Camp Pitcher Va Jan 6th 1863
Dear Wife
After giving up all hopes of ever hearing
from you I recieved a letter although three weeks
had almost passed by Since I had recieved
any news from you I had almost believed
you had forgotten that you had any friends
in the Army but enough of this you Said
in your letter that you talked of sending
a box of eatables by Lyons I Should be happy
to receive it for our Government rations
are rather course food not as good as
last winter and a few luxries from
home would come very acceptable there
is no danger but what they will come
Strait through Marked Company A 57th
Regt P.V. Birney Division Falmouth Va any
luxry from home would be recieved with
a thankful heart and a willing Stomach
for we are getting tired of one thing all
the time we do not have much change
it is the one thing over and over So I will
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Say no more about that you stated in your
letter about the mishap or in other words the
Slip that Hellen had I was not ignorant of the fact
for Steve toled me in five minutes after I first
Saw him but I have Said nothing thinking
that it was an awful thing at the best and as
long as you kept it Still I would not haress your
mind with it for what cant be cured must be
endured it has happened So let us make the best
we can of it hoping all things will yet work
together for good although they may look
dark a first I would Say do not reject
her for her punishment is sufficient for
to depredation if she carries herself strait
hereafter but if She Shows herself of rather
a loose nature then reject and not till then
use her as a Sister Should use annother and
if you ever reprove her do it in mildness
not in a Scarcastic way for by So doing though
mayest reclaim her. you may think the
Sin almost an unpardonable one but all
I can say the one that is without Sin cast
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the first Stone for my part I will be Silent and
say go sin not no more I still feel as though
I could call her sister although She has done
as she has but enough of this for what I
can say will not turn one hair white or black
only you have my views and you will get
my views if you let it run two weeks before
you write again I will Slap your Arss the
next time I see you my health is the best
I feel keen and not the least home sick for
what good would that do I would like
to get home as well as the next person
and would I think enjoy it as well as
any person but still I will not worry
all the time as some do John is constan=
=tly finding fault because he is not perm
=ited to go home and I fear that he is a
little on the sympathyzing Side with the South
I have a poor opinion of his loyalty
and many others that are in this Army
I think that gain was what he came for
for he expected to be a teamster and get
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twenty six dollars a month but in that he
failed and with it I fear his patriotism
failed to if he was not a brother I would
disown him for he is constantly talking
about the North and what She has done
to fetch on these troubles would that he was
at home where he wishes to be So bad I
guess he is afraid that Mrs H will get away
So he will not See her you must not show
this letter for they will think I have a poor
opinion of my brother and I have he is no
company for me at the present for he has
an idea he knows it all and no one knows
as much as he does therefore he is no com=
=fort to me to have him around if we both
belong to different Regts we would enjoy our
Selves as well as we do now or at least I Should
politics I cannot hear any thing about with
any comfort. I saw Steve the other day he toled me
about Hellen having a daughter write often This from
your Husband & friend L A. Granger NB send a box
whether Lyons comes or not Soon if you can direct
it as I toled you and all will come strait