No 10

Belinda Iowa Oct 30^th 1862

 

            My Dear Husband

                                                I have just read your letter dated Oct 28^th. I must confess that nothing has ever given me the heart-ache so much as to feel that I have failed to do my duty to you in any thing If I had known in time that it was your wish for that I should go to Jefferson I would have gone at all hazzards. Prehaps you think that my love for you ought to have prompted me to the undertakeing for it would have been an undertaking for me to have gone in a crowded wagon after being compelled to over-exertion for the past few weeks. My Dear I did long to embrace another opportunity of seeing you, but at the same time another parting would present itself to my imagination and I would instinctively shrink from it. If you can get a furlough why not come home. I know that we could enjoy each-others society and bear parting again better at home than at any other place! But if you cannot come home, let me know that I am freely forgiven, and then I will feel better about not going to see you. I do not expect that Pap will go down now, and have not thought that he would go since I heard that the boys had sent their money to him. We expect to / move saturday. I wonder if any place will appear like home to me, without you. I expect to make every effort to be contented, but hapiness without my husband is impossible I will write to you as soon as we get moved home. I hope you will excuse me for writeing on a half sheet for I write so often that I cannot fill a whole sheet every time I suppose that Coony feels very much elated since he has got to be a soldier, for he has been aspiring to that for so long. Give my respects to all of the boys. I have a heart-felt interest in the wellfare of them all. I would like to see every one come home covered with laurels.

 

                                                I still remain your loveing wife

                                                L. A. Reed

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