CWT Serial 2 Miss Sarah

[sarah1864]

My Dear Srgt.,

I have been so despondent these last weeks without hearing from you. It warms my heart so reading your latest despatch that I received today. How I had longed to hear from you. I have written to you mostly every week and I have not received any letters from you. I miss you so and I think that you miss me also but always remember that you are in my prayers. The good Lord shall keep you safe from all the hardships of a soldiers life for I believe that you will come home to your family and live the rest of your life in peace and plenty.
The days and nights have been cold, it looks like snow today. I am warm in my house and I have plenty of wood but I wonder how you are fareing. Do you have a warm blanket? I have been making a quilt for you since you requested a warm one from your last letter. I expect to complete it shortly and will send a box to you. Can you tell me where to send it. You only referred to your company but how do I know where to send it if you do not tell me where you are? Expect to find some letters for the boys in your company and also some eatables for you.
Those wretched yankees passed near here some days ago. They burned the house of an old patriot in the next town. I saw the smoke from the hill. We have to lock our doors every night for we can wake up to a house full of those blue bellies. I feel safe most times, for I sleep with my fathers pistol beneath my bed. Only they do not know it is not loaded. It tears at me to see them worshiping in our church. That old church is sacred to me and they have desicrated it by stepping foot into it and saying their mock prayers to God. Sometimes I wish one of our cannonballs would just sweep them off so they are no more but that is unchristian to think those thoughts when I should be praying for you and yours. If you see my son tell him I think of him every day and I long for both of you to come home.

Affectionatley,
Your Sarah

 

[sarah1864]

Dearest Sister,

With pen in hand I take a few moments to write you this letter. I have not written in some time for there has been much suffering of late. The federal troops are camped near here and there is much sickness and unrelenting distrust they feel of any of us who live here. We can not walk within a stones throw of our own farm, for when I did I was accosted by one of their asking me to where I was going and seeing that I was of poor means he proceeded to denigrate me with oaths to which I had to turn back in haste to get out of hearing. I returned to my house in such a state that I cannot tell you dear sister, what it is like to live with these federals around us night and day. They are tearing down my fences and outbuildings for their wood and drinking most wells dry. They say it is so until we swear the oath to their government which I cannot bring myself for here is my country. I will try to deliver this letter through the lines for we are not to move about and if we are seen carrying postage we are forced in wagons and sent behind the lines to never return. Misses Johnson just lost a babe for the sickness around us. The air about us is offal and many are sick. I have nursed some in the hospital for they are suffering as our own are suffering. Once in the hospital they can do no harm and I can give comfort and care to those wretches. I will close to you now sister and pray that you and yours remain well and safe. Kiss your youngest for me.
Your sister
Sarah