the
Norfolk City va [June] 14 1865
Dear wife I seet my self to
day to let you know that I
am middling well to day I had
not ben verry well for 2 or 3 days
back this morning I feel wright
well and I hope this may find you
and the Childern in good haelth
I Cannot yet tell you eny thing
about getting home we may get
home in july some time we all
think so we had orders the other
day to prepare to leave this place
by the 25 of this month and we think
we are to go to philadelphia we hope
that may be the order if we go
thare then we know hour turn will
soon Come to be mustered out
we have many reports here some
say we will go one place and others
have diferent places to go so I Cant
tell
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We dont know when we start
whare we go until we stop
I think by all the movements
that when we leeve here we will
move back north some place .. I
hope so we mite get home sooner
then we expect if so it will be so much
the better hour discharge Cant
Come two soon for me the sooner
the better that letter with
the 5 dollars in has never Come
to hand I got 2 dollars from Fouses
dont send eny more unless I
send for it.. if I get home
soon we dont Care for the 5 dollars
it mite go to dead letters office
and then be sent back home
I have had no letter from you Cence
that one you and the Childern
sent dated 25 may I look every
day for one I feel glad you and the
Childern still Continue to pray for
me and my return home to you
[Page 3]
june 16
Dear wife this morning I seat
my self to finish my letter I have
no important news to wright this
morning we had general inspection
yesterday it did not give eny
incouragement of being sent
home soon this moment there
has Come in a order for inspect
ion to day at 11oclock what then
may be done I Cannot tell
I hope things may turn up
brighter soon and we may see our
Course open to get home soon
I sometimes get all most out
of hart and give up getting
home before hour time is out
still I have yet a hope that
God will order every thing for our
good I am getting home sick the
days are long and the nights
lonesome home..home is the
p[l]ace I wood like to bee this
place I dont like
[Page 4]
you will still try and keep
in good hart I hope God will
bless you and the Childern
good health I some days feel
that uneasy about home think
ing you mite be sick and need
my help and I am not thare
my hart akes at times to
get home I still hope and
trus in God he will bring
the time soon that I may
be free from this bondage
and get home once more to
my dear family I think the
day wood be happy to me to get
home may God grant it soon
tell the Childern to be good
girls and take good Care of
Mother you must take as good
Care as you Can dont lift or due
eny out work I must Close
I Give you in Gods Care
Good by Dear wife and
Childern I hope to see you soon
if it be Gods will F W Benson