Newbern N C oct 10th [1862]
Dear Wife i have Just got your Letter
of the 3trd and now Sit down to
annser it i Sent one in the mail
of yesterday and one to Capt Dade
we have Just got the news of a fight
out west in wich our army was
victorious it does us good to hear
that we have drove the Rebels out
west you ought to See the Secesh
drop thier under Jaw when our army
gains the day But Ellen i feell
Bad to think that i didnot Send
anny monny for i know that
you feell Bad to you must do the
Best you Can So Nat gurny
Caled on you why dident you
kick him out of doors yes
he Lost his thumb how did he
Lose it it want a doing his
duty By anny means for he
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has not done any Since he has
Been in the army as to Paying his
Expenses home thats a Lie for when
a man get his discharge from the
army he gets a Pull home to Boston
Free So much for that you ask if i
ever see george gurny of Course i
do he Belongs in my Company and
Sleeps in the next Room yes
Mrs Peckham will feell Bad to
Lose a darling Boy and it makes
me think of darling Charly But
he is an angel now yes william
Pike knows that Caleb is dead
But i am So Glad that Col Hinks
is alive i thought that he was
dead i hope that he will Live
to Pay the Rebels of[f] ten to one
you See what i mised By not going
in the Shapshoters with Saunders
i might have Been a Leut now
with Martin But Still i
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i might have Been Shot to
dont tell about those things i
Suppose that By next mail we
Shall here of another Big Battle in
virginia i hop that Little Mac
will have his own way now
there has Been to many men
Lost By alreaddy By foolish inter
ference McClennan men Love
him almost to madness and
we Love our Burny But he is
not here we miss him very
much But there is Some Comfert
in haveing a Burnside att home
But By the way did you know
that fighting Joe Hooker was
a native of old Newburyport
i think that is an everlasting
honner yes those noble men
must Be Revenged yes for all
that have fell fighting for
the old flag well i am
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writing By gass Light we
have got gass in our house
thats So we Can Live as
Big as anny Bodys folks
i Shall Look for the Box
in the next Boat i will
now Close give my Love
to all kis the Children for
me i hop this will find
you all well
from your Husband
Joseph Barlow [exp?]