Sandy Hook Feb the 25, 1864

 

Respected relatives I have wated A long time for A letter from you and I thought I would write again what the matter is I do not know I have not ment to give offence to you but let it bee as it may I will write one more I have just returned from home I had A good visit for A short one the folks was all around Dee and Frank are not very smart but I hope that they will get better Mother is not very smart she felt very bad when I left I can tell you it was tough leaving home I dont think I shall go home again in A long time I like to see the folks but when we come to part it is like tearing one to pecies Father and Horace folowed me to the car platform and I tell you the truth I could not say one word but I feel better now and am as contented as ever there is lots of friends that seem very near in Amboy I did not know how many friends I had untill I went / home they flocked in to see me and if wishes has any power I shall have good times all the way through and come out all right I settled with Father and all passed very agreable I had onely 8 days and I got back one day beforehand I did not want to be one day over so It mad rather short work it makes it bad, the boat does not come in onely three times A week so it cuts our furloughs now Brother what is the reson that you have not wrote to me I feel ancious to know but I want you to write as soon as you get this when we get A letter it does us A great deal of good Horace talks of selling out but I dont believe that he will he is always selling something he has got A good horse and A nice Cutter but he thinks that I take more comefort than he does I am shure he has more privelages than I have but his mind is never settled thats whats the matter he has been A friend to my family since I left he is A Brother to me and mine / in every sence of the word if he could onely content himself with what he has he could take more comefort than any Brother he has Our folks had A letter from George he wrote that you had bought you A farm I was glad to hear that but I think you have paid A large price but you know best I have got me A farm to Father let me have the Prior lot and my house and keeps the stock through and I pay him $80 dollars I shall move the house next sumer if I do not sell it as it is Father sayes he mises me very much he realizes it more than he did when I left first and I think when Summer comes he will miss me more, but I hope he will git along well I dont wish any one any harm I shall write to him soon his treating me so cold I can over look he felt very bad when I left Anna has been sick but has got smart the neighbors are well went to Johns they are all well John is Cutting Saw logs this winter he thinks / that he would as live be A soldier as to work in the woods but we all know better he thinks we have nice times now but he is afraid that we will get into some tight spot before we get through I expect it and am ready for it if necessary that does not trouble me any I wish you had two good armes for I think that you have got spunk enough to folow me and if necessary to face the firey trials of the battle field but as it is I must go with out you and the rest of my Brothers have not grit enough to inlist in the defence of their country Horace would run away if he should get drafted but I will close hoping to hear from you soon Direct as before this from your brother Charles H Turner To L Turner

 

                                    Excuse all mystaks

 

P.S. we have had nice weather here most all winter but this after noon it snows like it does in Amboy when I usto be there

SOURCES