Near Cool Harbour Va

June 10^th 1864

 

Dear Emmy—

                                    I received your letter dated June 3^d yesterday. You are a darling to write so often. Your letters are a great comfort to me, and you must write as soon often as possible. I felt quite anxious to hear from you again for if my Josie is sick I dont know what I shall do. But I am hopeing and praying that you may all be spared to me, and that I may meet you again in life and health. If it shall be so my darling wife, let us not forget to be grateful to the Giver of all our blessings that we have or may enjoy. I wrote you on the 8^th inst. and there is not much to write about now but I always feel as though I must an / swer it at once even if I have writen to you within an hour. It has been unusually quiet here for two days. There has not been any firing on this part of the line except between the pickets. It is reported that Gen. Hancock got posession of Bottoms Bridge yesterday afternoon and captured 1300 prisinors. The report is no doubt true, as it comes officially to Gen. Smith We have taken a large number of prisinors during the past week

 

            There has not been any important movement on our part for a few days past as I can learn but we are expecting something soon. We have not much idea what it will be but the men all appear to be in first rate spirits and feel confident of success. If we are fully successfull here, I think it must end this fighting if it does not bring peace immediately I have not seen Elmer since Sunday / It is almost impossible to find any particular Reg^t as we are all in the woods and are moving every little while. His time will be out in about three weeks. now I hope he will be fortunate enough to get through that time safely. I saw Charles Grover yesterday. The 11^th N.J. Reg^t is near us, and I have been wanting to go and see them but have not had time. Henry Little has been wounded. How bad it is I do not know. I like my place on P.M. very much. Co^l Bell is in command of the Brigade and there are a number of men from our Reg^t on duty here at Head Quarters, which makes it a great deal pleasanter than it would be if they were all strangers.

 

            I cannot help thinking how pleasant it must be at home now, in June. the pleasantest month in the year. How I wish I could be there / to take a walk in the woods with you and the children. But never mind I guess any month will be pleasant enough when I get home again.

 

Take good care of yourself my own dear wife, and enjoy yourself as well as you can. Give my best regards to sister Hattie. Tell her she has my best wishes on her new baby and I hope it will not be afraid of me. My love to little Ruth. I hope that she and her little ones are all well. I had a letter from Henry yesterday. His foot is getting along well, and he thinks he will be able to join us again soon. I want a great many things but do not like to ask you to send them as I know you do not have a good chance to get any thing But you must send me some postage stamps if you want to get letters, for I have had to borrow now for some time. I wish you would send me some pocket handkerchiefs for I need them very / much and there is no chance to get anything here, not even tobacco. You can send them by mail. there is no other way to send. if you could send a towel it would be very acceptable.

 

            Dont forget the envelopes for I have not got one and have had to beg for some time. Now darling what shall I write to finish out this letter. Shall I tell you the old story over again. It is as live as ever but perhaps I could not tell it in a way to please you this morning. There are so many talking around me at present that I cannot get my thoughts into any shape When you I write a letter to you I want to be alone and I can always write better in the evening. So I will not try to write a love letter this time as I know you do not need to be assured of my love.

 

            I have kept my promise as yet and shall probably keep it to the end / though there are times when if I had not promised I should take it and think it was doing me good. But I am very glad I made you the promise for there is no safety for me except total abstinence. I do not mean by this that I think I was in danger of becoming a drunkard, for I do not but I was acquireing an appetite for liquor that is very hard to resist.

 

            Now darling I will close. I do not know as I have writen any thing that you will think is of any interest, but it will tell you that I am well and loving you better than ever if that were possible. Good bye little wife        

 

                                                            Truly your own

                                                                        Leander

 

P.S. If you can send me five dollars without putting yourself in any inconvenience you will greatly oblige me for I have not got a cent and have not had any for a long time

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