Bolivar Heights, Va.

                                                                                                                        May. 6. 1864

 

            My Dear Jennie:—

                                                Again will I write to you in order to fulfill my promise to write at least once every week. This is the fourth letter to you since I left home and up to this day at noon I have not received any from you. But that is easily accounted for. When I last wrote I was in Camp Davis, Md. since that time some of us have received horses and are at the above named place doing duty. Duty we have here is easy, nothing but picketing & drilling. That is we drill the new recruits. for our Company now numbers 104 men when all are out in it makes a grand appearance. This is a very warm day. I am sitting in the Sunshine writing away and do not mind the heat. We will have our tents rigged up a little by tomorrow and then we can get along in the shade.

 

No “rebs” about here. General Sigels force is at Winchester /

 

Jennie do not trouble yourself in the least about me not receiving your letters they will be forthcoming some of these times. The principal thing I care about is that you may receive all mine and if I do not hear so often from you as I would like why all right.

 

Jennie I have parted with you six times all together but the last time was the hardest to bear. I thought it could hardly be that I was to leave you after being married. but you know duty called me away, and it had to be done. Often do I sit & think of you and wonder how you are getting along for I know you are still as discontented as ever. I Pity you indeed I do from the bottom of my heart, for I know you are my best & dearest friend on this earth and ever will remain so. Oh! if I only were as certain of returning home to you as I am that you will ever prove true to me, would I not feel good. The more I sit & think about you the more firmly I become attached to you & with all we have to be separated for a while yet I hope it may not be long anymore. /

 

Sam. O. Evans is in the Quarter Master Department in Camp Davis, Md. & probably will remain there all summer.

 

Jacob Walters & Barney Engle are both well. The weather is very warm. We have a pleasant Camp.

 

Well Dear Jennie I have at last got the uniform on and doing duty differently from what I had been at before.

 

My best respects to Lue

 

remember me to your Mother Aunt and all others who may inquire about me

 

We left Joe Lundy in the Hospital at Camp Davis. He can’t stand soldiering at all.

Jennie Dear take good care of yourself be content as possible.

 

My ever true undivided & devoted Love to you.

while to this my name

                        as your Affectionate Husband

Address           Lieut. John H. Black.

                                    Co. “G” 12. Pa. V. Cav.

                                    Harper’s Ferry,

                                                Virginia

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