I have but little to do thus to fill up so much paper, but indeed I have a very great deal to do, and this is the only comfort I find after a hard days work, thus to sit down and talk to my precious & Darling wife, whose lively image is always before my mind. Yes it so indellibly fixed upon the tablets of my mind that I can scarce think of any thing else, it is my delight, my happiness thus to sit and think of her who is more precious to me than life, and all that tends to make life a thing to be desired, were I to be deprived of this my greatest enjoyment, I should indeed be the most miserable of men. But thanks be to God / who has seen fit to bless me. I can take such infinite pleasure in writing to you my own darling. Yes I have great reason to thank God for His kind & protecting care over me through the dangers seen & unseen by me within the past few weeks. I cannot but think, Darling, that it is to your prayers for me that I have been thus spared. For are we not told that the prayers of the Righteous availeth much that what we ask for in faith believing that shall we receive. I believe that we are created for some purpose, and so long as we are in the path of duty we shall live to accomplish that purpose for which we were created. my faith in God is strong, and I hope to see you / I feel assured that I shall see you, that there are many days in store for us, of true happiness, when we shall serve God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, with a better purpose than we have hitherto done. then darling with this end in view, let us draw nearer to Him who will not turn a deaf ear to the fervent prayer of his Children. Yes He is long suffering, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. Darling I was so glad when from you this morning, I had such a good treat, two letters, one of which told me that you were better, thank God for this knowledge & I hope that your next will tell me that you are entirely well. May God grant that this may be the case /

 

I feel sorry for Mary Hooper & hope that she may soon recover from her sickness. I saw her brothers grave day before yesterday evening. it was not disturbed at all. I cannot tell you anything about Capt Hamilton of the 100^th Regt P.V., as I have not met any member of that Regt since I came back. I did hear from Capt Phillips but have not seen him. you ask me if I wish to stay here, not if they would give me a Brigadier Generals commission would I stay away from my darling wife. no I shall come home just as soon as I can. I think that I shall not have to wait very much longer, But I have written quite enough for this time. you sent me two & I have to send you two sheets of paper, in return. Give my love to all the family, and may the Richest Blessings of God be upon you. now Darling Keep up a brave heart and God will not forsake you

 

                        Good bye, write soon

 

                                    From your

                                                Harry

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