Tuesday Evening
Summit Point Va
July the 4^th 1865
My Dearly Beloved wife it is with grat
pleasure that I seat myself this Evening
to answer your very Kind and welcom
letter just Recd a bout 20 minnets a
go Oh My Dear wife you Dont no how
glad I was to Receve the good news
that you was all well once more it
has Been just one weak to night sens
I herd from you and I was a feard you
or some of the little ones was sick I <was?>
very glad to hear that little maty has got
well a gain this is the glorious fourth
of July and Evry Body appears gay
and hapy this Evening for my part I
cant help But feel lonsome I have had
a pleasant Ramble to Day my cousin
David Finton & me Sliped through the
picket lines this morning and we
went close to the Shanadoah River
[page 2]
it is a Beautiful River it Runs very
Rapid over its Rocky Bed and the high
towering mountains is just a cross
the River from where we was oh my
Dear wife it is Beautiful to see those
high mountains all covered over with
Ever greens. I feel considerable tired
this Evening But I do not regret my
trip we got all of the wild Berries we
wanted and also some milk and wee
got to Se some Beautiful farmes
wee was about where the army had not
Been to Destroy Every thing The farmers
are all Done cuting there wheat and there
corn and Potatoe crop looks well the
Boys got up considerable excitement last
night in the first place they got to Burning
caterages and then they got to filling canteens
with powder and got to Blowing them up and then
they got there guns out and got to loading
and shooting them just as far as they could
and the colonel had to call us all out
[page 3]
line a bout ten o clock last night
and after they got us out they could not
Do any thing with us and so they had to
let us go Bak to our qarters a gain the
Boys was Bou[n]d to have some fun if they have
to stay here and the officers cant help
it Theodore is gon out on a five Day
Detail to guard a railroad Bridge and
Danel is on camp guard to Day the
Shoulder Straps are runing there
horses this Evening Oh My Dear
I would like to Be with you this Evening
it would Be a hapy Evening to me But
it is impaucible for me to se you But I
have got the great privlige of talking to
you through the medium of pen and ink &
paper and I hope it will not Be many
months more til I can lay a side my
pen and talk to you without But I am
taking your advise I am not flatering my
self up with the idea of going home very
soon But stil I am in hopes I guess you
will allow me that privalige word you [right margin]
[page 4]
you sayd you had Borowed ten Dollars of
Warren cass I am glad to hear that you have
friends that you can Borrow of you nead not
send me but a fiew stamps at a time if
you send any I have got a small suply now
Tell Warn I would like to get a fiew lines from
him if he pleases I took his address when I
was at home and calculated to write to him as soon
as I got to Indianapolis But I lost his address and
Did not get it any more I have wrote to nearly
Evy Body a round in that neighborhood but I have not
riceved But one answer from any of them and that
was from Mr. Shetler there is an order
Issued now to Brake up our Division
whether we will Be moved from here or
not is more than I can tell Just now
tell Sarrah I have not saw or herd tell
anything of her Stray if I do I will report
immideately tell her also that I hant got
her Book finished yet But I will have some
of these Days you nead not Be a fear of me geting
home sick or Dis couraged for I made up
my mind to stay one year when I Enlisted
and if I cant get home any more I am <going?> [water damage end of line]
to stay any how as long as they keep me in as
nice and healthy a country as this is as it
is geting late I Blieve I must close hoping
to hear from you soon good By and a sweet
Kiss to you and all the Babies may god
Bless and protect you and your little ones
Priscilla Finton Hiram Finton