Franklin County: Samuel M. Potter to Cynthia Potter,
[date unknown]
Summary:
Potter tells his wife, Cynthia, about his daydreams of being together again and
suggests that they need to teach their children about the love of God. He also
explains that sickness kept him from being appointed assistant surgeon.
Cynthia Potter
Dear Wife
This is quite a wet morning. Keeps us in our tents, but we are comfortable. Have had a very good breakfast. You say that you want me to come home so bad that you cant stand it much longer & again you ask me why I dont try to get to be Assisstant Surgeon. These two questions depend one on the other dear wife. While in my tent listening to the pattering rain the greatest pleasure I enjoy is to imagine that you are with me. I can remember exactly how you looked when I kissed you goodbye. I can feel the pressure of your arms about me, your warm sweet breath on my cheek. I can see the tears in your eyes. I picture you to myself in smiles. You look lovingly & pleasantly into my eyes & encourage me with your cheerful conversation. I think your living breathing presence is here warming & cherring my lonely tent, but it is only a day dream. Yet I call it up each day & if the dream is so pleasant how much more pleasant the reality. Then why dont you come you ask? You will tell me that I have travelled the dark & stormy night to be at your side in your loved presence. Yes & the coldest weather could not keep me away from you. Your love warmed my heart & it seemed nothing could keep me from you. Then your love is growing cold, you will say to me. but now comes the answer to the question why dont you get to be Assisstant. Well that missing order from Gen. Pleasanton which found its way from the dead letter office to my wife will tell her that my sickness was the reason at the time. As the board for electing candidates closed in July & you see I didnt get the order until too late. Do you think my love is getting less because I deny myself the enjoyment of it. It would make me very happy to be in Good Intent with you by my side hand in hand. I could live my days out in such enjoyment, but would it be wise. You know that we have talents that Christ has ordered us to improve. To some he gave Ten, to some he gave Five & to another he gave One & he that had the one went & digged in the earth & hid his Lord's talent. You have read the sentence of condemnation pronounced on him. Let us beware. We have talents given into our care. My profession is a talent which I must improve. To ease the bed of pain, to cure disease when in the reach of medicine & in endeavoring to improve I must seek a higher position with its greater responsibilities. Our children are talents intrusted to us. We must cultivate their minds, teach them their duties, to be kind & affectionate to one another teach them the love of God to them who sent his only son the Lord Jesus Christ into the world to die for them, for they are sinners as all men are & would have their portion with the devil & fallen angels, but for the love of Christ our love for one another is a talent which we must improve Cynthia & if we improve it all right like a fruitful field each day it will give us new & sweet pleasure. See how all things work together for good to those who have blessings of God upon them & this is a talent for us to improve by prayers morning & evening to God. If by the blessings of God I can procure the position which I seek it will bring more responsibilities, attended with it will be an increase in pay, making me a Steward in the hands of God, to make use of the bounties he will place in my hands, & thus the pleasures of our love will be increased. We can see the greatness & goodness of God. We can make our selves useful & travel improving our minds. We may have means to visit Niagara Fall & there see the power of God. We may visit Washington City together & see the State House with all its beautiful pictures & statuary. How much more pleasure we can have by improving our talents, than sitting down hand in hand in Good Intent. I want to introduce my wife & children into the best society. I want to have people honor her like I do. How proud I will be of her & how happy we can go thru the world, see all the beauties by the way & together reach the Gates of Heaven, be admitted by the grace of God & spend our Eternity with our children singing the praise of God & the Lamb, clothed in Robes of white, have no more parting, nor sorrow, nor pain, nor death. This is what I want to attain with my wife & family & wont she lend me her loved assisstance to reach it. Aint I right to say yes that she will assisst me & encourage me when I get tired. She will sooth me with her love. To gain the position it may be necessary for me to remain with the regiment until another board meets in Harrisburg. When it does the Surgeon General will send my permission to go & if I leave the regiment I may miss the papers again. I think the board will meet this fall. You watch the newspapers for me. We dont get very many here. Hoping soon to enjoy your beloved society I remain
Your affectionate husband
S. M. Potter
