Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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I wish you a happy New Year my darling and hope before it closes we may both be
so happy as to have the extreme pleasure of again living together in our snug
little home. I assure you Maria I look forward to the future with the greatest
of pleasure and anticipate many happy years, which will be made twice happy by
your presence. I think the future as far as our war is concerned begins to look
some brighter and my hopes are very strong that another year will close it. It
seems that the 300,000 recruits now coming into the field will give us such
additional power that short work will be made, with the thined ranks of the
Rebels.
It has been 4 or 5 days since I last wrote but as there was
no boat going It would not have got to you any sooner than now. I have not heard
from you for over a week but we expect a mail every day and I presume I will get
two then. I have been very busy for a few days mustering &c &c and to
day I have been comparing rolls nearly all day. I expect soon to have a pleanty
of work to do for we expect to get a lot of recruits for our Regiment soon. The
last we heard we had over a hundred enlisted for us, and we are in hopes we will
get entirely filled up.
9 oc Eve-
I was obliged to quit writing on account of Dress Parade. then
supper came and other business so I have just got around to yours I have just
written to Genl Washburn & sent monthly reports. Lt. Jewett came in and made
me a visit and we had quite a talk about our wives & Vermont. he
says it is all nonsense to go home for after coming away he feels more uneasy
then before his visit he says his wife too thinks it better that he stays in the
Army till he can go for good I dont exactly see it in the same light- do you? I
heard from Silas a few days since and he says it is fine sleighing in Danby I
never experienced such weather as this before for this time of the year the
weather is very warm and yesterday was really uncomfortable This is a great
country for a poor man to live in. Wood costs nothing, Houses but little
Clothing but little, & game of all kinds is pleanty. Oysters & fish in
abundance- but I would not after all exchange old Vermont for any place I have
seen yet even if we did have to work hard there to live & keep warm- Excuse
this broken letter & kiss the children often for their Pa. Accept my best
love and always remember me as your best earthly friend & devoted husband.
V.G. Barney
I am well and weigh 164 lbs- which is as fleshy as you ever saw me – val