/62
Headquarters Washington D.C. Feb 14th
Camp Mercer 57th Reg P V
Dear Wife
I feel in duty bound to find
a little fault this morning and for
why is because you are so negligent in writ
ing for over one week has elapsed Since
I have recieved any letter from you I
well know how it is with a person when
he is sorounded with friends they become
forgetful of friends that are fare away
perhaps I might be So to I cannot Say
any how I will not find as much fault
as I might for I might be the Same if
I was at home and you were away any
how I will think So and not blame you I will
write less and perhapse it will be as
well any how I will try to content my
Self that way I got my likeness taken the
other and shall send it by Philo when
he goes home he has not started yet and
[Page 2]
I do not know how soon he may his
boy is before the board to be examined
to See whether he cannot get his discharge
if he does he will start for home on
the morrow I hope he will get his
discharge for he is not able to endure
the hardship of a Soldier his health
is very poor Since he had the measles
So much So that he cannot drill
Philo is getting impatient to get home
I do not blame him for this staying
around here is enough to kill a person
that is not used to it for my part I
have got harder to it So I can stand
most any thing even to thunder for
the cannon roar is full as hard if
not harder I care not Soon I am call-
-ed into the battle field this staying
here and doing no good to ourself
or our fellow man is poor poop
I came here to fight and that I wish
So to do and if is my lot to die
[Page 3]
on the battle So well So good I shall not
faulter at that for some must die on
the battle field and it is no better
for me than many others So[me] of our
company Say that they wish that
they could get in Some Secluded
spot where there is no danger not
so with me although I cant Say
that I hanker to have a fight I would
rather this rebelion would Sease
and that we might return to our
home and friends but as they
are bound to fight it out I want
to have a hand in the muss for
I do not wish to stand neutral by
any means I guess I will Say
no more about it but try to bring
this letter to a close for I guess
it is useless for me to write So
long a letter so there is nothing
very essential transpired Since
I last wrote for I write one every
[Page 4]
two or three days but now I have
stoped writing So much for I
think it useless to weary your
patience with So much writing
as I have written I guess I will wait
two weeks before I write again
unless something more than usu-
al has prevented you from writing
that then u perhaps sickness has
been the cause of your delay for
writing if such is the case you are
excusable if not not you are not
excusable I will send you a couple
brestpins you may give them to
Lucy and Emma if you are a mind
So to do or you may keep them
just as you are a mind I guess
I will not ask you to write Soon
for I know you will but will Say
write when you get ready excuse all
mistakes This from your Husband
and friend Luther A. Granger