“I have not heard from the Col. yet but expect to all the time”

Camp Convalescent Near Fort Barnard Va

[Wednesday,] June 3, 1863

Dear Clarinda,

I received your very welcome letter today and was glad to hear that you was all well. That is the same with me at present. I have got mostly over my cold. I suppose you have about broke your back with lifting those heavy things. Tell me if Hank has got your things yet and if they are not most spoilt. I can’t imagine what our folks are a going to do with all those nice things. These are getting to be hard times to run in debt much. If I don’t prophesy wrong, there is going to be pretty hard times before a great while. I have got that money all right you sent me. Tell me, Dear Clara, if it was the girls or father and mother that wanted that money and what did they say when they heard I was taken prisoner. Oh, how I should like to be by you today, Dear Clara. I have got so much I want to tell you that I can’t put in a letter but I am in hopes I will have a chance to by and by.

Tell Fletch’s folks that I helped to take him to the hospital yesterday afternoon with the digearious fever but he is a great deal better today. He got up singing yesterday morning. He was taken very sudden, but by the time you get this I think he will be well again. He wonders very much why he don’t hear from home. He has had only one letter and that was from Dave’s wife. He has wrote 2 to Wes and not received any answer.

Dear Clara, I have forgot how old the children are. Please write and let me know. You may think this funny but I can’t help it. It seems as if my memory was good for nothing lately and it seems as if I was getting deaf. Sometimes they have to speak 3 or 4 times before I can hear them. There seems to be a buzzing in my ears all the time. Maybe it comes from this cold I have had and will soon wear away.

I have not heard from the Col. yet but expect to all the time. Dear Clara, take good care of your health and the little ones for my sake. Hoping to see you again before a great while, I remain your true and living husband,

A great many kisses,

My love to all,

From yours only,

Sergt. P.L. Dumont

P.S. I picked ripe strawberries here last week. I wish I could send Ida some. Does she like all such things the same as ever? Poor little thing, how I want to see her.