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Yorktown Va
Jan 31 1862
.
Dier Wife I this morning sit down to
rite toy afew lines which leavs mee will + I doo hop these lines will find you will I wont you to rite to mee soon that is
the first thing I think of
this is ahard old plase shore But I think wee can stand it wee hav had afew vary Nice days I dont think wee will Ever hav
afite hear Thar is Yankey Boat in site some times But it will never come I dont think
Col Hutchuson is Gone home now the Boys dont like him much I dont think hee not pay mee anything for them Disurley he sayd
it was not leagle + I wont pay him that $100 dollars Evry Boddy els is on my side they say not pay for it was his neglect
wee hant fetchd yet But I think wee will to day
Our companey is attacht to artilery
rite on the Bank of the River
wee hav five Canons to work sayd to Bee the Best on the plase wee can hear the canons Rour Evryday But wee dont cear for that
I never Got that money from Uncle
David hee sayd hee would hav the pork soon if you need it Gow after it + Giv it some thing to eat
I am in hops you will doo will
while I am gone from you doo the Best you can + I will doo the same wee cant hav nothing hear
I wont you to take Good cear of
My Babies + tell them that I love them + if I never Git Back they will now whare I went + what Become of mee I doo think I
will doo Better then I hav Bin dooing for some time tell Father + Mother that I will rite to them soon
I must come to aclose for this
time I in tend to rite Evry wek + I wont you to doo the same
Kiss the Babies for mee Good By for this time
yours till Death
Miller Collins
.
A word to S.B. I hant for got you yet
nor never will I think as Much of you as I can take Good cear of My Children if you pleas I now you will doo that with out
ascen dont for git mee for I am along ways from home ....... But my Hart id thar with you all
Yorktown, VA Feb 10, 1862
.
Dier Wif I this evening write you a
few lines which leavs mee well I doo hope these lew lines will find you all well
I recieved yor letter a few minits
ago which gave mee grate satifaction to hear from you all and hear you was well and dooing the best you could and Bad at that
I expect But doo the Best you can for your self and children.
Wee ar expecting a fite soon in a
day or too and it may be soa for what I now they hav had a big fite dow at Ronconlie Islandand they whipt us vary bad
But it is all rite I think I think I will come home some time in the sumer if wee dont hav a fite for they had commenst to
furlow to day But heard of that fite and stopt them But they will commence agane in short time if wee dont fite, I wont to
see you all Bad anuf to come Now But I cant pay to come for it will cost mee twenty five dollars at least to gow hom and back
but wee can rite to one other and talk I gow see ery day if ther is any letter for mee and I had got out of hart looking but
it come at last and I was glad when I saw it I will rite to you evrytime you rite to mee if I ceep well and if I dont you
will excuse mee for that is all I think about any how is riting and gitting letters from you or some buddy in that country
you sayd something about your pork what you doo will bee rite with mee if it is with you I think Old Mrs Graviley would
doo will to attend to one Bisness but that is all rite an how as to old Tinny I ow hur now ads nother I hav reported Dick
to Capton and hee is going to tell him hee had better pay the money back than to gow to tryel for it will ruin him I dont
cear if it dose ceep this to your self till you hear what is done with him.
Tell Lou Mead I was glad to see his
mark and I was glad hear that hee was well and was gowing to scole for learning is thing.
A word to S.B. I was glad to git a
line from hur and doo hope I will git it evry time shee has the chance to rite tell Billey Mc that hee mite rite something
to mee for hee hant got no body else of cin folks to rite too in the servis But mee and for him to rite to mee Boswell is
sick and is vary Bad off I dont now what is the matter with him I am wating on him now I am in vary good health at this time
I hope I will remain sow thow ther is rite smart of sickness hear now But no boddy dangerous I dont think this is a bad place
it ant like Camp McDonald was. Tell
Mr. Ives folks that is bad as well I dooing well I wont you to rite to mee from thar.
I wont you to rite to Capton Steel
to send me hom if I was to hapin to dy for that is all the way that they can send them home rite one peise of paper to its
self. Just say to him
Capton Steel I request you to send Mr. Collins home if hee shod hapen to dy while hee is under your comand and you will oblige
yourself and sin your name Just this way.
D.A. Collins
.
I wont to come one time more if I
hav to be hald but I hope I will not come that way all I crave is to com home when peace is made and bee with my family to
stay and I never will leave any more But all rite some may think this all foolishness But its my feelings at this time any
way Giv my Best respects to all my friends if I hav any in that country and I think I hav got some Boddy that I Love Behind
for dose mee good to think of gowing home to see them sort not being with them dont ceep mee from loveing them and thinking
of them.
.
I would pay the postage if could git
my change but I cant.
I have rote so much that I dont now
what to rite next But I cant not. I left four blankets in Cartersville that belong to the horse sitter I forgot them and I
rote to Faron to send them home to you for I would hav them to pay for any how and they will doo you some good for they ar
long Blankets while 2 of them together if hee sends them home tak good cear of them But use them all the time wash them and
then rap the children up in them and you self.
I tell now tales how you got them
for som boddy will say that I left them ¬¬Lost and it wont be sow.
I must close for you will bee tired
by the time you get throw reding this letter and tell all you now the canons os roing all round
Kiss the babies and take one
your self from mee and tell them that Pa wants a kiss the worst kind.
Nothing more onley I reman yours
till Death.
Yorktown Va
. Feb 18 1862
Dier Wife I sit down rite you afew
lines in answer to your letter I receivd + was mity Glad to hear from you that that you was all well + it found mee well +
dooing vary
I hav nothing to rite for I rote all
I nod the other day But I will Bee as good as My word I sayd I would rite Evertime you would this letter come in Bud Ivies
letter I think I will git another letter from you in afew days if you git My letters you sayd you had rote along letter
I hant never Got hit yet But Maby I will soon I rote one of the same sort afew days agow you sayd you had Better see see
mee + Bee with mee than any thing that is my feelings if I now my self + I think I doo But I cant Express My feeling in that
case for that is all that I crave is Just to git to come and stay with you and the Babies the Balance of my days and if I
ever doo git out one time more I will stay with you till death parts us if I am let alone But I am injoying Myty good
health at this + doo hope that I will for the time to come. Boswell is sick + is Vary Bad off But I think hee is Beter
hee has got the Tifoid fever you sayd for mee to rite soon it was all the satisfaction you had that is ease with me + if you
was as far from home as I ame you would Bee worse than you ar But I am dooing the Best I can I dont wait for Sunday to come
to rite for wee dont hav now sunday hav it all week days wee now when it comes But that is all wee git Tolerable plenty of
something to Eate rcon But Coffee it has stopt But I dont cear much wee ar Expecting afite hear atthis plas + I think it will
take aheep to whip us thow they May doo sow for I what I now
Yorktown Va
. March 3 1862
.
Dier Wif I sit down to rite to one
time more to let you hear from mee this leavs mee will + doo hope when this comes to hand it will find you + all will I harlly
now what to say to you that will interest you wee ar still looking for afite hear Every day + I think wee will fite in ashort
time But I dont now for wee cant hear nothing I hav nothing I hav Bin looking for aletter from you for aweek But has got none
yet I dont now what is the Mater if Mr Edwards ant on the Road with one to Mee But hee may come Before I start this for I
cant start it to day I Recon But I intend to Bee as good as my word if noboddy els dont for I promist to rite often + Evry
I had for I cant forgit My folks if I am along ways from home God nose My hart I want to live to Git Back to them to say one
time more for that is all injoyment that is in this world for mee But I hope that I will Git the chance to come home if I
live Boswell is Gitting Well Vary fast now I hav Bin waiting on him for these weeks I hant done any thing Els + I think
I am a vary good nurse if I say it My self Wiley Moss is sick + is vary bad off I think Vurnin Collins had the mups But
is Gitting well Well I will finish my letter for I receivd one from you alittle while agow which gav mee Grate sattisfaction
to hear from you
I comenst this letter the other day But I thout I wold not rite till I Got one from you Mr Edwards hant Got hear yet But
wee ar looking for him all the time
I dont think wee will hav afite hear rite soon But I did when I commenced this letter thar is some of the Boys is gowing to
start home in short time I will rite again to you I did Expect to Git aletter Till Mr Edwards Come home But if I am Glad
A word to S.B. I was Glad to see your
name in My last letter + hear that you was will dooing the Best you could wee all think that Willy Moss will dye + Williams
will dye tow I think But Erly is sick But hee is better sow I must close sow nothing More onley I am yours M C
.
Well D I wont you
to Rite soon as you git this + dont fail for I wont to hear from you oftain Evey day if I could tell Ellen God Bless hur sole
+ The Best of the Babies + you two
Good By for this time sow nothing more
may god Bless you
Yorktown Va
. March 7th1862
Dier Wif I this Butiful Sabath Morning
rite you afew lines and leavs mee will + dooing the Best I can + I doo when this comes to hand it will find you all will
they had afite yesterday down Below us they sunk one of the Yankey Boats + kild five hondred of them + I think they ar
fiting down thar now for wee hear the Gones all the time thar agood Many Gone from hear doom thar I think wee will hav soome
fiting now for the time ayear has come thar is some thing Going to Bee done now
I think from all the purporting
that is making I understand Leut. Steel is Gowing to start home in the Morning if hee dose I will send this by him if he dont
I will mail it
O that I could Bee at home to day + see you all But I cant But that is all rite if wee ar all will Meat is the thing at last
I wont to hear from you Myty Bad for I hant Bin Giting letters from you as oftane as I wont I hant had But one in thousands
But I am looking Evry day for one Mr Edwards hant come yet wee ar oneasy about him for wee ar afrad hee has hapond to some
bad ascident + I was looking for a letter when he come from you
Boswell is Gitting about agane
hee will Bee will in ashort time I wont you to rite soon as you Git this letter + rite some woth while you can shorly study
up soomething to rite more than you rite But dont think that I ant Glad to Git one from you if thar ant much in it for I am
Glad hear one word from you a most any thing would Bee nuse from that Country you never rote whether you had Ever Got your
Meat or not nor whether you needed any Money or not I wont to hear all that sort of newse I thout I would Git aletter from
Billey Mc Beefor this time
I think Martin mite rite one letter
to Mee for hee shorley has Got time when hee is at home all the time But it is two fur off hee has forgot what hee promist
to rite to mee I doo hope you will rite to mee all the time that you can for that is all the Satisfaction that I can hav while
in the survis this is my Birthday if you hav forgot it I hant for got it nor shant I
hant forgot where I was on my Birth day last year I was in the shop at work I wish I was thar now + I think I would see you
in ashort time + the Babes what what I wont to doo the worst of any thing in this world Doo rite soon + Giv mee all the newse
from that country + Just how you ar gitting along + how the Babies is gitting long and how they look I would send you some
stamps if I had any of them for I am afrad you ar out of change to pay postage But if you git out of Money rite to mee + I
will send you some By the first one that comes to that Country + thar is some Boddy Coming home all the time
Kiss the Babies + take one for
yous self doo rase the Children as often as you can + Ras them to love Mee as a father which I now you will Tell S.B. to rite
sow nothing more at this time onley I am yours till Death
Yorktown Va March 13 / 62
.
Dier Wife I this morning set down
to answer your letter which I Recivd yesterday I was myty Glad to hear from you + Glad to hear that you was all will + it
Reacht My hand + found mee will + harty Mr Edwards Got hear day Before yesterday hee fetched mee one that I was mity Glad
I hav nothing to rite for I hav bin riting sow much latley that I cant think of nothing thow if I Could see you I Could tell
you agrate maney things that I hav sean sinse I left you Mr Edwards did not git his clothing hear with him hee left them +
dont now when they will come wee ar in a grate stur hear now for our Rigt is gone down to Bethel they went down thar this
morning wee think that they will hav afite down thar to day or to morrow But wee dont now what they will doo
wee had afite down at Newport News
the other day + got the Victory largley wee sunk one of thar Boats + drownded four hondred of them + taken 25 of them prisners
+ seventy five of them got away + thats dooing vary will if wee can Ceep dooing sow Boswell is Gitting will
Well my loving wife I nevr
nod how will I lovd My family till I left home to stay I think I now my family as will as any Boddy lovs thar family this
ant Yatkin for that is my feelings shore
the Boys ceeps sow Much fers
that I canot think of nothing I am in Bad fix to rite But I think You wont to hear from mee + I am Glad you doo + I am Glad
you ant like G W Wilkes wife cant pay the postage on sow maney letters I some tims I would Give one dollar for to Git aletter
from you for when I miss for one week I git nearly wild for I doo think I hav Got sweetest Babies in the world + the old woman
not Expected for I love them any how
I wont you to rite how you ar
living + what you had to eat + how your cow is gitting on I Giv Martin ahint about rest gitting to mee in aletter I rote Uncle
I alis But if hee dont rite to Mee I cant help it + I wont hav to rite to them Back I am gowing to rite to Mother + Father
hur for not gowing to see you shee sayd that shee hant got nothing rite But I Recon that Old Man Owens is dead or shee could
gow in wagon But doo the Best you can for your selves bee sav in which I now you will for times is gowing to bee hard I Just
as live you hall what mercy I hav got as to ceep it to my self for I now that you would take good cear of it I wont you to
By what you need I will send you some money the first Chance I hav to send it doo the Best you can for your self + Babies
God Bless sow I must close for the present sow nothing more onley I am yours till Death Good By God Bless you
Yorktown Va
. March the 23, 1862
.
.
Dier Wife I sit down to rite you few
lines which leavs mee well I dooing the Best I can + I doo hope when this come to hand it will find you all will I nothing
to rite But the same old tale only Bill Steel is dead hee died nite Before last hee was Bared yesterday they could send mee
home from the fact that they was Expecting afite hear Evry day I dont Expect that thar will Bee much passing done for awhile
By noboddy for they thout they could send him home till they hide it
I commenst aletter to you to send by
them I send you some money But can not send it now you must doo the Best you can about money for I cant send it now + I fear
you need it But maby you can doo some how if it is bad if you need any Vary bad maby you can barow some from some Boddy +
you can pay it Back when I send it to you I dont send it Because I dont wont you hav it for I now I Rither you had it than
to hav it My self wee hant had afite hear yet But wee ar Expecting it Every day for they had sent off nearly all thar sick
to Git them out of the way I think wee will Gow Back to our Rigiment + leav our Cannons But i dont like it much for I like
the artily sirvis vary will But wee dont Git to doo what wee Rither doo all the time O if i Just could Bee at home to day with you + the Babies I think I could injoy
my self the Best in the world But I cant But I dont think that can ceep mee from beeing thar + I am glad of it for I doo lov
them I now + I hope one day when I will git to gow home I stay with them our things come that Mother sent us + wee was vary
glad to git home
I hav bin looking for aletter
from you for some time I fear that some of you is sick or something is matter thow maby it is on the Road for what I now I
rite about two letters for nearly Every one I git But I dont think hard of it for nearly Every day that I am at lisure I rite
alitter to you or Father folks or some Boddy Els
I am injoying Vary Good health
all the time + that is all that I crave while I am in survis I riting sow much that I am improving in writing rite smart I
think But you can read it any how tell S.B. howdy for mee + tell hur not to forget mee for I hant for got hur nor shant
tell the Babies that father lovs them + hee wonts to kiss them tell Elen that she must learn the Book + Bee agood girl Kiss them + take one for your self + think of mee doo the Best
you can + take good cear of your self Bud Ivie is about will Barey sends you his Best respects sow I must close for this time
for Bary wants mee to rite for him sow nothing mor to onley I am yours til Death
Yorktown Va
. March 25 1862
.
Dier Wife I sit down to rite you afew
lines which leavs mee will I Receivd your letter afew minits agow I was mity Glad to hear from you + to hear that you was
all will + dooing will as you was it found mee in vary good health you stated that you had bin looking for aletter fro mee
for some time I was looking for one from you for some time I Generley rite one Evry week + some times 2 + I think thar is
something Rong for I hant had one in 2 weeks till to day But that is all rite I onley was the Glader to Git hit when it come
I intend to rite all the time as long as I live or hav the time then I may git whare I cant rite wee taken up Yankey Prisners
to day + 7 of them yesterday + I mite git in the fite for what I now
I wont you to rite soon + often for
that is all the satisfaction that I hav in this world is just to rite + git letters from My loving family for God nose my
hart I doo love My dier wife and children this may seem like foolishness to some But it But it ant to mee an if they try it
they will now how I feel tell Uncle Jake if them Cracked heded Brgants fools willes him to fail them fools doo dispise them
they ar traiters to thar Country or tell them that when mee + J.V.R.J.B. comes home wee will giv them fits if I wor thar I
could thrash them out But sow much for that
I will send you some money By Mr Steel
I will send ten dollars and if that ant as much as you need the old man will let you hav some for Barey will send you Forty
dollars all hee has got for wee Cant Git now now chanse for what one Got wee Bettr had as long as wee hav any + I mee
foe hee is a good Brother
My self I sinse intend to make
good solgers as long as wee ceep our health + fite to Gether + Maby dy together for what I now if it had not Bin for leaving
him + Boswell I would hav went off to work on Boats for I could hav got Twenty 3 dollars amonth and I would Been dooing sirvis
for mi Country But I never will leav him I dont think I wont you to take Good cear of your self and the Babies and rite often
doo rite
I rote you all aletter afew days agow
and told you all that I could think off I will finish this in morning for it is giting late I will send you Money to the Old
Man and hee will Giv it to you sow I must close for this time soe nothing more
onley yours till Death
Yorktown Va
April 20 1862
.
Dier Wife I am wonst more permited
to rite to you to let you now that I am will or tolerble will I hav not bin vary will for some time But not dangerous I when
this comes to hand it will find you will I dont now what to rite you I hav such a bad chance to I rite I cant rite much thow
I must rite some to let you now that I am yet alive which will Bee good news to you this fite is yet agowing on and I dont
now when I will come
Wee hav fiting some Every day or nite
sinse the fifth of this instant But not in our line But not far off in about 2 miles or two and a half wee can hear them mity
close But wee dont see much for that for wee whip them on Every front our loss has bin vary lite I dont now the number wee
had one Col kild from N.C. hee was abrave man thow the pore man is gone whare many has to gow in ashort time if times dont
alter But I think this fite will Decide the wore it is the opinion of aheep of men for our forses is all hear wensday sow
and the Yankeys forses is nearly all hear from what the yankis prisners says they say this fite will decide this wore and
if that is sow I dont cear how soon it comes on thow it may prove sarow to mee But I intend to doo the Best I can and I doo
think while you pray and wee fite wee will make it back soon O if I could see you I could tell you things I cant rite
and I expect you could doo the same But I doo hope wee will hav the pleasure Beeing together one time more and then wee can
say what wee please
I rather Bee at home than to hav anything
that could bee Mentoring But I still live in hope if it was not for wore I can not live long But I am not out of hart yet
But times looks vary Gloomy now But I think it will alter in ashort time from the looks of Evry thing you may think that I
did rite rite some other way But this is the Best I can doo at this time I wont you to read this if you can and rite too mee
and let mee hear from you soon dont wait for mee to rite for will rite all the time when I can and has the chance But I hant
rote as often I had done Beefore But I cant help that you must not think hard of Mee for I will doo the Best I can and rite
as often as I can I wont you to do the same and doo the Best you can and take good cear of the Babies for I took out locks
some list them all tell them so I wish I had some of yours hear with the Babies I would not take money for them I Carey them
in my pocket Book all the time this is ahard Country the trees is Just Breding out you now
That is ahard old Solase I must close
for I hav rote more than I Expected too when I Comenst thou when I hav the Chance to to rite to you I dont now when to quit
for my feelings is such that I cant Explane them now how thow Must close for this time I will rite you in ashort time agane sow Good By tell S.B. that I hant for got hur yet and
if I dont say some thing in Evry leter shee must not think hard of mee for my chance is bad to rite any how But I dont forgit
my friends no how sow I must close for this time I wont you all to rite soon I am Better sattisfied when you ar with my folks
any Boddy Els fear you feel like one of My one family and I now you will take good cear of my BabiesI wont you to rite soon
and if D.A. gits so slow cant rite I wont you to rite for I hope thar is nothing amiff to By paper and pay for postage and
if it givs out when I draw I will send you some more if I live or fitch it my self I would Rather fetch it my self if only
permited I hope when these pencil marks comes to hand they will giv you some satisfaction sow I must close for this time Read
this if you can and think of mee sow Good
Yorktown Va
. April 25 1862
Dier Wife It is with much pleasure
that I can Rite to you and say that I am will onst more time and I doo hope when this comes to hand it will find you all will
I dont now what to rite for thar is sow much to rite about But I cant rite it all But if god will spar my life I will come
home and tell you all about it
I can say to you that wee ar
in the diches yet and I dont now when wee will Git out of them But I hope in ashort time and I hope when this is done peese
will Bee made for I am inhopes wee will whip them sow Bad that they will sick out fiting anymore for God nose My hart I wont
to see my family mity Bad I cant Express my feelings about that But I hope it wont Bee long
wee hav some fiting Evryday with
Canons not much harm done on our side wee had one man Cild yesterday By one of our Cannons Bursting it Cild one man and cripeld
2 more not in our Rigt But close By us it looks like wee could Bee whipt with the men that wee hav hear thar is one hondred
and sixty thousand hear now and still more acoming
the yankeys is in plain site of
us all the time But they wont come and let us try them I cant rite much at time for the Canons ar shooting all the time and
you now it is abad chance to rite for when they comens wee fall in our diches to ceep them from hitting us I wont you to
rite to mee often for I cant rite much now But I now you wont to hear from mee in such times as this and I am in the same
fix for I feel like you was in danger two But if all was still I wont to hear from you and ____ sick and sow ____
I ha rote two letters to you sinse
I got one from you But they was Bad ones But I could not doo no Beter and this will Bee the same sort I dont Expect you would
now mee hardly for I hant strpt in four weeks and I dont now when I will for I hant Got time to wash My close and you now
that dont suit mee But I look forward to the time when I can come home and let you wash for mee if you ar able S.B. will wash
for mee and not think hard of it I wont you to take good cear of the Babies and your self and Rase them rite or as much sow
as you tell them I love them tell them to Bee Good babies till I come home sow I must close tell Martin and family howdy Give
my respects to Mr Ivies folks sow nothing more at this time onley I am yours till Death may the lord bless you
. Miller Collins
.
one word to S.B. I am Glad see
you name in my letters I dont now what to say to you if I was thar to sit with you one nite I could tell you many thing thus
I cant rite I wont you to help to take cear of my Babies till I come home if ever I doo and I will Reward for it some time
if I can which I now you will and I will try to fite for them scamps thus hant Got now family I am inhopes you will scorn
them young men that is thar for they ant worthy of notes sow I must close for when I rite home it is to all for I dont rite
any thing that I dont wont you to see sow I
wont you to rite son sow nothing more onley I am yours till Death
Yorktown Va
. April 28 1862
.
Dier Wife I can say to you that I am
glad that I am Permited to rite to you one time more to let you now that I am will and I doo hope when this comes to hand
it finds you all will and dooing the same I dont now what to rite you only that wee ar in our diches yet and I dont now when
wee will Git out of them But I hope in ashort time for this is avary unhapy life to live for wee dont Git to sleep and
what wee doo git is Bad sleeping I wish I could send you some Better neuse than I can But I cant doo no Better that ant no
harm done yet on our side of any importance I dont think this will sart long for it two agervating to let them stay sow close
to us than they may worst us for what I now But I hope not I Recevd aletter from you yesterday which I was mity Glad to hear
from you for I was giting out of patiance waiting for aletter from you But I mind it was my fallt for I did not rite as much
for awhile as I ot tow But it was Bee couse this fite was gowing on I rote to you afew days agow that you will git by this
time I hav Rote 3 letters Rite lately But they was Bad letters But they was the Best I could doo at that time and this ant
much Better for I cant rite my mind sow much torn up that I cant rite But I intend to rite to you as long as long as I live
and is able for I think you will rite tow mee when you can I wish I could git another letter from you Every male for I look
out Every male and think maby I will Git one this time sow turn over
I had rote aletter to Father and Mother
to day that they will git when you you git this I hav about the same to them that I hav rite to you Bise Collins is sitting
hear with mee now hee beelongs to the 9th Ala Rigt hee is in fine spirits O.R. Bradley is about to Git in to our Companey
Mashbourn is about to swap with him if hee dont Back out at or Givs him 30 dollars to swap with him
Well D.A. I wish I could see you this
evening I take out my Babes her Kiss them vary often if I had some of yours with them I would Bee Glad sow I could see all
at one time this is the first day that I hav went with out my over coat for wether Bin sow cold that I could do without it
But this is Beutiful Sabath day and the Canons is Roring in Evry dyrection sow I must close for this time for thar is sow
much noise that I cant rite much But I will agane in afew days if I am spard
I wont you to Kiss the Babies for mee
and take one your self and tell them that I love them sow nothing more only I am yours till Death
. Miller Collins
.
A word to S.B. i rite to you in other
and I hant Got time to rite much this I wont you to doo what you promist to doo in one of your Mae letters you sayd you and
all the rest was praying for the Solgers I wont you to Remember one that is vary near to you and you with now hoo it is rite
soon as you git this letter sow nothing more only I am yours till Death
Miller Collins
sow Good By for this time
Richmond Va
May 18 1862
.
Dier Wife I this one time more hav
the pleasure of Riting to you as to let you now that I am will or tolerble will I hav bin sick But hav got well But am the
worst wore out that I Ever was in my life for wee hav bin on aforse march for over two weeks whare the mud was sow deep that
wee could hardley travel But wee had landed hear this morning in 2 miles of Richmond and is stopt lying rite by our Gones
and wee dont now how soon wee will move agane wee hav left yorktown and went to Williamsburg and folod they yankeys folod
us and wee had abig fite thar and then wee left thar alsow and put out for this plase I can say to you that I hant had aletter
from you in nearly 1 month I thar is something Rong or you mite hav Rote Beefore this time and I shol Bee oneasy till I git
aletter from you for I now that I wont to hear from you the worst I Ever did in my life for God nose I hav bin in a close
plase for some time But not lost none yet nor none in our Rigt wee was hel Back as Resurvs and wee got newse to gow in the
evening and then wee went in dubel quick time for three miles But wee did not git thar in time for nite come on our But I
Rekin it was all for the Best if Ever I am permited to come home agane I can tell you agrate many things that I cant rite
for if I Ever was full of some thing to tell it is now But I dont now if I will Ever git to tell it or not I dont now wether
you can read this or not for I Riting on my napsack I am so Bad was not that I cant rite much this time But I will rite agane
for I wont to rite one to father and mother and let them now that I am yet liv I will Giv you all the particulars when I Rite
you I dont now what to rite wee hant drawd now money yet now I dont now when wee will wee had to thow way amost all our close
and Blankets But wee hav got as Many now as wee can carey I wont you to doo the Best you can and rite Regular for I dont now
when I can come home for you now that I shal wont to hear from you Regular now for awile you now what I mean I doo hope the
lord will take cear of you the Babies while I am gone from you I wont you to Kiss the Babies and tell them I love them with
all my hart for I cant ceep the water out my ise till I can Rite for I now that I love my family as will as any Boddy loves
thar famileys But some may say this all folly But if you dont I dont cear Rite soon sow I must for this tim sow nothing more
onley I am yours till Death may God Bless you sow Good By for this time Miller
Collins
one word to S.B. I hant for got
you yet nor dont expect too I dont now what to say to you But I cant say to you that I wont to see you vary Bad doo the Best
you can and Rite to mee doo rite if thar is any thing the Matter for I am oneasy about home I wont you to Excuse this time
for not Riting now more sow I must close sow nothing more onley I am yours till Death sow Good By
Richmond Va 15th June 1862 Dier Wife
I this one time sit down to rite to
you to let you now how I am Gitting along I am some Better than I hav Bin But not vary will at that I had Bin sick for some
time But some Better now then I hav Bin in the hosspittle for 2 weeks last friday I was not in the hosspittle But one nite
and bell found out whare I was + hee come to see mee and turned out to Git mee ahouse to stay at and found one about time
that cant Bee Best Easy it is cept By a Willdow lady and she is Just like a mother to mee I dont now what the charg will bee
But I dont cear much if I can pay it Bell
has stade with mee Evry nite sinse I hav Bin hear I doo hope when this comes to hand it will find you all will I must Bee
short for I am sow week that I cant rite much this time But if I ceep may I Git sow that I can Rite in ashort time
our Boys has Bin in afite sinse I left
But I dont now what the Carnage was for hant seen none of them sinse I left But I hear severl of the Boys was Kild But I dont
now how I Epect some of Boys has
Beefore this time I wish I was at home till I Git will sow that you and S.B. could wait on mee But you ar in Bad fix I Expect
Shee has got hur hands now waiting on you and the Children I doo wont to hear from you all the worst I Ever did in My life
for I hant heard But one letter from you in sow long I hant got But one letter from in 2 months than thar may Bee some in
the Rigt for what I now it is out about 4 miles from hear sow I must Rest a little while for I cant not now longer I will
try I will try and Rite alotle more this morning this is the 16th I am Better Evry morning I am Just about like I was yesterday
what is the matter with mee apane in my head on one side of it which I hav suferd agrate deal with
I wont you to doo the Best you Can
and that will Bee Bad at Best But I am dooing Bad But wee can
I dont now when I will Gow to the Rigt But just as soon as I Git able for I wont to see the Boys vary Bad and I now some of
them wonts to see mee I am in a Mity good plase for a sick man for I hav a good fether Bed to ly on and some mity good to
Eat when I can eat is I had my Beard shavd of yesterday all But my mustash and you never see mee look sow Bad in your lif
But I look Better than I did aweek agow I wont you to Kiss the Babies for mee and take one for your self for this all way
that wee can send them tell the Children that I love them Bee Good Children till Pa comes home I would Giv all the money that
I hav Got to see you all one time more I must close for this time sow nothing more only I am yours till Death
Miller
Collins
.
one word to S.B. I dont now what
to say to you for I have said all that I can think I Expect about this time you hav got your hands full doo the Best you can
and if I Ever doo come home I will
you for it some how or other I wont you to Rite soon as you Git this letter and let mee hear fro home tell father and mother
I wont them not to forget mee in thar prares for I feel that this was needy times and you S.B. and D.A. doo the same I sitting
hear in Room by my self By My Bed side and I feel Just like I could cry all day if it would doo any Good But it wont sow I
must close for I hav Rote more than I thout I would sow nothing more
onley I am yours till Death
sow Good By Rite soon Rite soon to
this plase
Richmond Va June 30 1862
.
Dier Wife I one time more try rite
to you to let you now that I am yet alive while thousands has went the way of all Mrs Earth I so
I hav bin hear for 4 weeks and has
Bin vary sick Best I think in afew days I will gow to the Ridgment if I git now Bad set I dont Expet you would now mee harley
for I am sow pore But I hav got sow I wont Eat Evry thing I see I wont to bee at home till I git Stout agane vary Bad whare
I could Git some Milk to Eat and you to fix it up for mee I doo hope when this comes hand it will find you all will for it
has bin sow long sinse I had aletter that I am nearly wild Bell was hear aweek agow and hee sayd that Bary had some 2 or 3
letters for mee and hee would fetch them to mee But I hant sean him sinse and you now that dont suit mee I Rote alittle letter
to you about 2 weeks agow But it was a vary Bad letter But it was the Best I could doo at that time and cant doo much Better
now But I hav got more sinse than I had then
I would hav sooner But thout I would
not rite till I Got aletter from you But I hav concluded not to wait now longer for I think I wont to hear from you the worst
I Ever did in my life for I will tell you that it is Scary looking times hear now for they hav Bin fiting now for aweek and
I can see ahalf dozen dead men any time I will look out it is frownfull times hear now in Evry Respect I cant tell you any
thing about any boddy Else But my self for I hant seen any of the Boys sinse I left them and I cant hear nothing onley by
the papers and that ant much
I must say something about the fite that is gowing on hear I dont Expect thar Ever was such awone in World and is still gowing
on they had Got this Citty Rite full of Yankey prisners thar is sayd to Be five thousand of them that looks like it would
thin them out and wee hav Cild them By thousands and wee hav Got them Surrounded now that wee think wee will Git them all
nearly I must Rest alittle while for hant had the paper this morning when it comes maby ther will Bee something that I hant
heard of yet
the paper has come But thar ant nothing
new in it thow I Expect fiting is Gowing on this is the Master plase that is in the World I doo Recon for you cant see nothing
But sick Men or Wounded Men or Ded men I never saw the like in My life and doo hope I never may of Ever I Git out of this
thow it may Git worse on Mee yet you can Gess from what I hav told you and you how Bad it tis I think I will wind up about
the wore for for I must soon Close for I am Gitting vary tierd I hav had Mity Good luck sinse I hav Bin sick for I got to
a house whare they treat mee mity weall I dont what the Charg will Bee But I dont think it will Bee much But just let it Bee
what it May I never could stand hosepittle I dont Beelieve But if nothing hapons I think I will Bee able to Gow to the Rigt
in one week longer Giv all the naborse My Best Respects for I would like to see them all vary will and God nose I wont to
see my one family one time more But maby the time will come when I will Git the one to Come home and see them all one time
more and stay with them I wont to tell what the news is from home Vary Bad
Well I will Comemense agane
as I hav had my diner and feels some Better I wont you to rite how you ar gitting along about provisons and how you ar dooing
any how and how the Children looks for sinse I hav Bin sick I dremed about Beeing at home so much that it is on My mind all
the time Rite how you ar giting along about Money I Expect you ar out But if you ar I cant help you none for wee hant drawd
now money sinse I sent the other home nor I hant spent none hardley My self and Barey has onley spent 5 dollars and that was
for some thing to eat as wee came on from yorktown I gave a dollar for one little chicken and cared it all day and I thoat
that was vary hard times But Evry thing is mity hy hear Bacon hames is worth from 75 cts to 1 dollar per pound and Every thing
in potion little Bits chickens not half Grone 75 cts apiese and I doo hop this thing wont last long if it dose I dont now
will Become of the Solgerse for shoose is worth fifteen dollars apare and all other cothing in poportion sow I must close
for I am vary tird I will rite agane when I git them letters I understand that they Brout in ahole Gang more prisners alittle
while agow I did not hear how maney But along Gang take the Best cear of the Babies you can and tell them that I love them
tell Elen to Bee agood Girl till I come home doo the Best you can and remembr one that loves you above all in this world doo
if you ar able and not Git some Boddy to rite for you sow must close sow nothing more
onley I am yours till Death May the
lord Bless you all has bin my fear for some time sow fair will for this time for I will say some thing to S.B. on the other
side
. Miller Collins
.
Will S.B. dont now what to say you
this time for I am sow tird I cant think of nothing But I was thinking about how wee livd last sumer that was mity hard But
I can say that I wish I was in the same fix I was then I dont now how you feel I wont you to doo the Best you can and think
of one thinks as much of you as I oit you to think it ant worth while for mee to say that I wont you to take Good Cear of
my Babies for I now you will doo that anyhow I now you will doo the Best can sow I must close for this time I wont you to
rite soon and when I am able I will rite sow nothing More onley I am yours till Death
sow Good By
Richmond Va
July 16 1862
Dier Wife it is By the Blessing of
god That I am permited to rite you one time more to let you now that I am yet alive and amungst the living thou I hav Bin
vary Bad off I Come to the Rigt last Mondy was aweek agow and got two warm and throd mee Back But I think I will git up in
afew days if nothing hapons to mee what has Bin the matter with mee the last time has Bin the Piles and they hav Giv mee fits
and I ant over them yet But I think I will up soon if nothing to mee I hav Bin sow Bad that I could not sit to rite or I would
hav rote sooner for I hav had 4 letters sinse I rote one But I cant help that for I must doo the Best I can
I felt Gratley Releavd when when I
heard from home to hear that thing was over and all was rite I am inhopes when this comes to hand it will find you all will
I am looking for aletter from home all the time till I Git one I cant rite much this time for I cant hardly sit to rite and
I cant rite lying down
this is the 17th and will try say
something More wee had abig storm hear yesterday and day before But wee had got some tents now and wee ceep day I lift town
last Mondy was aweek agow and I thout would gow Back I hant went Back yet to pay my Bill for Board I dont now what it will
Bee yet wee hav drawd 25 dollars and when I Git that Board paid off I will send you some money if I hav any left they say
that wee will draw agane in afew days I Expect you need some Bee fore this time
I wont to hear from home Mity Bad
I think I will Git aletter from you soon for I Rote 2 letters while I was in town that I hant Got now answer from yet the
last one I Rote was along letter and I cant rite this much time I think will rite more Regular than I hav Bin at But I could
not rite now often than I hav done for I hant Bin able
Bary + Boswell is boath sick But I
dont they ar dangerous Bary is the worst hee went thru all the fite I think hee is just wore out is the worst that ales him
you Rote for mee to send the Babey aname But I hant Got one for it I wish I could see it and all the rest I must Close for
this time for I am tird tell S.B. that I cant Rite to hur this time which I now I ort to doo I will Rite agane in ashort time
I shall Expect to hear from you in ashort time when you Git this sow I will close for this time sow nothing more onley I am
yours till Death
. Miller Collins
.
I am still Mending slowley
Richmond, VA Aug the 3rd 1862
.
Dier Wif I this Butiful Sabath morning
sit down to try to rite you few lines to let you now how I am giting along I am proud to say that I am on the mend one time
more I think if Nothing hapons to mee that I will Bee all rite in a few days thow I hav bin mending myty slow Bary & Boswell
has both Bin sick But Bary is up But Boswell ant much Better But I hope hee will rise in a few days.
Mr Reaves got hear a few days agow
& I got that letter and was myty glad to hear from you and to hear that you was all will
I wont to see you all in myty Bad the
worst I Even did in my life I would Giv some money for that site that all doo no Good Wee will just hav to wait on other folks
But I doo hope it wont Bee long if the piles dont Git well on mee I cant stand the survis But I hope they will Git Will But
they hav nearly wore mee out this trip thow they ar Giting Better now.
you must not think hard of mee for
mot Ritting now sooner for I was not able to Rite for I hant Bin able to Gow back to town sinse I left thar I hant pade my
board thar yet nor I dont now what it will Bee But I hope I hav Got Money anuf to pay it off I hav Got 45 dollars now and
wee ar Gowing to draw agane in a few days and then I will send you some if I hav the chance to send it you Rote to mee to
send the Baby a name But I hant Got now name you may name it and it will suit mee I wont to see it and the Rest myty Bad I
must close for this time for I cant rite much this time for I am sow Nervis that i cant rite But I will Rite in a few days
agane for I think I will stout a short time and you now I will Rite when I can
dont think hard of mee for not Riting
now more than I hav for I could not Rite for I was not able to Rite
Barey sends his Best Respects to you
all and wonts to Bee Remembered By You
I wont you to kiss the Babies and
take one your self and tell them that I love them Rite soon & often without fail
tell S.B. that I cant Rite no more
this time But I hant for got hur yet tell to Rite to Mee soon sow nothing more onley I am yours Truley till Death
. Miller Collins
.
May the lord Bless you all
Richmond Va August the 13, 1862
.
Dier Wife I this morning sit down Rite
you afew lines in answer to your kind letter which I Riceavd yesterday and was mity Glad to hear from you and to hear that
you was all will and dooing will this leavs mee tolerble well as to health But my legs swells Every day vary Bad and pains
mee some all the time But I hope they will Git will in ashort time if they dont I intend to try to come home and stay till
I doo Git will But thar ant now chance to git ferlow now But I think thar will Bee a chance Beefore long if I dont come home
I intend try Git in to work some whare for the Goverment for I hav Got sow that I cant March them long trips on the acount
of the Piles But I hope when cool wether comes they will Git well if they dont I dont now what I will for they hurt mee mity
Bad all the time
I hav nothing to Rite that will interest
you for you can hear war nuse all the time any how
our Rigt is Gone on Picket now I think they will come in to morrow if nothing hapons they had another fite last satuday not
far from Richmond I hant heard how it went
you must not think hard of these short
letters for I hant Got now patince to Rite much But I will make up all lost time some of these days when I Git more stout
I dont wont you to wate for mee to Rite I wont you Rite when you can and Giv mee all the newse from that Country wee had a
Rite smart storm hear yesterday of wind But not much Rane tell S.B. not to think hard of mee for not Riting to hur for I now
I hant forgto hurs doo take Good cear of the Babies and tell them that I lov them sow nothing more
onley I am yours till Death
Fedrick Mariland
Sept 7th 1862
.
Dier Wife I time more sit down to
Rite you afew lines wich leavs mee well one time more and I doo hope when this comes to hand it will find you all well
I Receivd your letter to day which
I was vary Glad to hear from you and hear that you was all well J Mc Just Got to us to day wee hav bin marching for 3 weeks
wee ar over in Mari land I dont now how wee will come out yet
Wee Mist the Big fite at Manassas
which was ahard fite thar I saw one offel site on the Battle field of dead and Wonded Yankeys I cant tell you nothing about
it Bary and Boswell is Boath left Beehind not dangerous
I can say to you that my health has
Bin inproving Ever sinse I left Richmond But I hav had Myty Good luck all the time for hant had nothing to carey not Even
agone I stay with him all the time I Mess with him
it was agrate favor to mee I cant
Rite much this time I dont now whare to tell you to Rite when you Rite But you will find out soon
I wont to see you vary Bad But I dont
now when I will see you I Got then socks and tobacco down hear which I would not take money for I cant you much
Excuse mee for not Riring now more
this time and I will doo Better next sow nothing more onley I am yours till Death I hav Got some Money I wish you had I will
send it to you the first chance you Barow some from father if you need any Beefore I send any home
Bunkers hill Va
Oct 5 1862
.
Dier Wife I one time more hav the chance
to Rite to you to let you now that am yet alive and amon Rest the living and I am Bound to thank God for it while many others
hav fell oll Round mee
I am injoying Vary Good health at this
time and hav Bin for severl days it has Bin longer sinse sinse I Rote to you than Ever it has Bin But I dont wont you to think
hard of mee for not Riting sooner for I Could not help it for I did not hav the chance I thout some time agow that I would
try and come home But I dont now when I will come now for I stand to come home and hav hav to leave agane not that I dont
wont to see you all for I now that I wont to see my family as Bad as any Boddy dose of thar famileys I can say to you the
Best friend I had in this army was Kild that Col Wm Barkley for I had Bin with him for some time and wee Got along finly I
stade Rite with him and Eat with him and slep with him for I was acting ordley for him and when wee was gowing in to afite
hee would send mee Back with the horses to take cear of them till the fite was over and I am frade that the next man wont
doo sow well for mee But I am still in my office yet and staying with the staff yet and dooing Vary will and I intend to stay
Just as long as I can
I mess with them Grandeson Mass
cooks for us and I sleep with him and dock Talley wee hav all of our things hald all the time and wee hav plenty of Beding
to Ceep us warm any time and will just as long as I stay with the staff where I can Git hald
I can say to you that wee hav had
apowerful time wee hav lost agrate maney of our Boys I will Giv you thar names or as maney as I can think of James Steel was
kild and John Thomas Collumbus Jones and one of the Clonigers But Bradley and Silvers now I will Giv you the Mising that wee
lost now But what was Kild and V H Hilloms and James Long is dead now comes the mising the first one Frank Bailey GW Davis
one of Mose Jones Boys this is all that I can think of now
now I will Giv you the wonded M.A.
Collins hand masht G.C. West head and E.H. Davis now in Thy J.M. Camp in the thy Wm Stakes in the Bowels J.A. Roland in
the thy W.H.T. Lowis in the side sliteley and our Col Kild leu Col wounded and taken prisner Major wounded in the leg and
gone home
I can say to you that Bary has come
to the Rigt and is lot bet well I was myty Glad that hee was with us in the fite for it was Bad anuf as it was. Binum has
come to us our connection is all well that is hear Bary seds his Best Respects and wonts you not to for him
I Got aletter fro you afew days agow
which I was Myty Glad to hear from you hear that gow was all well I wont you to rite to mee soon and often dyrect your leters
like you hav Bin and I will Git them some time I wont hear from home wost I Ever did
I am Myty oneasy about you needing
Money But I cant help it for when I had the Chance to send it I had ceep it to pay my Board in Richmond while I was sick and
I wont pay it and Good woman would not hav one cent when I Expected to pay 40 dollars at least and would But hard of it and
shee told mee if I Git sick if I could Git Back thar shee would take the Cear of mee that shee could and not charge me anything
I hop that that God will Reward hur for hur Kindness to mee
I money plenty now mor than I wont
to ceep hear if I could send it home I hav on hand now 80 dollars and you now that is mor than I need and thar is coming to
72 dollars I shal hav to By mee some close I hav never Bout none yet I hav the same shous that I had when I left home if you
need any money you can Barow some from father to doo you till I can send some home and Git it and use it for what you need
tell S.B. howdy for mee and tell hur
that I hant forgot hur yet nor shant for if shee was not with you I dont now what I would doo I will Rite agane in afew days
if wee dont move I had liked to for to say to you that I Got aletter from N.C. yesterdy and they was all well sow I must close
for this time Kiss all the Babies and take one your self tell Father hee had Better talk of diging his Grave than gowing
to the army for money ant nothing to living at home nothing more onley I am yours till Death
Camp Richmond Va
Oct 21. 1862
.
Dier Wife
. I hav
the chance to send
you aletter by hand I thout I would
Rite I hav Just Rote one But this may
come to your hand Bee for it does
Dock Talley is gowing to start home
in the morning and I am gowing to send
you some money By him which I now
you need vary much Bee for this time
I wont you to spend it for what you
need
thar I doo Expect you need something
to Eate when thar any thing Els
I am sending you fifty dollars
by him if now more for I hav lond out
of money and I sent you wode I can
_____ _____ not But if I dont this
will doo
you for afew days till wee draw agane
I
dont now when that will Bee But I hope
it wont Bee long _____ is _____ _____
_____
_____ close for
_____ _____ you can send them to mee
and if not I can By them hear _____
_____ you
case hear I _____ _____ for they hav
to Bee _____ _____
_____ some _____ _____ and you can
doo just
what you please about that for you
wont hav
to make any now how and if I wont
you to doo the Best you can for you
self and
Babies I hant Got time to Rite more
for
Bary wonts mee to Rite one for him
to
father and mother and I want to Rite
some
in hit any how I hant Rote to them
in some
time I must close for this time I think
when wee draw agane I can send you
fifty dollars more and I think that
will By
what you can Eat and if it dose that
is all
I cear for sow now more for this time
onley I am
your till Death
Miller Collins
.
I forgot to say that I am will
at this time and dooing finey
I doo hope when this comes to hand
it will find all will and dooing
StrausBurg Va
Nov the 16. 1862
.
Dier Wife I will try one time more
to rite you afew lines to let you now how I am Gitting along I can say to you that I am will and in better health than I hav
bin in some time I doo hop when this comes to hand it will find you all will I Rote to in some time Bee cose I Could not send
them to you for wee hav Bin Runing Round and Round all the time sinse Dock Talley left hear I Rote one and sent By him I dont
now whether you got it or not for I hant heard sinse he left hear I sent some money By him to you if you Git it I now you
needed it I sent fifty five dollars which I hope will doo you till I can send you some more it takes Nearley all that I can
doo now to Ceep Mee Gowing for wee cant draw anuf provisions to liv on wee hav to By But I will doo the Best wee can you
Better how to Manage them thar I doo for I dont now how things is Gowing on for I hant heard from that Country in some time
But I hope I hope I will hear Beefore long
I can say to you Liut Gleven stad
at home sow long that that hee was dropt from the Rols which penge him vary much hee is trying fix it up But I think hee wont
get it fixt and if hee dont I am Runing for Liuts plase and I think I will Git it But I dont now But if I doo I can Make Money
some faster than I doo now I intend to try it anhow
.
A word to S.B. I can say to you that
I hant forgot you yet I wont to see you vary Bad But I dont now when I shal see you I wont you to see I wont you to doo the
Best you can for your self and my little Babies for I wont to see them Vary Bad you now that with out my teling you I wont
you to Rite soon for I hant now newse from that Country in along time I shal look for aletter from home Vary soon sow Excuse
Mee for Riting now more
Will D.A. I wont you to tell Jo Thomas
to see what Elistry Yancy will take for his land and if can Git it wee move thar on it if you think you will like it and if
you dont like it you can tell him any how and Rite all about it sow I must close for this time Kiss the Babies for mee and
take one for your self Giv my Best Respects to all the nabors sow nothing more onley I wont you to Rite soon sow
Dec 18th 1862
Camp Near Fredericksburg
Dier Wife I one time more hav the chance
to rite to you to let you now that I am well and doo the best I can I hav nothing to rite much onley I Got aletter from you
afew days agow which I was mity glad to hear from you I think I hav got two letters sinse I rote you But I hant had the chance
to for wee hav Bin in another fite and coming out safe But wee did Git in the fite for they Yankeys Run Beefore wee Got thar
But wee hav had ahard time for wee march day and nite Cold and hot and when wee doo stop wee ly like dogs around our fire
and the whether is mity cold hear wee hav had rite smart ground hear and has bin for siverl days
I can say to you that Talley has got
Back and hee left our close and wee hant heard from him sins he come and I suffered that wee wont Git them But I hope wee
will for anything that comes from home is the thing I think that wee will draw in afew days and wee if wee doo draw I will
send you some for I shant wont it all I can say to that Barey went to the hos spittle this morning he is sick and pretty Bad
off and I am vary ineasy about him But I hope wee will Bee better soon thar is Grate talk of us Gowing N.C. in ashort time
and I hope wee will for I am tird of this Country for I had bin hear sow long that I wont to leav hear I would like to com
home and take Christmas with you But I think thar is no chance this time But doo the Best you can
you stated that the Babie had two
teeth and it looked that it cant see its bother tow thar size and it is bother but I hope its all rite I wont to see them
all vary Bad and you two I still ceep inhope that I will git to come home and stay with you But I am thinking long of the
time I wont you to take good cear of your self and the Babies and you may now that I wont to see all vary Bad
I wont you rite whare you ar Gowing
to liv what house you ar gowing at just for I wont to now all about it if I ant thar I wont to now that you ar dooing will
if needs that i would Bee Better satisfide than I am I can stand any thing My self for awhile I must close for this time for
wee hav to move this morning ashort distance to Git wood I wont you to rite soon and let mee hear from you sow nothing onley I am yours till death
. Miller Collins
.
A word to S.B. when I rite home it
is to all for I hant time to Rite all newse sow I must close for this tim tell Mrs Ives that L.S. well sow nothing more rite
to mee soon as you Git this letter sow Good By
Camp near Fredericksburg Va
Dec 28th 1862
.
Dier Wife I one time more hav the chance
to Rite to you afew lines to let you now how I am gitting along I doo the Best I can at this time I Expect tooth ache I
hav has Bin hurting little But it Beter than it has bin and I doo hope when this comes to hand it will find you all will I hav nothing to rite at this time only I had a vary dull Chrismas
for wee was on Picket that day thow wee got some Bounty at seven dollars and you now wee did not hav much
I hope you did injoy your self I wonted
to Bee with you vary Bad But could not Bee I wont you rite what for time you had and all the rest it has Bin some time sinse
I got aletter from you But I am looking for one all the time till I Git one and I hope it wont Bee long sins that I will ____
____
I hant heard fro Bary sinse hee went
to the hospittle But I hope I will soon I feel mitey lost sinse hee left foe hee had Bin piney for some time and I hav to
Bee looking after him But I did not think hard of it
you rote you was Gowing to move and
I wont to hear whether you mov or not and how you like it I wish I wish I was thar to help you move
our cloths hant come yet nor I dont
now whether they Ever will come or not I wish they would for I need them vary Bad for I never hav bought now pants sinse I
left home and you now that I need them vary Bad I hav now got on the same pants that I wore away from home I will By some
the first chance I hav for if they come I can sell dos par of them for clothing is bgest thar ant none doing of gitting to
Harsh clothing
I cant rite much of nothing paper
for it is worst that I ever saw in my life I dont now whether you can read this or not now Body else could not Read it But
you I am Mity slow gowing now all the time for wee hav the small pock in our company Wm Sta_d is the man that has the small
pock and I expect that wee will all hav them But I had it put in my arm and it had a good affect I dont now whether it still
dooing good or not But I hope it will
wee hav had some vary cold wether
hear but this is aufly Perty day O if I could Bee at home with you to day I think I think I could spend it with good satisfaction
I would like to try it as how for I wont to see my Babies the worst I Enlisted I now But you that with I now But you now that
with out mee telling you for I pray you ____ My self for I am satisfied that you wont to see mee vary Bad I wont you to tell
the Babies that I love them for it does mee good to now that I hav some that maby I will git to see some time if I doo git
to come home they will bee thar for mee to gow and see I hope you will doo will I now you will doo the best you can now I
wont to hear from you vary bad I wont you to rite soon and often if you can git the paper and ink for I cant Git that all
the time nor I cant rite whare I please thow you that your self with out my telling you I hav Bin thinking that maby wee would
git to gow to Georgia But I ____ ____ of the _____ now I for I think wee will travel Round and Round hear this winter sow
read this if you can
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