June 23th 1865
Dear Husband
I sit down this evening to
write you a few lines we are all well Martha
has gone to day to stay with Rachel sorrick a
week I feel lonesome I am afraid you will
not get home before the year is out but still
I try to keep cheerful and pray that god will
bring you home soon he can overrule all
things for our good I was away to day as this was
sunday I felt lonely we had a nice mess of cheries
I wish you had a mess too Emma has a sore boil
she cannot walk she will be well in a few days
I hope this may find you well I received
a letter from you yesterday I was glad to hear
you were well at the time of writing I hope and
pray you will come towards home when you do
have to move I think of you so much these hot
days I am afraid you will not stand it we
have a great celebration the 4th July neare
williamsburg and a grand dinner for the soldiers
O how I wish you could be there and all of your
company they are to take all the soldiers wives
that wish to go I have had an invitation to go in
Fouses carriage I dont think I shall go perhaps
Martha and Emma will go our township are to
wear red badges Catherine township white
and wood berry blue so we will have the red
white and blue to morrow sarah and I are
going to go to the furnace to see about it I am going
to the store she is going to carry my basket of
eggs there is nothing new here the people are
making hay the grain fields look yellow there
will be hard work the women will have to work too
hands are getting 2 ½ and 3 ¼ dollars a day it
frightens some of our farmers I will not harvest any this year
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June 27th
dear Fleet I set down this morning to finish
my letter I slept well last night I dreamed of
you being at home I was so glad when I got
awake you were not here we are well this
morning I hope you are well Emma can walk this
morning first rate it is raining it looks lonesome
and makes me wish you were here if you are not
discharged before september you must try and get
a furlough for I must see you then I expect
some serious times about then if you do not get
home soon I will write more particular to you
keep in good heart my trust is in god I he will
take care of me if you cant be here I have plenty of
flour now Bill Fouse sent me a good lot it will last two
months I hope you will be here to get me the next
we hauled wood a half day last week we have a nice lot
now I do not want for any thing now but your company
you will please excuse me for not writing last week
the children were not well enough to walk to the post
office to day I will take it up myself if it does rain too
much I was trying to get some green backs to send
you some money but I could not get any we got your box
of clothes all safe your blanket is a good shelter
when it rains I got every thing you mentioned in
your letter you must be sure and bring your cap when
you come home they look so soldier like it is raining
just now very hard we have had another flood last
week it spoiled a great deal of hay you see my paper
is scarce I must soon close you must keep in good
heart I think you will be free before long
the children all send their love to you
now I must close and get my breakfast
now you must write soon I commit you into
god hands he will take care of you and
bring you safe back home again good bye Mollie Benson
dear Fleet