Harpersfery Va Fryday morning
July 14^th 1865
well my Dear wife I take this
opportunity of Droping you a fiew
more lines Before wee leave
here to let you no as near as
I can where wee are a going
wee are ordered to a town near
the Ohio River By the name
of Charleston if wee go there
we will Be a bout 200 miles
nearer home we Expect to take
the cars here for that place some
time to Day I feell quite well
this morning as to Danell I
cant tell you how he is he was
taken on the train here yester
day morning and sent to
Cumberland that is a town
in the state of Meriland as soon
as he is able to travel he will be
sent home
[page 2]
I Expect wee will pass through
Cumberland to Day on our way to
Charleston I Reecd a letter from
you last Evening bareing Date of
July the 6^th it Brought the
good news that you was all geting
along Buly I am hapy indede to
hear it I am glad to hear of
you spending one Evening pleasant
you Sayd that Celia and mother
was there you sayd that the
Drafted men was geting
home But you did not say
whether Samuel was at home
or not I wrote a letter to you
yesterday I wrote it with a
pencil I dont no whether you
can read it or not I have sent
you some very nice crystal
stones in two Different letters
but you have never Sayd any
about them whether you got
them or not tell me in
your next letter.
[page 3]
I am Sorry to hear of
Evilines lamentable condition
But it is nothing more than
mite have Been Expected
her stoping at the place she
Did Rubes wife Sayd in her
letter that Eviline was a going
to marry John <Peper?> the 12 of
next month I think She had
Beter put it off a month
or two longer and try to get
herself cured up Before she
undertake to mary a man
I am very sorry the she has
throwed herself a way she mite
have Done well if she had ove
carried herself strate. But her
self in good hands when she
went to Franks where is her little
one I am glad to here that
the crops looks so well there
I am inhops I will get home
in time to help you Enjoy some
[page 4]
of those home luxurious
now my Dear wife
I must Bid you good
By a gain Dont Be oneasy
if you Dont get a letter for some
time you can Do as you think
Best a bout answering this if
you Do answer Direct as Before
and it will folow us it
may Be the order may Be
well may Be sent some
other place or you could Direct
to Charleston But wee are
never certain where we are going
to til wee are there I hope
this may find you all well
good By a gain an a hole lot of sweet
kisses to you and the little ones
I had to write this in a hury
But I guess you can make out
what I mean
Old Shanghi
Priscilla Finton and little ones
Hiram Finton [cross-writing up middle of page]