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Assistant Quarter Master's Office, Head Quarters 2d Div., 6th Corps.
August 28th 1863.
Mr dear Mother:
Once more am I rejoiced by a Letter from thee and, as usual do not incline to let it lay unanswered over night. I see it is just two weeks since the date of the one thee acknowledges the receipt of but I think I have written once since then. Iat makes no differrence tho.' I am still here, and likely to be so for the present, though I think of knowing more of a surety to-morrow or at least [underline]soon[/underline]. If [CC?] go to N.Y. I shall sure let you know at once for I should then hope to see some of my dear Friends for a short time. I do not get any very deffinite news of the place position or prospects of the Brigade and do not know what or where their duties are in the [Q?], Union, Rebel, Gotham,
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David did not seem to really remember what it was that he threw out, but said he threw away that seemed [underline]hurting[/underline]; by thine I see that only the Cherries were sacrificed; so I feel pretty well. I hope Aunt Pauline & George will go and that they will have a good time. Give my love to them, if they are still at home. I have not heard from Henry in a long time but notice that when I do his courage seems good. If Timothy is anxious to enter the Army at all I think he must see ample opportunity to do so now, since the massacre at Lawrence. I must not write of that for when I do I am led to say things which would not sound like the principles under which I was reared. Nothing more inhuman has been done during the course of this War, I think. Thomas does not intend to send one of his Brothers to the war in this place, and for this I honor him, though it is no worse for us to go, than others, and the money
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goes to him [someone?]. With the experience I have of the Army, even my love of it would not induce me to come if drafted, inless circumstances placed a practical difficulty in the way of my exemption. I have not seen Obe yet, and it is really not time for me to do so, as he will be likely to stop at N.Y. a few days with his old mess-mates. I have hardly heard Philander named since I came into the Army before and did not know where he was Located, or who was at the Mills. Aldin Forcross I think would be a good hand there.
It does exasperate the inhabitants some to lose their vegetables, but their sentiments are too openly avowed to allow us any misgivings. When on the march, we procured Forage for the Animals in the same way only paying for it where the owner would subscribe to the Oath of Allegiance and most of them would do this for the price of
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a Load of Hay, in "Legal Tender". I have just enjoyed a meal of nice ripe Tomatoes. Is confiscation of the property of those who are in open & many instances [underline]active[/underline] rebellion to our Government a "villany?" as thee pleases to call it? I must write a few lines to Ann in answer to her Backing on [thine?] so I will close.
Love to all,
Thy loving Son,
W. B. Stevens
To R. B. Stevens
