the
Norfolk City june 22 1865
Dear wife I seat my self this evening
to inform you I am well at this time
and I hope this may find you all
injoying the same blesing we still
remain in norfolk City we think we
will leave soon Civil law has taken
place here Military duty will be
reduced some what here and we
expect to be relieved here soon but whare
to go I Cannot tell I think it will be
homeward I still hope so the Company
all seem in good hart they all think
we will get home before long we mite
be disappointed but I hope not I wish
much for home to see you and the Childern
the time seems long I still have faith
in God he will bring all things wright
in the wright time and me home
soon to you keep in good hart God
will bring me home soon to you I think
it will be a happy day to get home
[Page 2]
I some times get allmost out of
hart the time seems so long to see my
wife and Childern I still pray much
for you and the Childern that God
will protect you and keep you from
all danger and harme and bring me
home safe to you the wether is very
hot here altho we have not much
duty to due I stand on gard 4 hours
out of twenty fore the balance of the
time I have nothing to due the work
is not hard altho I wood much
rather be at home the less I have
to deu here the more I wish for
home tell the Childern to be good
to Mother and help her with the
work dont let mother lift or work
two much Martha Can make gardens
& Emma Can wash Elisa can Cook
Ellie Can sweep the house mother
Can rock her self in the big Chair
and whatever elce is to deu leave that
till I Come home then I will work two
[Page 3]
the
June 23 I now with pleasure seat
my self to finish my letter I just
received your letter dated june the 15
it Came to day I was very glad in deed
to here from you I was gething very
uneasy the time seemed very long
to here from home this letter was
received gladly I had none before this
sence you and the Childern wrote
together May the 25 I was disappointed
many times when the male come
and no letter I felt bad and uneasy
and lonesome I feel glad to day indeed
to here you was all well at the time of
writeing I hope you may still injoy
good helth when this Comes to hand
I hope it may reach you soon owing
to your Circumstance you must be
verry Careful dont lift or due eny
thing that mite heart you the
Childern will deu all the work is needed
till I get home and then I will help
you and take Care of you and be at your
Command what ever is needed
[Page 4]
I was glad for this letter but
wood have benn much glader if I
had benn starting home as your letter
s[t]ated it found me well thank God
but not starting for home yet I
hope it may take place purty soon
I am glad you have flour and wood
that you are not in want for eny
thing I Can be much more Contented
I dont think we Can help much
in harvest we are two fair off yet
if we should harvest we must start
soon and travel homeward verry fast
and you must not undertake to
work out eny in harvest dont deu
more then you must at home the
4 of July will pass before we get home
I some times feel so uneasy about home
thinking you mite be sick and nobody
to Care fore you then I pray the more
for you and then God gives me Comfort
that he will take Care of you under all
Circumstances the Lord be with is my
Dear wife is my humble prayer that
letter with the 5 dollars has not Come
last week I got a letter from Wm Aurandt
stated he had benn up the sunday
before and you was well I must Close
good by Dear wife God bless
you F W Benson
[1] My letters are bothersome
to read I write the best I
Can you will excuse me wen
I get home then we Can talk
all over

Let me know wen
you write next time
on aslip of paper when
you think you will
be Confind I hope to
get home before that
time I think we will
get home in July or
the first of August
at the most I hope
so I pray God will
Comfort you in your
loanly Condiction I
feel oneasy I wish to get
home may the Lord
bring the time soon
I give you in Gods
Care I trust he will
take Care of you
good Dear wife till
I see you I hope it will
be soon happy will be the
day wen I Can
take you in my F W Benson
armes