April 14th 1865
My Dear Husband
I seat myself to night
to let you know that we are all pretty
well again since I wrote my last
Ellie has been very sick she took a
high fever with vomiting this lasted
two days lissie had the same I bathed
them and used every means now
they are well again except Ellie has
a hard cough Emma and Martha
complain this evening but I hope in
a few days they will be all right
again I am well myself except a
bad cold and very tired I think
in a few days I shall be well again
I have first heard this evening that
4 of your company are missing since
the battle of the last of March I
cannot describe my feelings when I
heard this but my trust is in god
who is able to take care of you and
bring you safe back I expect a letter
from you tommorrow I hope I may
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hear you are well and getting along
right you dont know how long I
think the time till you get
home but I try to be patient knowing
that all things work together for
our good that he will in his own
good time bring you safe back
to us again since the weather is
nice I can content myself pretty
well you must not be uneasy about
us we will get along well I have
some wood chopped yet i still
keep some of yours for kindling
the woods are beginning to look green
this is a good friday the folks are
keeping holliday and it is the last
day of school next sunday is Easter
and I hope you may be able to
get some eggs I will keep a good
lot till you come home we have
a big meeting commencing tomorrow
I dont expect to attend I will
stay at home with the children
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Dear Fleetwood this morning I
sit down to finish my letter
I want to send it to the office to
day we all feel pretty well this
morning for we all slept sweetly
Ellie did not cough any last
night hardly I hope you can say
you slept good and are well
I dreamese of you last night
as I do every night we have
heard they have got Lee and
Johnson we will know for
certain this evening when we
get our paper I hope the
time is near at hand when this
war shall be over and the soldiers
sent home to their families last
sunday was thanksgiving day in
all the churches for our great
victories I have not heard from
our Lutheran preacher they are
going to turn him off because they
[say] he is not for the union I have no
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news to write in a few days
I will write again there
is not going to be any draft
I have wished many times that
had not started so soon but still
I think it is all for the best
perhaps if you get home safe
you must keep up a brave heart
in all circumstance for we pray
much for you and I firmly
believe the Lord will bring you
safe back to us again this is
the sixth letter I have wrote
I would like to know how many
you have received I put one
in the office for you on tuesday
for you I have got seven from
you I write every opportunity
I must soon close the mail will
start shortly I give you into
gods care for he is able to
keep you I say good bye
for a short time Mollie Benson