Letter from Mary, dated 1863-11-01

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We hear they get along nicely at home - Y. & [Y.?] went home 5th day. We [glide?] along smoothly as ever. Horace sends a great deal of love to mother - Yesterday [Alber?] - Hammond's hired man, was driving a span of horses which ran with him - & in trying to jump from the wagon - he slipped so both wheels passed over his head injuring him so he lived but an hour & a half! He was unconscious all the time - What a warning to be [underline]always[/underline] ready. Charlie came down to meeting - says they are all well -

How does thee find the good folks in Ferrisburg - Does [Lenicer?] have apples so we could have a bbl. of Baldwins & Grunings - reasonbly? - Hope thee is feeling well - Accept much love from

thy own Mary

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First day morning. 11th mo. 1st. '63

My dear precious mother,

Do not know but we ought to have written thee, before, but have been waiting hoping to get [underline]some thing[/underline] to write - Third day night [Tho.?] recd. a letter from Geo. Hatch that used to tent with Willie just telling of his capture - he returned thy last letter to Willie - which came after he was away I suppose. Fourth day night I recd. a letter from Horace - he said Willie was taken by gorillas twenty four hours after Lee's army had gone - most every day they pick off men and teams - these

gorillas are men that live right around there. Should think we had an army there large enough to stop such doings. H. has seen a man that was captured sometime with Willie - who ran from them - the rebs. fired twelve shots after him but none took effect. H. was very well except his lameness said he thot he should be at home when his month was out- so I looked for him last night - but a [underline]letter[/underline] came instead he is so lame P. told him he must not come yet - I think he is hurt worse than he tells us - is mostly confined to his tent - he has a stove in it and his darkies are very kind to him - says they beg

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of him to stay - & I presume he will another month. He saw a man the day before who has just been a prisoner in Richmond - was gone but three weeks - was treated well - says Willie will be back soon he has no doubt - as they are so short of provisions they are glad to return our boys. H. says O. Hill has come home - his father failed so fast they sent for him - have not heard how he is since. Spafford is better. Sixth day Thankful and I visited cousins Mary Libby - Dianna was there - also Austin's wife who is down on a visit, left all her children at home - she was sorry not to see thee. Sarah [Yaster?] was quite sick - they feared diptheria