Bristol Elkhart Co. In^d Sept^r the 24^th 1862

 

Dear Son

We Rec^d your letter of the 13^th last night & it was long looked for. I hope you will be not neglect writing so long again the time may not seeme long to you but it dose to us you should write oftener I cant write much today for I had another bleeding spell last Saturday night & Sunday but it is now stoped again the other spell when the boys wrote to you lasted 5 days & nights & it was almost too much for one time I can walk before the house some but cant leve home I feel tolerable this morning only some pain in my chest. But this must not discourage you nor give you homesick, for if you were here you could not help me any at all; I am geting use to it & dont feell the the least bit alarmed about it; but take it as an evry days natural occurrence; Edward & the 2 are toping & bloding corn at Mr Bradshaws & will finish the field tomorow; we expect to sow our wheat this weak: there is very little sowed yet the folks are holding back on account of the flese

 

Mr Trego was here on Sunday they are all well Mrs Zimmerman was here last night they are all well Ed saw Samuel Pontians yesterday they are all well the rest of the boys friends are all well

 

I am sorrey you could not stand fifeing but I think the base drum would be harder on your chest than fife or musket; I hope you will be able to fill one of these plases but you must try to make your owne chain; & if the begining seemes a little hard you must not get discouraged but hope for better times & better health; I was afraid you could not stand fifing it takes good lungs /

 

we ware some astonished to here of Tom Porter & James Smith being in your Rigment if they can stand it then there is a chance for any one to stand it if it should be myself—O i wish I was as I was ten years ago I would be with you in less than 3 days, sartin;

 

Dear Wm I hardley know what to write but I hope you are not pleged with homesick as you have so many friends & accquaintance with you; very true we old folks would like to see you & so it is with all of us old folks here we are all of one mind in regard to you boys; but as that cant be so for a while we will try to content ourselves for a while & then we hope we will see you all again but I must close as I am tired. In conclusion be good boys; good soldiers & obediant to your officers dont let anything discourage you; war is in your visinety & we look for you boys to put a stop to the Rebelion & not let it spread into our states, & you shall have our prayers for your saftey Wm dont go to town more than you can help you know you are in an enemys country be carefull you did not mention wether you got John Gerings letter I sent to you as soon as he writes again I will send to you O be good boys & good soldiers

 

We have just herd you have had a fight with the enemy you ware chaseing them dont let them stop till they are in the same plase them swine run into some year ago, when [?] of Sesh Principles

our love to you & all the boys your

 

                                                            Affectionate Father

                                                            Wm Albright

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