Gettys Station via march 10th [1864]
My dear wife
i have Just recieved your of the 6th and i am
So Glad to get one So Soon it is worth a
thousand dollers i wrote day Before yesterday
to you i am Glad that you are all well and
am glad that you are weaning the Baby
the Rebels have apeared in force on our
Front Lately and we have had Some
Lively times the Cavelry had a Right
Smart fight yesterday and all the
Regiments where all orderd of[f] to the
Front the 23 has the advance and
we may have a fight with the infern
infernal dogs the Second Colered
Cavlery had a fight with them yesterday
and Some of them where taken
Prisoners But the darkeys fought Like
tigers they Cut there way through
the Rebels about ten of the darkeys
where killed i Expect that gen
Heckman will make a generall attack
on them to day well i Suppose that
[Page 2]
have Read of the Raid of gen kill Patrick
it was a Bold and daring thing it was
to Bad that he did not get into Richmond
But he done a good deal of damage But
the Brave Col Dalhgern was killed
that was a great Loos to the Country
and Army i See By to days Paper that
gen Grant has got to washington now
we Shall See what he will do if
he is made general in Chief Halleck
will Resinege of Course we dont get
much News of Late there Seems to
Be more fighting about who will
Be Presedent than Putting down this
Rebellion a number of Rebel deseters
Came in and gave them Selves up also
a Lot of woman and Children Starved
out and they was the Handsomest
famules that i have Seen in the
South yet they Came from petterburgs
they Say there is hundreds that would
Come if they Could i am Glad that
Frank Hardy Comes up i think that
Frank is a good Smart girl and i
geus that She Likes Eldridge i
know that he does her yes
[Page 3]
Frank is out here tell mother to work
for one of gen Heckmans Staff takeing
Care of his horse it is a going to
Storm By the Looks But the Soldier
has to Stand to his Post in Storm and
in Sun Shine in Camp or on his
Lonely Picket to give the Allarm
of the approach of the enemys of his
Country that is when we think of
home and all its Comferts well
well i Should Like to have Aunt
Nelson Send me all the Papers
that She Can we all Like to get
the Herald and Anny Papers from
home my cough is Better i would Let
Nelley Lissy Play out doors
when it is not Bad wether for
it will make them tough it
Spoils Children to keep them Shut
up in the house all the time i
want your Phottograph taken and
Sent out to me and you must
get a good one this time i am
going to have Some taken here
to Send to mother and the
[Page 4]
Rest of my Friends you
must have your hair done up
as you [ust?] to well i will
now Close give my Love to
Aunt and Hattie mother and
Father Remember me to
Sarah ware Mrs Nash and
Frank hardy and Remember
me to Dr Kelley i hope
that this will find you
all well kiss the Children
for me from your Husband
Joseph Barlow