Newport NewsJuly 7th 61Dear Maria

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As today is Sunday I will write you a few lines to Keep you posted as to my Condition and in so doing will pass a very pleasant hour and be doing my duty to you. I recd your letter last night dated July 1st and it seems you have gone the rounds and are back again to the place where I last saw you I hope you have had a pleasant visit and I know it must have been pleasant for those who you have visited with, that is if I can judge from my own feelings for I am sure a call from you would be very acceptable but as you cannot come here I will probably be there in the course of 3 or 4 weeks I cannot say when the exact time

will be. There are all sorts of reports about, at one time the report is that we will start for home in one week and then again it will be that we will be obliged to stay till the 8th of Aug but from all that I can learn that is reliable we will be in Vt abt one week before our time is out and spend that time in mustering the regt out and in paying them off, though this may not be so, but it makes but little difference for we cant be kept over our time and all the boys are anxious to see it come for the most of them are sick of being under the Controll of Officers and of camp life I think also that our business is not the best Kind to make time pass off quickly and pleasantly as we have to do the same thing over and over every day, and there is so much sameness about it that it serves to make the men dissatisfied and uneasy and time to seem very long

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I see by your letter that the Children are having nice times having their rides &c I presume they will both forget me but I guess Carrie will soon get to Know me again but Fred the little scamp it will take him some time to think as much of me as he used to and to Cry for me to fix his victuals &c When I last wrote you I was not very well but now I am quite well again and able to attend to my duties though not as strong as I was befor I was Sick I think now that I shall with Care Keep well and go back to Vt well though not as strong as when I left. Nothing new has happened here except that Sect. Cameron made us a visit day before yesterday he was saluted by firing 15 large guns. Abt a half dozen other big men were with him and some Ladies but who they were I did not find out. in fact we Know but little here about what is going on in our midst till we

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See it in the papers, and then we dont know it for certain I presume you will be a visiting in a few days with Sister Lu. I hope She will not go back till I get to Swanton to I would like very much to see her and that fine boy of hers. I have not heard from Swanton for over a week Except by you. I believe Father has not built the house he intended to Aunt Lucy and possibly if the Lumber he got out for it is not otherwise disposed of I will make use of it but cant tell certain till I get back what I will do but I think a small house of our own on some pleasant spot will be much more pleasant to live in than one hired from another but I think I can Enjoy life pretty well in most any house if I can only get back and be once more with my little family among the hills of old Vt. When you write hereafter you can direct to this place and perhaps I will get them quicker though generally they are but 3 or 4 days on the way. Give my love to all and dont forget to Kiss the babies.

Your aff. HusbandV.G. Barney