Pikeville, Tenn.
Feb. 12, 1862

My dear husband,

I hardly know whether to send another letter to you at Knoxville or not as you may be gone from there before it reaches you. I will write some to night and perhaps I may learn by tomorrow night's mail. I feel very sorry to have you go so far away. I can not hear from you so often and the circumstances will make me more anxious. I have felt a kind of depression and sadness ever since I heard you were going to Mill Springs. If you were going to a good sober valient general I would feel better; but I have no confidence in any drunken man in any position. If you go into an engagement I hope it will not be under his command. 

I wish you could have come home once more before you went off so far. God forgive me for saying so but I feel as if I cannot bear for you never to come back again. Our children would make me exert myself. I would do all I could for them but if it were not for them I would want to go with you and die with you if you died. If I had not the care of so many children I would like to always be near so I could take care of you if you were to be wounded. I hope you will meet with none of these misfortunes, tho' I am glad you are a christian. My feelings about you are not near so horrible as they would be if you were wicked. I think every soldier should be prepared to die before he goes in to battle. Our war news is more startling during the last week than it has been for some time. 

I am glad to get the Register and will receive the rocking chair with many thanks till you are better payed if I ever should have the oportunity to pay you.

Our children continue to be in fine health - - none of us have had the mea-sels or the itch yet. Ras., Will, and Mr. Rogers all have been anointing vehemently. Mr. Rogers worked his secretly till the boys found it out on him; then he said he did it as a preventative but he scratched frequently. He is now gone over to Danburey a while to get him a horse. He could not get one he liked on terms to suit him.

Brother James Hill and Sanderson stayed all night here night before last. Sanderson will move down to Jameses next month. Father has gone to Nashville; will be at home in a few days. Ras is in a great fever. He had not heard from his Aberdeen man about his school and does not know what to do. 

I will write more tomorrow night. I want you to write to me often when you get away off so I will not know where to write. I feel like I am anxious enough about you and war news to make me get gray headed directly. We are getting along fine by now. Only the hogs are not doing well. We will make out tho'. You need give yourself no uneasiness about us. The sistern bottom has fallen out again. I suppose Ras and Mr. Rogers had fixed the filter and the spouts and cleaned up all the yard round it and the next day it was empty. 

Ras has made me another very nice baby waggon. Walter likes to ride very much. He is still very cross. I must quit now. Good night.

Father has come and is writing to you. I wish you would write to us. I feel very uneasy about him. The Bowling Green news excites the people very much. I am always anxious to see the mail come yet dread to hear the news lately. Lawrence Spears is still trying to make his company but is not making much head way. Ras is anxious to be in the service if he could get a place to his liking.

 


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Transcription used with permission of Charles Massey.

Archivists:
Transcription by Charles Massey.
Image by G. Anne Sloan