Phillips (Me) January 1 1862

 

Capt Daniel Marston

                        Dear Sir

I wish you a hapy New year on Suthern Soil for some reason or other I have thought much about you since you left for the army and have ever hoped that you mite have some good office for it is to bad for one of your abilities to serve in the ranks while hundreds command that are not one eight part as well qualified as you are. If you had charge of a battallion of men when obstructions were in the way you could tell at sight what to do to get at the enemy or away from there while thousand of others could not tell what to do I mean if bridges were gone or no boats at hand or woods to pass that were thick & bad—

 

I was at Washington D.C. a few days after the Fleet left for Beaufort and at the time of the storm thought of you many times and your family and I feel to thank that Grand Good Spirit that Wafted you safe over It must have been a great trial in your Breast to leave your assosiations here situated as you were with such a family and such / friends but it seems your Patriotic feeling prevailed and you are now on southern territory a fine post to spend the winter I once visited Charleston S.C. and concluded it would be a fine place to spend a winter Mr Wm Stickney is here to start for Augusta to morrow morning with a few soldiers that he has enlisted. he takes this time Aaron Huntoon, Nathan Pickard, one of Joseph W Parkes sons, and expects to get Cephas Pickard and some few others.

 

            Please write me how things look in that region. I have been calculating to write you for a long time. to day Mrs Beal and your daughter was at Mr Russells store and I inquired how to direct. I recd a good letter one each from George Smith & Seth Russell & shall answer soon give my thanks to them for the favor and my respect to all our Maine boys

 

Mrs Newman my only daughter now lies at the point of death We have no hope of her staying with us but a very few days the dipteery rages in some sections about here particular in Farmington I can think of nothing more to say to interest you at present will write again Please write me & ask the others to do so

 

                                                                        Respectfully yours                  [photograph]

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