Transcription:
2 God has dealt very kindly with us in these times which illegible ly weing the hearts of many. My husband had the great
affliction to bury his son after a weeks illness at Vicksburg, He died just before the surrender, We all grieve at his early
death His father takes it very hard, he was himself, soon after, taken sick, and sent up to Mound City hospital, where he
wrote for me to come after him, thinking he should never recover, if he staid there. I went down about the middle of August,
and succeeded in getting a furlough for 20 days, After the expiration of which he went into the hospital at Madison where
he still remains. It seems cruel that they will not let him stay at home. 00344 3 but they tell me military orders
must be obey'd , His health is slowly improving, and he is allowed to visit home about once in three weeks, for the long space
of 24 hours, (generous, is it not?) I was absent from home two weeks, and was ill for several weeks after my return, but have
quite recover'd my health, O, these are times, which try the faith of every honest man and woman, My patriotism is all gone,
I am sorry to say it, (and could hardly dare to, before my husband) I suppose it is wrong to feel as I do somet -mes, but
cant help it. (two weeks later, New Years and Christmas have passed, and I hope you have enjoy'd them pleasantly