Jones, Joseph (fl. 1862-1865) to Nancy E. Jones
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02739.010 Author/Creator: Jones, Joseph (fl. 1862-1865) Place Written: Louisville, Kentucky Type: Autograph letter Date: 7-9 September 1862 Pagination: 12 p. Order a Copy
Dreams about his wife and children; lack of news from home; matters at home; giving away/selling his clothing.
I do hope that you are al well. I am some [illegible] this morning I dremp bad dreams last night about you and the children but I hope it is a sign that I evil here [illegible]. I have got no nuse from you since I left home and I dremp last night that you had got only one letter from me. I wil just say that this is the sixth letter that I have sent by mail to you. I don't know how to rite a letter to you not having any word from you and another thing I don't know when I can mail a letter for they have no post office in camp and we are not allowed to go to town. If that man comes to you that I got them [illegible] of if you can spare that much mony pay him off but you wil have to let somebody else go for I don't want you to skimp your self I want you to by such things as you need and keep some [illegible] you I tel you I don't know how to tel you to manage without I was there though I could instruct you by writing but it is a mistake I [illegible] say to you do the best you can. You had beter send after my plough and enter as soon as you can and if he has not got it done make him pay that half follar that I paid on it. He promised to wate until cristmas for the mony if he don't wait you wil half to let him keep it wuntil you can pay for it but if he has not got it [illegible] [illegible] [illegible] rather I do hope that you are al well. I am some [illegible] [illegible] I [would?] rather that he would not fix it but be shore that he dos give you the half dollar back if you can git him to do it. Hire andy jones to do what work you want don and don't pay any more for work other men gives their mony for cakes and pie and aples peaches frink and every thing that would be thought of but I don't buy anything of the kind. I am determined to save my money for my needful family here is scores of men that don't think of their familes [sic] or anything else that is right. I tel you that their harts is as hard as the flinty rock I love to try live humble & W and me is [illegible] from al the rest some perfesers is as bad as any body but I say that I can and do live like a Christian dos. I am ready to fight I don't feer the bullets I fel satisfied that our regiment wil not skrink we have good officers throughout it both company and regimental ofiers. Our own company officers is jenuine. I can't tel you how many men or union troops there is here but it is a good many perhaps twenty thousand or more. I don't expect to stay here long but I don't care if I can get word back and forth to you. When I am awake I think of my wife and children and when I am askeep I dream of them. I don't want you to understand [illegible] that I am dissatisfied in my condition for I am not. I am glad that I did join the army but think about your dear children and be shore that you do train them right and teach them the way of rightusness [sic] and truth. I have got a new book the life of brownlow it only cost one dolar I bought it for you but I wil read it through before I send it to you and then I wil send it someway or other. This letter paper is no count to rite on and it is two small. The next that I buy I wil buy the big kind if I can. Don't take any thing of the rebels for there is plenty of them [illegible] they are as bad there as they are here in this slave country. I am a getting tired of writing for I have to set on my knee and write on my knapsack. I sent my coat vest and pants to mend to mandy wiliams. I sold my shirt to bil eliott his shirt was entirely gone and their regiment had not got their suit yet. I must close remember me in your prairs and hold me up to a throne of grace. Rite soon. Rite the truth about all of your health. Direct your letters to Louisville Kentucky. 79 regiment ill volunteers in care of capt handy. As soon as I did I don't expect to get killed for I do believe that god wil let me live to return home to my good friends and to take care of my family. Pray for me my dear wife that I may do the wil of god I know that you wil live right for which you need no advice but a little advice I wil give you that is I don't want you to greave about me.
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