William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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Yours of the 31st (last Sabbath eve) was all the letter I recd from you during
the past week. I kinder thought I ought to have recd.
just one more little one, but I
suppose you did not feel very well, as you wrote me you was most down sick, which in the army is a good excuse. "Ferdie is going to
get well" you say. I have felt so all the time - but you
must take good care of your own health darling. We have not seen anything of the
Rebs yet, but have been looking sharp for them for
some days past, we do not get any news of them yet. The paymaster has just been
up and paid off the Regt. again, but
he done so well for me before
that I did not have much coming this time, however I used him so well that he
paid me for the month of May, and I have sent a package to father Beebe by
Express of three hundred and fifty dollars but the outside is only marked two
hundred I know that some at home are watching how much
money I send home consequently it is necessary that you and Father keep your own
counsel in this matter and let other people attend to their own business. I
expect to send a hundred dollars more in a few days - take good care of it all
for it will be “very handy to have
in the house” after the war is over. Father
will be enough for them. Mr. Dillingham wrote Ed that I had sent home a thousand dollars - which he thought was considerable money, and so it
was - but you see I save my money and send it home. Always write me as soon as
you receive any money so I may know it has got home safe, for I am anxious about
it till I hear from it. I am doing well now. All is going
on nicely as ever here now - no change - boys all well. Oh! you blessed wife,
how I long to see you. Almost every night I dream of you and last night in
particular, I had such a good dream - it is awful to live
in this way. Oh! wont I be glad when I can have you here with me all the time -
darling I really suffer every day for the want of a
woman. I shall not stand it much longer. Give my love to
all - tell father to buy all the “five twenties” he can get and lay them one
side for a rainy day. We are all drying up out here for
the want of rain - no news to write
As ever William
Yesterday I went out with Col Jewett and the Provost Marshal hunting for
goods the Rebs were trying to run over the river In under a big straw stack
we found two big packing trunks full of the very nicest kind of ladies dress
goods, ladies shoes and Broad Cloath, at least one
thousand dollars worth of goods, all of which we took to head
quarters and delivered to the Govt. It was quite an exciting adventure. The
mans name that owns the place is Pleasant and he is under arrest and being
tried at this time by Court Martial for “harbouring confed. officers” two
having been found and taken prisoner last week at his house. The Court
Martial will find a verdict to hang him and if “Uncle
Abe” does not pardon him he
will be hung. We have got another one on the same charge - a Mr.
“Leonard” who was private Sect. to Pres. Buchannan, who will be tried next
and I hope we shall get a chance to hang him too. We have got on their track
here now, and they begin to look frightened. I expect to have something to
write about now most every mail Tell me about Delias letters. And what luck
you have moving – have not recd that journal yet. As ever
William