Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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Too much time has passed since I last wrote you and I will try and send this by
to days mail. Lt. Jewett has arrived from home and I have had a good long talk
with him. he has told me all about how you look and the children he says Fred is
a little thick tongued Dutchman It is a great pleasure to hear from you by so
direct a way. He gave me a full description of the time at the Springs and I
should judge it was a gay one. he thought you would have danced had he not been
there to have told me about it when he acme back. did he get funny? It makes me
almost homesick to hear of his good times and of Capt Plat and Col Jewetts being
there enjoying themselves with their wives and then to think of my being away
down here without even a hope of getting away for some time to come
Why have you never said anything about Judge Ferrises 3rd wife I did not know he
was again married I presume there will be many changes about Swanton that I will
be ignorant of you are so secluded. Do you take any weekly paper so as to keep
posted on war & other matters? If not which one would you prefer I get a
N.Y. Times every day when it is one day old,.do you get the Yorktown Carolin
occasionally? Every thing goes on here very swimmingly and we are fast getting
our barracks fixed up for cold weather. I am yet in command but dispense with
drills while at work on barracks. how comes on your barn &c I presume it
will be left untouched till I get home well it is a pleasant thought for me so I
will let it rest I want the blinds put on and some false ones on the back side
of the house, so as to make it appear as if windows were there I am not in a
state of mind to think much of how things should go at home and I dont know as I
ever shall be worth a snap but I hope when I get away from this
kind of life to take hold of business in earnest. How do the Children get along.
I have not recd their Photos yet, but expect them in every letter I would like
Marys also. I hope as Carrie and Fred get to understanding things, their ideas
of God and the future will not be contracted and that they will not dread to
have a Sunday come I would like to have them taught to do right
because it is right and not from fear of punishment- You know my ideas so I need
not write them, I expect a letter from you do day, hope to not be disappointed
Have Carrie write again I dont hear from her of late. With much love I remain
you Aff Husband
V.G. Barney
If you have not had Cads & Fred's Photos taken, have them taken just as
they are in their every day clothes
V.G. B