Fortress Monroe, Va

Feb 15^th 1862

 

Dear sister I take this present chance of writing you a few lines to inform you that I am well at present and hope that these few lines may find you all enjoying the same blessing I received your letter this morning and was very glad to hear from you all and to hear that you were all well I hope that you will excuse me for not answering the other letter sooner I received a letter from Matt a day or two before I received your other letter and one from father and rufus the other day they were all well at home when they wrote 

 

we have had some very fine weather for several days past and I thought that the winter had come to an end it appeared so much like spring but this morning looked quite different it was cold and damp when we got up and is raining now so the nice weather has soon passed away I wish that spring would soon set in for good and that the war would come to an end soon I hope be fore two months that the rebelion will so be crushed and everything settled so we will have peace once more but we will have to take what we get I expect I received a letter from elijah Criswell yesterday he is in the army in virginia he says he has very good times and likes to be playing soldier very well and says he would like very well to be here 

 

we are still at fortress monroe and no telling when we will leave here there has been some talk of our regiment going to newport news but I cannot tell how true it is there is no political news of any importance more than what I expect you have all heared of give my love to all the family and tell dolly that I am glad to hear that she is going to get married tell her that I think she will have plenty of company when she gets married I heared that there were thre or four families living in the same house that henry ziles lives in and that he is going to move in with them when he gets married so they will not be lonesome at all you want to know how to direct a letter to Mr Lane his residence is in Barnesville therefore you can direct it the as to matt /

 

Mr William P Lane

Barnesville Belmont Co

                        Ohio

 

no more at present but

remain your loving brother

untill death

 

Thomas J Criswell

to

Julia A R Criswell

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