Allegany to Appomattox: The Life and Letters of Private William Whitlock of the 188th New York Volunteers

6. Life Back Home

70 6 Life Back Home Letter 9 Camp near the Dansvil Railroad, Oct 26 . . . 64 Dear wife and children I hope you will excuse me for not writing sooner for we have bin moving and have bin very bissy for three or four days. I am well excepting a hard cold. I have gin pretty near sick with a cold ever since we commenced moving. I went to see the doctor this morning and he excused me from duty today so I thoughed I would write a few lines to you. we have orders to march again tomorrow morning at day brake. I dont know whare we shal go this time but I will let you know as soon as I can. my head aches pretty hard today and my hand trembles so I dont know if you can read this or not. Lide there has got to be some fighting done within a few days near here but we dont know whither we shall be engaged or not. now Lide don’t worry about me for I will take care of myself and if I dont feel eny better tomorrow, I shal try and get excused from marching with my napsack. Lide it is strange that I dont get more letters from home. I thought when they began to come I would [get] letters every day but I have not received one in over a week and it makes me feel lonesome (but they must be delayed somewhere). Lide we have pleasnt wether ever since we come hear. there has ben no storm to speak of yet: rather cool nights but warm days. the Life Back Home  71 day we marched hear was the dustyes time I ever saw. You couldnt tel what culler our clothers was when we stoped. how is the wether up there? I suppose there isnt much dust flying! have you eny snow yet? how is Mr. Kratts folks and all the rest of the neighbors? tel them I would very much like to have them to write to me. has Mr. Kratts found out wither his farm is sold yet or not and who is the man that talked of buying him out? has Hanks folks ben down to se you yet and dos Marshs folks come to see you often? Lide write about every body for I guess I will get your letter by and by and I want to hear all the news. Lide I cant think of much to write today and my hed aches so you will have to excuse me if I dont write much of a letter today but I guess I will feel better in a day or two. dont worry about me because they dont ask a man to do much if he dont feel well hear. Lide I will close for the male is going out and I want to get this in it. Lide direct as befour onley addd First Division, Second Brigade , Fifth Corpse. Write as often as you can. and I will the same. good by all From Will Letter 11 Rebels Farm Oct. 30 . . . 64 Dear Lide I received another letter from you this morning and was glad. I tel you. to think that your letters begins to come through pretty regular and hope they will continue to do so. I mailed a letter to you yesterday in which I attempted to cinder halfway describe a littel brush we had on the 27th with the Johneys but I did not feel very well and my hand trembled so I couldnt write. So you will have to write til I can carry a stideyer hand. My cold is a good deal better. I feel now as though I should be all right in a few days but my hand trembles today. I write you a short ong this time. I was very glad to 72  Allegany to Appomattox hear that you got your cloth and it suited you. I hope you will try and enjoy yourself as well as you can this winter. all the objection I have to joining the Church is this: if I live to come home I dont think I shal stay in that country. if you think best I am willing. you can do as you like and you will suit me. Lide you must ansur Fernands letter. tel him that I was glad to...