“Let them coats go and write to me”

Camp Seward

Wednesday, November 5^th 1862

[letterhead says CLEVELAND with multicolor print of city and woman, printed with Buckeye State Soldiers, “MOTTO We live for the Union, We die for the Union, We will uphold the Union’]

Wednesday Evening in Camp

Early Candlelight

Dear Clarinda,

I received that paper you sent me this morning but have not received any letter since last Saturday night. But I suppose one is on the way for me. I am well or feeling better than I was although I have not been on duty yet. But I hope and pray that these few lines will find you and the children and all the folks at home enjoying good health. James DeForest sent word for me to come to his tent this morning and he said he had a letter from Bill stating that he did not like it very well because Tom or me did not write to him so I have written one for him which I will mail with one for you. They had not orter complain for us not writing.

Clara, I just left off writing for the mail has come and I am glad because I have got a letter and such good news from home. I don’t want you should work on them coats for fear you will work too much. Fletch and me are a writing at the same time by candlelight and all alone and he laughed when I told him that you wrote about our singing. Tom has just come in the tent and was a crying because he don’t get any letters. I should think Julia might write to him all the time. She haint got anything else to do. He is well but feels very bad because he has no news from home. I wish you would speak to her about it.

There is not much news but what I have wrote before. Our Company went down on Long Bridge on guard yesterday at noon and came back today at noon. I did not go down for I have not been on duty since I have been here. Today the story was going around that we were going near the Rebels again. But I have got so I don’t believe nothing what they say anymore. I think we will guard Long Bridge some time yet to come. They say the Army will not go into winter quarters this winter on the account of so many nine months men. I hope they will get through by spring because the Democrats rule again.

Clara, I brought ten dollars away with me and should have had plenty left but Fletch and George Lent win in for living first along and I had to do my part towards it so it has run me pretty low. I have got 3 dollars left and I guess I shan’t want any from home. I did not eat what I spent my money for but I could not see them buying all the time and me not doing the same. George Wheeler has not had any money since he has been here and he has lived on me for tobacco, postage stamps, paper and envelopes. He says when he gets money he will pay me all back again but I haint any hopes of it. He got a letter and said you was up to his house to see his mother and I heard you was down to Jones’ for supper. We hear a good many news if we are 7 hundred miles away. When you write again write if you got my likeness I sent you. The have just called the role and I must close my letter.

Dear, dear Clara, let them coats go and write to me. Oh how I do miss your company and society. You know last summer when you was gone how glad I was when you came home. But I am ten times more so than I was. So I must bid you goodbye until you can hear from me again. Write often and tell the girls to write.

From you husband and God protect you and children,

P.L.D.