1863 Apr 18
Camps Gordon near Savannah, Georgia
April 18, 1863
Mrs. Nancy J. Harden
My dear companion,
I received your kind letter this morning by the hand of Mrs. Benson who landed here safe. I was at the car shed when they came, thinking, perhaps, that you might come with them as I sent you a ticket in my last letter to enable you to come for half price.
This leaves me well at this time, hoping these lines may find you and Mollie both well and hearty.
I received some butter and my pants and socks and two dozen eggs and I was glad to get them. I think I will eat some butter and eggs in the morning for breakfast. I eat my supper of bread and butter tonight.
I am fat as a frog. I weigh 180 pounds today in town, but I don’t think the scales are right.
I am glad that you arranged your money affairs as you did. You must not charge your Pa any interest on what money you let him have. I want you to be governed altogether by his counsel - except I strictly direct otherwise - because I know he will give you good advice.
Jane, you wrote that you wanted me to get a furlough to come home. I am sorry to say that there is no chance at this time. They will not let a sick man go home nor one whose wife or child is lying at the point of death, and so a well man has no chance at all here now.
I will finish tomorrow.
April 20, 1863
I thought I would finish writing yesterday, but I was on guard. So, I will finish now.
We heard yesterday that ten thousand men are called to go to Tennessee in a short time. Some think we will go and some think not.
I have to be examined this evening, I suppose. I have studied very hard for some days past.
I have sent fifty pounds of rice home to you, that is to Griffin in care of A. Gray. You must make arrangements to send up there and get it. Mr. Benson and Mr. Orear have sent some, too and Mr. Whatley. You can send there and get it when Mrs. Benson sends after hers. I want you to send me eight or ten dollars to pay for it. It cost me five dollars at the mill, and the freight to Griffin.
I will send two pair of yarn pants home by Mrs. Benson, and the bucket.
So, I will close.
I have a bad place to write. You must write me soon.
Good-bye, my love.
I crave the time when we shall meet
With words and looks and kisses greet
And taste the pleasure once we saw
Untroubled by the accursed war.
You must train Mollie up in the way she should go and when she is old, she will not depart from it. (Proverbs) Learn her to respect age and give those whose are older than she the preference.
I am my love, yours, etc.
W. H. Harden