Camp 12. Pa. V. Cav.

                                                                                                Bolivar Heights. Va.

                                                                                                            Oct. 2./64.

 

My Dear Wife:

                        On this another pleasant Sunday evening am I permitted through the kindness of an all wise Providence to acknowledge the receipt of another of your very kind, loving & cheering letters. It was read & reread and every word & letter highly prized. I was pleased to learn that you are still in excellent health and getting along finely. I in return can inform that I have a very severe cold, otherwise well enough. The cold will soon disappear. I had a letter from home a few days ago. Jerry made mention of you being there. I was pleased to hear it, indeed I was. / I wish I could have been there with you, But I could not & so it is. You appear to be very anxious to see me, no doubt of it all, and I would much like to see you, but at present it cannot be, but in all probability it will be sometime the coming winter, providing I am living and not in the hands of the rebels. The rebs. are pretty scarce in the Valley these times. Sheridan has whipped them shamefully and driven (what he did not kill or catch) over one hundred miles and still in pursuit of them yet. He is the General for this Valley. A few more such whippings to the rebels will end this war and let us soldiers go home. I think the end / of the war is fast coming. It cannot come too soon for me, provided it is ended honorably. no other way do I ever wish to see it ended.

 

Oh! When this war is all soldiers be permitted to return home safe to those whom the Love.

 

            It surprizes me very much indeed to hear that Mrs Kephart has returned to her Husband again. That appears to me like child’s play. Oh! but this family strife is a horrible thing. I trust I may never be led to know what it is. I prefer living in peace & harmony all the days of my life either at home or abroad. So far I have & I rest easy that I will continue so, particulary when you / are the one I will live with after this war is over. Everything is quiet about here now. We are getting very well.

 

            Remember me in kindest terms to Mother & Aunt—

                        and my true Love to you

                        While my hereunto attached

                        as Your ever true devoted &

                                                Affectionate

                                                            Husband

                                    Lieut. John H. Black

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

                                                            Harper’s Ferry

                                                                        Va

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