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[upside down:]
Shall thee send thy clothes home? I wish a photograph very much but do not suppose as it wil be so [?] [can?] have one taken. God bless thee, my dear.
[right side up:]
I have had a beautiful letter from Susanna. She says she is proud of thy patriotism "just think how good and kind he will be to all the suffering and what an influence for good he will exert. May our Good Father keep him pure." She likes James very much and think but few could help doing. He likes there first rate, says he is anxious to hear from thee. News I have to relate that is somewhat wonderful. 1st. Susie Burnett is married to [Hen?] Whitney. Conclusion 1st. She got over the loss of Jacob suddenly and easily, 2nd. George Baily and Caira are married. He is Asst. Adj. of the 6th Reg. which started yesterday for Washington. She has been at Montpelier with him and is to spend her grass-widowhood at her father's. 2nd. Con. This is not a very good way to do business. 3rd. Phil and Miss [N?] Fuller are married. I did not think he ever would have her. I am glad of it though. They are to board with Mrs. L. Gleed for the present. [Fannie?]
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[printed] Glenwood Ladies' Seminary, Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Orcutt, Principals. West Brattleboro, Vt. [/printed] 10th M. 20. 1861
My Dear Brother:
Thy good letter was rec'd 2nd day. I am very sorry I wrote that first one to thee but I suppose thee has got another one from me that I wrote as soon as I got they first letter. I had waited so long to hear from thee I did not know what to do, for I thought thee would have written had I not known how absorbed thee is in military life, but now of course I shall think thee has written even if I do not get a letter and write to thee once in two weeks, I [reckon?] once in every week. - all the time. Thee cannot think how anxious I was to hear from thee. Each night I think of thee, and pray thee may be encompassed by the strong shield of God's love, during danger and kept from evil by His tender mercy. I think thee is not out of my mind [an?]
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hour at a time. I hope she will write to me very often. I watch the dailies very closely but as there is no account of a battle yet suppose there has been no engagement. In the midst of life we are in death anywhere and any time yet it seems peculiarly so in the situation in which thee is. Please do be very careful, muh more so than the has been of thy health. Thee will not serve thy country so well by hotly rushing into danger, as thee will by doing the regular, appointed duties. I do not worry about thee more than I can help but I feel pretty anxious all the time. I have rec'd a letter from Levi. He says thee has blistered thy hands, chopping. Some of us here have blistered our hands knitting for you. I do not think it speaks very well for our habits heretofore. We have nearly fifty pairs done. I have been "schoolma'am" in my Geometry Class for a week, as our teacher was sick. Things are going on finely here. I am very well and if it
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were not for war I think I should be very contented and happy. How many otherwise happy hearts it saddens and shrouds in darkness. Miss Crumpton wishes her love to be sent twice over, to thee: she praises thee up sky-high. Mary Orcutt never would tire hearing about thee [&?] Henry, she supplies me with flowers. Miss Smith sends her love to thee. I am very sorry thee could not have come here in the day time, but I have strong hopes thee will some time. It is not my way - self praise, now, - to look on the dark side of things, but thy letter made me feel pretty badly. Please do not write thee expects to be killed, it throws a heavy gloom around me which it is in vain to throw off; did I not have such kind friends here who do everything to keep up my spirits and cheer me I do not know what I should do. I wish I could share their kind attentions with thee; I hope thee is better of
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[boards?] there also. 3rd [Con.?] They will have some jars, not of honey, unless things alter some what. - Tom. seems to be enjoying himself first-rate, he has full sweep now [Thee?], Levi and Jim are gone. I hope he will improve it to the best advantage. Mother seems better, she is also knitting stockings. Levi thinks a soldier's life is a pretty hard one. I think it must be very. I trust all our good boys will be faithful and be preserved. I have written to Timothy, he expects to stay with uncle John this winter. I am glad of it. I suppose it is pretty exciting times in Kansas now. I hope Fremont will be left alone. I shall have unbounded faith in him I believe. Thank thee for those papers thee sent. I have not heard a word from Nancy. I do not like it at all, nor does Mr. Orcutt. She has treated us real mean to say the least, but perhaps she can explain it satisfactorily. I have just been to church. Had a real smart minister who prayed for the soldiers as I like to
