July 26th 1865
Dear Husband
I set down this morning to
write you a few lines I must write in a hurry
I have a chance to send it to Martinsburg we
are well at this time and hope this may find
you in good health I wrote to you a few days ago
but I forgot to put P.V on the letter and I am afraid
you will not get it I get a letter from you every
week I write to you every week I hope you get them
I heard yesterday from good authority that your
Captain Johnson was going to texas it is the report
about Williamsburg I hope this is not true if it is
it will be a hard stroke I did not sleep well and
when I did sleep I dreamed of you being at home
talking with us all I can do is to pray for you we
must pray more if we wish you to come home
soon I only hope you will keep well and
be home soon Fouses wrote a few days ago
to the boys about their captain going to take
them to texas there is a deserters now on piney
creek how I would hate the name of deserter
I know our boys will come home with a good
name some say sam stewart has deserted and
is coming home I do not think is true I
hope it is not I hope and pray you may
get home in a month at the longest from
this time if you get home by the last of
[Page 2]
September I will be satisfied although I would
like to see you much sooner if I could if I
could see you come to day I would rejoice
we are getting along very well we have flour
and meat and fish plenty and a little fresh
veal too we have wood plenty and good health
which is the best of all god has been very
kind to us and you since we have parted
I feel sure he will bring you home and
not let you go any further away next mail
I look for good news from you I hope to hear
you are coming home If I could see you
I would say much more we will have a
great deal of talk when you come home
there will none of us sleep much for a
while The children and myself were getting
huckleberries yesterday we were chased by
a large black snake I will not go any more
I think you must not be uneasy about us
we will get along very well till you come
home if you only dont go to texas then if
you do what to do I cannot tell I guess I
will go too If you wish to send the 8 dollars
more to secure your first I am satisfied
I[f] you only get home safe we can still
live without that is if you lose it
I must now close keep in good heart have
good faith and pray often Mollie Benson

[1] may god take care of you and bring you home
soon is my prayer good bye dear Fleet} Mollie Benson