Transcription:
2 home from your long absence, for it was, also my first experience away from friends and relatives, and home never seemed
brighter and more pleasant than since my return. Although I probably shall not be able to attend the stone schoolhouse next
term I intend to continue most of my studies during the long vacation which I will take. I have the advantage a good teacher
in the pe illegible of a young Presbyterian minister who is now boarding with us. He has lately? at Union College, New York
and has kindly offered to assist me in whatever studies I may wish to 3 undertake. The sad news of the late defeat of
the U.S. forces in Virginia is more sad to the people of this neighborhood because many of them have sons and brothers in
the routed army, but fortunately no one of the boys from our town has been killed, and but one slightly injured. I have received
letters from some of my acquaintances there since the skirmish of Thursday before the great battle on Sunday. They had become
somewhat acquainted with the music of whistling bullets and describe the horrible sensations produced by the sight of men
falling by their