52

business in NY. What is Isaac's
trade mostly in? Does he retail any?
Please write me a long letter about
affairs in the Matropilos of America
I presume Mary will send you my
letter last week I then supposed
you were in B and would see it
I hope she will get a good chance
in the city probably she has written
you about it She writes me that
Father leaves my alotment money in
the hands of the state Treasurer at 5 per ct
ct interest She sent me a copy of the
receipt Father takes as security I
send it to you Do you think it is
as well and safe as if put in a
bank I understand that it is lent
to the state should'n't you think
so? I have written to Mary to explain
it but she dont answer I suppose
all eyes are turned to the armies of [Rocecrans?]
and Burnside If there can only be an
army collected there large enough to

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wipe out old Bragg It seems to me
the war could not last long

The Rebs found that they could not
drive old "Rosy" so easily. He is a
"brick" and the country may well be
prowd of the army of the bomberland
and its Commander

I don't see where Gen Meade is
why he is'n't punching them up at
Richmond I learn that Gen. Hooker
with 50000 men has gone to reinforce
Rocecrans The 8th Army Corps I learn
is with him in which is the 39 Mass.
Perhaps I shall meet Tom. Short down
in Tenn. Perhaps by this time he
has seen a little of soldiers life in
earnest. He will find it much
different from doing gard duty about
Washington The [B5?] Mass and 51st Penn.
have come up here and I expect we
go south by Sunday or Monday But
you see we take evrything easy whether
we stay or not we will make the best