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Epperly, Christian M. (1837-1904) to Mary Epperly

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02715.050 Author/Creator: Epperly, Christian M. (1837-1904) Place Written: Culpeper, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 April 1863 Pagination: 2 p. Order a Copy

Believes the Yankees are heading toward Gordon's ville to cut the railroad to Lynchburg, Virgina. Informs her that two men in camp have gotten married. Expresses his desire to go home.

C.M. Epperly to Mary Epperly
Camp Culpepper C.H., Virginia, 24 April 1863
Letter signed, 3 pages

I in close you
4 Stamps
Camp Winder
Richmond Va.Ap [strikeout][inserted:the] 1862
Dear Wife
I now seat my self to write you a few lines I received your kind letter a while ago which gave me much pleasure to hear from you and Sweet little Sarah I am happy to hear that you as well I also received one yesterday dated April the 3. The first letter you wrote to me was dated March the 25, and I Received it April the 4. This makes 8 letters I have wrote to you sins I have left home and have received [inserted: but] 4 from you and one from Father I have wrote too to Father an one [strikeout] Harvy an [strikeout] your Mother I would be happy to hear from you every day if it could be so you wrote to me not to Vollantear I haven't Vollanteered yet and I don't think I shal til I see further into matters than I doo now wee havt anything here only drill a little twist a day I have a Very bad Cough and I am Very hours[sic] but I feel well other weis[sic] in bodily but not in mind wee as all men confused here than wee was when wee was at home far the reason wee no what ma be the best in the future Wee don't know one day what a mother ma bring farth I don't See no chans for us to get home soon but some times the darkest hours is just befor day. The time ma be just at hard when no mo return home an again it ma be a long an dreer time that wee shal be separated from each other I want to doo the best you can for your self an little Sarah for if you don't see to our things your self or have it jkjkjk no boddy will [2] do it for you I want you to keep all of the grain you have and don't let any of it go only what you wont to yous for bred an to feed for you will need it all. You can rent that grass field to Mr Foster this summer for Pastur if he will pay you a reasonable prise for it and if not close the fens and let the grass grow up it wont hurt the ground I would be glad if you Sombodd to plant a little corn for us if you can as I don't thing I can get home to plant any in time: The Peach trees an cherry trees is nearly in full bloom here but the Weather is cool and the ar the river you wrote in your letter must to the last that fael Boom told you that I was out of mony I never told him. Had I was out to asgru[sic] him to lone me one dollar or too tell got home as I had a notion then to vollantee an I wanted to by Som things befor I left here I have got out of that notion now of I neead any money I will write to you I have a lont 4 dollar you wee had to by canteens which cost 75 a pon [inserted $] 2.50 ets an a Coffey pot $1.50 an lougn[sic] some things to eat on the road: Joseph an Stuffel Bowers an Josia Smith And Anderson P Haden An my Self is in the same mess together an will stay together as long as we remain here you wrote to me that I should be ingaged in prair: prair is my souls delight it is prar that comforts my soul here in this plase I fear no jkjkjk for I feel that god is with me and he is my protecter an my guide happy can I look back to zions church when god wasted my sins away an I was made free from sin [3] and I hope you will give him your hart and and put your trust in him and if wee havt granted the privilege to meet on urt o ma wee meet in heaven for I feel if I should be cauld from this wourd that all is well: all is well and if I should be could to battle and their fall that Christ would take me home Whair we shal nomor[sic] learn war but all shal be peas[sic] an ak Dear Wife Prepar for the hour of death when thy soul shal be revived of the So nothing mor at preasant
Write as coon as this letter comes to hand and tell me all of the noos of July I remain your tru husband til Death
C M Epperly

Epperly, Christian M., 1837-1904

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