Otto                 Aug 25^th, 64,

 

            Oh Where is My Poor Dolphin. must I write to you again alone Ephraim, just as I have been expecting (You will say at once then You was not disappointed was you Mother) I will answer Yes.) but will tell you I Dreamed last Sat night you & he came home, & he was about starved to death & just as ragged as he could be & thought you had got a great tall square monument made & had a Grave dug & had the monument set by the side of the Grave then spoke & said now I want that to stand there till I get ready to have it used; then I awoke feeling very bad & you were both gone out of my sight) but it was in my mind & Docks pale poor & haggard looks has been before my eyes ever since. Our paper came Tues I hastened to look it over to see the news & / & about the first was Gen Sheridan had lost about 200 wagens on the 15^th in the vicinity of Strasburg out towards the Gap that leads through the mountains just the other side, but thought I to myself Dolphin isnt there; but Oh God only knows where that poor boy is. You remember I told you here in the bedroom the morning you left, I never could live & endure for 3 years to come what I had for 3 past, & it dont seem to me that I can. Your letter came last Frid. You had not seen him in a number of days & I was so sick I couldnt hardly read it & was sick Sat & Sund & yesterday was sick abed all day alone. Pa went down to get me some pills & take Deloria to have some teeth extracted or filled & when they came last night brought your letter date 19^th & said you hoped it to find me well. I was so sick could hardly hold my head up, but glanced it over & found out that poor boy had / gone off there & laid it down & tried to get him out of my mind & sleep, but it was a hard matter. This morning Grandpa & Ma came & I got the letter & read it & its usless to tell they both said he ought not to went; I dont know where to direct to him, but I want you to keep writing till you hear from him & have him come back there & stay with you if he can till you come & then come with you or before if it should be that you cant till Dec. but I hope you will have the good luck too. (God knows) Well Deloria had a tooth filled yesterday has ached all day so Pa took her & started about ½ past 6 to go & have it pulled, has just got back. Dudley gone to East Otto & Gereld to Dunkirk & didnt get it pulled. She didnt sleep hardly any last night it ached so. I feel quite well to night its 10 oc. so Good Bye for to night & heaven protect you & that poor boy. Oh I am so fraid the Rebs has got or will get him I cant bear the thought

 

Frid Morn 26^th qr past 7 oc We are usually well. You tell me not to worry & I will try & not more than I can help, but there is nothing but trouble all the time. well what is the odds. Wy the difference as you say, thats all. O it pleased Grandpa considerable to think you would kick a mans A into his Hat should he ask you to go less than 2000. he thinks you have got a pretty good idea about how the machine runs & so do I. hant you & Stephen glad you didnt reenlist, but he says its a pity about the soldiers getting such an idea about voteing & he is most afraid the Copperhead Democrats is going to ruin the Country at last & its a great pity. Why dont Steph write. they hadnt got but letter Wednesday since he went away. Mrs Rogers was so anxious to hear from him. She had Pa open yours, but you didnt say when you had seen him nor where he was if there & you see him give him my Love

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