Gettys Station virginia
Sunday March 7th [1864]
My dear wife i have Just Received
a Letter from you and i tell you
that i am Glad to get it i wish
i could get one every day So i took
you By Supprice to By Sending two
Letters well you must keep up good
Courage it dont Seem to me that
i have Been at home at all But
i have and am thankfull that i
had the chance there is not a
day or hour But what i am thinking
of my dear family and Friends
oh how i Should Like to See you
all to day and kiss you all But
we will have to wait once
more i hope and Trust that
this war will Be over this Fall
and we all Return to our home
in Peace yes Eldridge Likes
[Page 2]
Frank Hardy who was up with
Frank Bill Folansbees wife
i am glad that you Can have Some
one to Come and See you By
the way John Parsons wife is
a Neigbor to you She Lives down
on the turn Pike oppisite the
cemetery you must get acquainted
with her i dont want you
to go without things for the
Sake of Saving up i know that
things are awfull high i hope
that there wont Be anny
more Babys on hand i wouldent
want a house in warren St
you have got a Pleasant Place
all But Liveing up Stairs i dont
Like that it is to hard to drag
all your wood and water
up Stairs Look out and dont
Let Birney fall down Stairs
the Rebels have Been Bothering
[Page 3]
our Pickets Lately towards
Suffolk and deep Creek But
we Soon got Rid of them
the gen Sent out a Strong
Force of men and the Rebs
Skeedalled one of our men
kiled a Rebel generals orderly
with dispatches gen KillPattrick
has made a Road all around
the Rebell army and has arivid
here he left the Army of the
Potomac over week ago and
got almost into Richmond
he Burnt Bridges and Rail
Roads and done all the
damage he Could i hope
that we Shall have Some
thing done this Summer
that will knock the Rebels
out of time i dont Like
the way things are done
now at washington this
[Page 4]
Putting the draft of[f] from
time to time is a
Shame it is to Bad
we want the men now
if they intend to draft
why dont they do it
at once well i will
Close give my Love
to all kind Friends
and keep the Biggest
Share for yourself
tell mother that Frank
is well is well as usual
kiss the Children for me
from your Husband
Joseph Barlow
Send me the Childrens Picture [1]