“If it is my lot to go into more battles, I shall go the same as I went before”

Camp Convalescent VA

Sunday July 19, 1863

Dear Clara,

I am well today and hope these few lines will find you all the same at home. I have received but one letter this week. I have been waiting to hear if you got that money I sent you yet. I hope you have got it before now for I know you must be in need of it.

How I do wish I knew how little Ida was this morning. I worry a great deal over it when I hear any of you are sick. I think that in a few days we will be exchanged and then I will have to go back to my Regt. again. It will be hard for me to do so without seeing you but I shall try to feel better than what I do.

I have been looking all this week for a letter from George or Mally but it seems as if they don’t care anything about writing to me, so I shall not write any more to them. Dear Clara, it makes me feel very bad to think I have been here so long and have not had a word from any of my folks and they can all write. It seems as if they don’t care anything for me. But I think I know of one who loves me and is thinking of me while I am here and that is you, dear Clara. I place all confidence in you and believe you are what I hoped and wished for.

There is not much news here at present, only what you hear in the papers. I think that our folks are driving the Rebels pretty hard at present and they will be forced after a while to yield to the old government again. I hope this summer will finish up the wicked Rebellion. I am tired of lying around in idleness the way we are here and I have seen all the fighting I want to. But if it is my lot to go into more battles, I shall go the same as I went before.

Dear Clara, I will come to a close. Hoping to hear from you soon. Give my love to all inquiring friends. Take good care of yourself and little ones. God bless you in your loneliness.

Yours with love and truth,

P.L. Dumont