Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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I recd two letters from you one last and one night before last and right glad was
I to get them and I thought if it was as much pleasure for you to
recieve letters as for me I would not miss writing to you often.
I was glad to Know you were well and that Sister Lu. had been and made you a
visit and that she intends to stay in Swanton so long for I would be sorry not
to see her but as it is I will have a chance to visit with her for a long time
or rather she with us I suppose she has got a nice baby. Jewett had a letter
from his wife last night and she spoke of Lucys being there and said she had a
very pretty Child with black Eyes
I have not heard from Swanton for
some time but Expect a letter from there Evry day and I hope to hear
the news with regard to Ellen but why something has not happened before now I
cant tell. I supposed that she would be Confined before the 1st of July by what
the Doctor wrote me. There is nothing new to write you from here though I have
some news to tell you with regard to myself and you will be pleased with it I am
sure and that is that I have got so that I like tomatoes first rate and have
just had a good sup of them I guess you think now that I will not be so
loth to plant some another year. They are very plenty around here
and when the boys go out after Potatoes they bring in their haver Sacks full of
them and the supply will be inexaustable as long as we stay for there
are acres and acres planted to them within a few miles of our Camp
My health is improving, though rather slowly but I think I shall gain faster as
my stomach gets Stronger and I am in hopes that by the time we get home I shall
be Strong and tuff I wrote you a few days ago that two of our men were not
Expected to live but now things look more favorable and their recovery is
possible and altogether probable and things look as though we should all go back
together as we Came and I hope it may be so for to leave one of our boys here
would be a sad thing to me. The topic of conversation now amongst the boys is
about going home and all sorts of rumors are afloat with regard to the time we
shall go but I think none of us will Know till the time arrives and the boat
allready to receive us. There is some talk that we are to go to
Brattleborough by the way of New Haven and be Mustered out
There but
I dont make any Calculations on the time or place but we will be out before the
9 of Aug I am pretty sure and if it is possible I will be at Danby a day or two
but there will be a pleanty of time to Know about these things and be
prepared for them. Kingsley writes that I must have a pretty hard time on
account of the wildness of our boys, but I think they will average with the
other Co.s without it is the Rut Co. It is given in by All that they are the
best Co. here and Composed of the best material though they are not perfect, and
as for my having a hard time, I have got along first rate with all the boys and I
think they are Suited with me at any rate appear to be. Tell Carrie I will be
much pleased to see her little tumbler but much more to see her with her curly
hair and sparkling Eyes. Old Fred I can hardly imagine how he looks with his
hoop Skirt on he must be a fancy looking chap. I will doctor them when I get
hold of him. This will answer for this time so you may give my love to all
accept a Kiss for yourself and Children.
Your aff HusVal G Barney