Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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I am sorry to be obliged to inform you that your husband is sick & unable
just now to write himself. He was taken sick last Friday & he has been
rather getting worse till now Dr Carpenter says he has a bilious
fever. I do not think him dangerous, but tho his fever runs low, yet
he will undoubtedly have a regular run. Yesterday I got him moved to a private
house, where he has the best of quarters & I have detailed a Corporal to
stay with him and take care of him. He wishes me to say that he wrote a week ago
last Sun. or Mon. & has been
hoping to be able to write every
day since, but is at last obliged to give up the idea. The prospect is that we
shall not be paid very soon & the Capt wishes you to go to the Bank and tell
the cashier you want $25. o/oo (twenty five) for him
& send it soon as convenient, by mail. I think the
Capt will soon be up again, at least I can but hope so for the sake of the men
in his Co. who all have the greatest possible respect for him, as well as for
his own & your sake. He
has had to work very hard for the Co. as he has had no Lieuts, since we left
Winchester, as you are aware. He has rec’d two letters from you within a few
days one an old one stating the arrival of Mercy &
Hattie the time when they arrived he knew nothing of before. He got it
yesterday.
The lady of the house is the widow of a Methodist
preacher & he will have the best of care & I
trust you will not be concerned on that account. I came & found the place
myself & got a carriage & moved him myself & am now with him & I
will do for him as I would for a brother, as he has won my highest regards by his kindness as my
superior in command & by his soldierly qualities. Hoping to be able to write
you soon that he is better, I remain
Most Respectly YoursO.S. Whittmore 1st Sg’t.
Co. A.