1862-02-12 William Robert Webb from Susan Ann Webb

_____ [?] Feb. 12th 1862.

Sawney, dear, your letter to me of the 6th inst- written with a pencil, came to hand Monday night. It came thro in a shorter time than my letter has done from you in a long time. We were glad to hear your very well enjoying such good health, and we hope & pray that this inestimable blessing may be continued to you until your term of service expires. Good order & good health are desirable in every place - but I should think more to be desired in camp than most any where else. "Aminadab" in his fast letter gave a minute description of your Reg. hospital & guard house. He had been in both, found them not very pleasant places, particularly the hospital, said he was writing from the guard house, to which he had been sent for some misdemeanor. He was orderly Sergeant of His Chatham Rifles," but had been redressed to ranks [?]. Bro. J. says he deserves to be punished, if for nothing else, for his want of patriotism which is conspicuous in nearly every letter. To gratify our curiosity, do give us his true name.

The Register is [?] paper & I have to send it to him, or I would send it to you sometimes. Did you get two papers I sent you not long since? Bro. [?] went to Charlotte last week & brought back his stock of goods, molasses & sugar [?] in his [?] We heard from Sister Saturday - She scribbled over 3 pages of a large sheet of letter paper & there was but one finished sentence in the whole. This indicates no mental im provement. Mrs. Fisher wrote a few things. She said Sister's health had been pretty good since I was there in Dec & she was quite [?] for her. She seems pretty well for her this week. She is always in more of [?] trouble about something. Two of our [?] took a [?] leave of us Sunday. Our boarders had been rather unmerciful in [?] a [?]; by some means, Mr. B heard of it - & to ignite them [?] [?] own [?] blocked 6 of them at his study Friday evening [?] while a [?] among the rest of Rob[?] & [?] L to spite themselveves, left. Mane Ann is still poorly - not able to do any thing. The rest of us are good. I have 6 pupils this week; so you see my responsibilities are multiplying. Bettie [?] is in Asheboro spending some weeks with Line. Our neighborhood is very quiet now. The ladies have all been bloackaded at home for some weeks past by the mud but if the sun shine & wind, we have today, continue, the blockade will soon be rased.

Wednesday after noon. At Home: Uncle S[?] has just left here. He [?] Laura home with him. The sick ones at his house are better. Adeline's babe died. John Snipes is up on a visit to his wife. Ricky [?] Stanford was in Person[?] last week when brother was down, still unable to return to his Reg. Bro. says he don't take any care of himself. [?] Mrs. enjoys good health in the army. She is some where near Savannah. Ann sends a great deal of love and says she had a letter in store for you, but hasn't had time to put it on paper. She is glad to find I am writing. Sam's [?] now are two minnows he has had in a pitcher of water for more than a week. She feeds them & says he believes they grow. He has a diminutive net he sinks in the kitchen every few days to see if the fish can still go this [?] meshes. This is the way he measures them to ascertain whether or not they grow. I was at Salem last Sab. Mr. [?] preached from "Preach the word; be instant in season & out of season; Reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering & [?] Your name was called in C[?] meeting. How I wished you were there to answer to it. May we meet in Heaven, prays, your fond sister. SAW.