Roswell Farnham to [Mary Farnham]
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Your welcome letter written just before you left Washington is just rec'd. I have not known till now whether you had gone or not. I have been in considerable suspense. I hoped you was not gone, still I thought it best for you to go. I am glad you did not go till you did, so that you had time to go to the Patent Office. You have visited Washington pretty thoroughly & I think wont want to come again for some time.
Genl. Stannard came out here Tuesday & Col. Blunt left for Washington within ten minutes after he got here, with the Chaplain & Lt. Benedict. I asked the Chaplain to call upon you, for I did not know whether you would be gone or not. I presumed you would like to see him.
You saw what Genl. Stannard was when he called on you. He is just the same at all
times. Yesterday I rode with him
over the picket line up to Union
Mills. So you see I am not very sick.
I was in his tent this P. M. & learned that he does not expect we shall remain in the vicinity long. He moves his headquarters to Union Mills tomorrow & we shall probably go in that direction before long. I think we shall spend the rest of our time guarding the Alexa. R. R. Still we may remain here.
Col. Blunt & the Chaplain came back tonight. Lt. Benedict is sick in the city. Maj. Kingsly & Capt. Ormsbee have not got thro' with their business yet. I thought it took me a good while but they have been five days. I am sorry I came home Saturday I wish I had waited. Perhaps however it is just as well. Col. B. says Mr. & Mrs. Peach are coming out tomorrow! The Col. probably went & saw them. Mrs. P. will not find it quite so pleasant as when there were more ladies here. If we should move much she may wish herself back again.
Nelson and I are here writing with the table in the middle of the floor & I
just told him it seemed like old times - tho your place is vacant. The 14th, is
just
banging away at Tattoo.
Enclosed I send you two letters, one from Hattie & the other from Mrs. Ormsbee. It is probably just as well that you did not get the letter in regard to Jennie B. altho' I wish you could have stopped in New York a while.
You did not write me where you was going, so I shall direct this to the care of Mr. Shaw, expecting that you will turn up there some time.
I rec'd a letter from Laura tonight. She is well, & had rec'd my last letter giving an account of our intended departure.
Geo. Bigelow did not know you was in Washington or he would have called upon you.
He had considerable to say about the letters in the papers from the 12th. He
says that people are making a good deal of fun of them. He says too that my name
is talked of as one of the Cols. of one of the new Regts. What do you think of
it? Now is the time to decide whether I am to go again or not (provided I have
the chance) I rather think I ought to go, still my dear I do not wish to cause
you too much pain. As long as the war lasts business will be unsettled & I
shall not feel like refusing a good
a good offer & go back to the
practice of law in Bradford. I dont want you to feel bad, Mary, but I want you
to give the matter a calm consideration. You can be with me for several months
in the year & if the war should not last long it will soon be over.
I will enclose the letters of Hattie & Mrs. O. Write often & direct as usual. If we go out on to the R. R. we can get to Washington easier than we can now.
Write me how you get along in your journey. Give my regards to all who enquire. I ought to have written to Ben long ago but have been very negligent. Give my love to Ben & Ruth both. Tell Ben I will do better now I have less to do.
I shall probably be put on as Field Officer of the Day soon & shall have to visit the picket line. I shall enjoy it pleasant weather - I should like to have you ride with me.
Nelson sends love.
Yours most affectionatelyRoswell Farnham