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to my dear wife
1864
Thompson, Wilmot, fl. 1864-1901
He lets his wife know he has been examined and passed and will receive his bounty next Friday at which time he will send it to her.
GLC02740.01
25 November 1864
He had his picture taken but it didn't come out very well. He will try to get a furlough after he gets to Augusta and he will send more money home.
GLC02740.02
30 November 1864
He is now in Augusta, but does not think he can get a furlough now. He discusses the money he will send.
GLC02740.03
5 December 1864
He hopes he was not late in sending her money. He thinks of her when he goes to bed and when he wakes up. He wants her to get a photo taken.
GLC02740.04
9 December 1864
He sent her 100 dollars. He describes Gallops Island as a very "pretty place."
GLC02740.05
12 December 1864
He still has not received any mail from her. He describes the movement of ships. Once again he tells her to write as often as she can.
GLC02740.07
14 December 1864
He says he thinks of her all the time. He is very lonely, he says again and tells her to write as often as she can.
GLC02740.08
17 December 1864
He misses her as usual. He repeats his lonliness and wants her to write. He has been washing all the afternoon and has rubbed the skin off his fingers.
GLC02740.10
19 December 1864
He answers in response to her suspicions that he may be straying. He says he would never do such a thing to his darling. He says he is a temperate man and has hardly drunk anything since being in the army. He suggests that she visit him.
GLC02740.11
22 December 1864
He worries that she may not receive the last money he sent. He expects to leave the island soon. Their transport arrived with Rebel prisoners.
GLC02740.12
23 December 1864
He warns her there may be some hard times. He mentioned previously that they would leave today but they are low on money.
GLC02740.13
25 December 1864
He has had a lovely Christmas and spent most of it asleep. He wants her to send a picture of herself. Once again, he tells her to have more confidence in him, for he has only spoken to one woman since he left. He says "I know I am a wicked man, but I...
GLC02740.14
26 December 1864
He is sad because he has not received any mail from her.
GLC02740.15
29 December 1864
He is going to have his picture taken, though it may be expensive. Everything on the island costs three times as much. He sent her more money express. He may sell his watch.
GLC02740.16
6 January 1865
He is on his way to Virginia. Iti is raining hard outside the tent while he writes. He describes the country as fine. There is one company from New York with them. He wishes she could be with them. Written at City Point- now named Hopewell
GLC02740.17
January 11, 1865
The country is fine but he would enjoy it more if she were with him.. Grant's army is about 7 miles away. He mentions the next time he will send money.
GLC02740.18
January 12, 1865
He is sick with a bad cold and cough. In other news they have not got their rifles yet. There will probably not be any fighting for some time. He asks her to send 4 stockings.
GLC02740.19
January 17, 1865
There is talk of settling up at their present location. Where they are now was the site of a battleground last Spring. Tomorrow there is an inspection so everything has to be very clean.
GLC02740.20
January 23, 1865
He received her picture. They have been in their present location without rifles and nothing to do for quite a while. He tells her to take good care of his babies.
GLC02740.21
January 29, 1865
He tells the horrific story of having witnessed a prisoner's hanging.
GLC02740.22
February 3, 1865
There is a battle going on now. He says if she could only see the women she accuses him of consorting with. They are all ugly and he wouldn't want to hug them.
GLC02740.23
February 6, 1865
He expects the heaviest fighting to be done in the Spring, but he is not afraid. He describes a friend of his in the company. He asks her to send him a hat.
GLC02740.24
February 7, 1865
It is snowing. They are told they must protect City Point now as the Rebels are fighting to the front. All night long, the wagons have come through with the sick and wounded. He complains about his mother whom he says abused him as a child.
GLC02740.25
December 1865
He mentions a man who enlisted three different times under three different names. He speaks of having seen hard times and harder sights yet, but his heart remains steadfast in his love for her,
GLC02740.26
February 18, 1865
He requests mittens and asks her to write more often.
GLC02740.27
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