Gouradferry Md Oct 1st 1862
Dear Wife you may think it a long time Since I
have written that is the case but you know that a person will
always try to have an excuse for negligence whether they
are Suitable or not that Seams not the case with me for I
think I have a very Suitable one we being ordered where we
are without taking our knapsacks with us and those that
had paper was left behind and we were not near any Store
So we could purchase any even if we had money and few
had that. but Still there was enough money left in the company
that we could have made out to have purchased what paper we
would have wanted to have written letters if we had been
where we could have bought it I made out to get one Sheet of
paper of[f] one of the boys and I covered it well last night
our knapsacks came up with the Regt and now the boys have
plenty of paper So I can get what I need how long we
will lay in this place God knows but while I Stay in
this place or in any other if I can make out to get paper
you Shall not complain of my negligence in writing
for it is a great pleasure for me to write and also a
great pleasure for me to receive any communication from
home I think but little of all other news compared with
home news and there is no place like home if I was
[Page 2]
there but that does not Seam to be my lot at the present
but hope we ere long that may be my happy lot if I thought
I was not agoing to be able to get home by fare means this
fall or winter I would by foul means but the thing of leaving
the Army without giving them any knowledge of my leaving
does not hardly look right although I do not know but it
would be justifiable from this reason we are used worse than
a person would use a dumb brute in our country by
our officers and I do Sincerely believe that as long as things
are carried on in this way God will not prosper the North
I am led to Say many times how long O; God will these
things be allowed to be kept up I trust not long for I think
God will ere long come out in justice and reveal to the
people where the inniciuty rest and the people will rise up in
rebelion against these instigators of innicuty I hope the time
my Speedly come when the North & South Shall come tog=
=ether as two brothers Should and live in unison the
remainder of there days for I think already blood eng
enough blood been Shed but perhapse there has
not how much more has got to be Shed God knows I
do not pretend to know and I am glad that I am held
in ignorance if much more is to be spilt Our officers becomes
more tyranicle every day and So I think the thing will work
till the privates will rise up in rebelion against them and
[Page 3]
wipe them out of existence on both Sides and then the North & South
will come together and live in unison may that day Speedly come
but enough of this as there is no great news to write about the war
Since have last written or at least no reliable news many rumors
are afloat but nothing Official So we cannot write them as reliable
therefore I will Say nothing about them for undoubtedly you have
herd the rumors as there Seams to be nothing else afloat they are
very still about things in general never has the newspapers less
to say about the movement of the Army than at the present
news does not fly as they did through the Spring and
Summer and I am glad they have put a veto on publishing
So much as they did one Spell for it enabled the enemy
to find find out our every move ment but at the present
time that is kept as a matter of Secrecy from us and
them I have not Seen S Steve Since I last wrote but
heard the Regt was there where we left them how
Soon we Shall go back where they are or that they will
come up where we are is more than I can Say but I
think not long for I think we Shall encamp soon
where we can be together often it seams like home to be
together for John is cross as an old bear half of the time
So he is not the comfort to me that he would be if he was
not petty and I find my temper is not the best and
I will not take much and if he bears on he is sure
[Page 4]
to get his change therefore we do not live as pleasant
as we might but Still we have no Serious dificulty but still
I hate to have a word we never did till a Short time ago and
Since we have Said quite a number of unpleasant words but
no hardness resting what we said was out and done with there
was no after clap but the least words betwixt brothers I
disapprove off especialy when they are away from home
and friends I knows that I should bear more with him
than I do knowing that he is a good deal older than myself
and getting nervous in a measure would that I was better
temper than what I am I can Safely say that I commence
no disputes with no one nor would I have a hard word
with him if he would pay attention to his own buisness but
that I am Sorry to Say he does not wishing to order not me
only but a great many of the company does not as he bids
them and he recieves many needless curses that could be
avoided if he would mind his own affairs but enough
of this Say nothing of it for he has a great deal to trouble his
mind at home and it makes him fretful You wished
to know if Wesley is with he is and enjoying good health as
most of are and that is prety good my health is bully the
best it has been Since early last Spring and can see
that I am gaining in flesh I wrote that I wish you would
Send me some money in the last letter I hold the
Same mind yet for I expect that it will be Six weeks
before we get our pay owing to some failure in making
out the pay rolls then we shall have about five months
coming to us write soon this from your Husband and
best friend L.A. Granger to S. C Granger
I recieved a letter from you yesterday