Franklin County: Samuel M. Potter to Cynthia Potter,
February 12, 1864
Summary:
Potter asks about the family and discusses the possibility of receiving a
furlough.
Cynthia Potter
Feb 12th 1864
Camp 16th Pa Cav, Near Warrenton, Va.
Dear Wife
The post master has just now handed me two letters from you & if you were anxious because mine were delayed you may well imagine my anxiety not hearing from since the last day of January.
Will Potters box came all right & so did my cake & can of apples & I tell you they were good, but I looked for a letter at the same time & got none until today. These two make me all right again.
We have nothing new. The papers will give you an account of what part of the army has been doing. Our Division (2nd Cavalry Corps) was not out. We are still quiet. The rebs dont bother us of any account. Though we are ordered to saddle up now and then nothing has been done yet.
Some of the regiments of our brigade have gone home & others will go after a while on 30 days furlough. If we had the chance I would be tempted to reenlist for the sake of getting home again, but you need not be afraid we wont have the chance this winter. I dont know whether I will get to Harrisburg in March or not. Dr. King has assigned Dr. Francis LeMoyne as our Surgeon, leaving Dr. Herrmann still the assistant & no opening for me. I would like to help you to burn your pile of wood this winter. Although we have plenty of wood here & can keep warm and comfortable it is not so nice or pleasant as a seat beside you would be. Being entirely well & hearty now you would not be bothered making catnip tea for me & then I could have some little folks to help me eat those nice cakes you bake & have them sing for me. It would sound much better if one of them would call me to dinner or supper, than the sound of our bugle making its different calls, as we are waked in the morning called to breakfast called to breakfast, called to wait on the sick, called to feed our horses & then to water them, then dinner call comes, dress parade, guard mounting & stable call again, supper, retreat, tatoo & lastly we put out our lights & go to bed at the call of the bugle. You may be sure I would prefer the music of home in its different keys.
Dont let Josey be out after night about the mill race or tan yard. He might get drowned. The pay master has not been here since my return & I have no chance of getting any more money until he comes, or I get a furlough for Harrisburg, when I may get some in Washington City if our paymaster will be at his office. When this will be I do not know. We have most delightful weather yet & while thinking of home so much I thought I could fill two letters when writing to you, but now I feel so well contented I cant think of anything interesting. I can see you all smiling & happy at home & that satisfies me.
The boys generally are stout & hearty. Will Carrol is getting fat as a pig. Will Potter keeps stout as ever. George McDairs health is tolerable.
Our regiment has a great deal of guard and picket duty to do & which keeps the boys quite busy & this fine weather is not hard on them.
Our hospital duties are very light not very many on the sick list & none of them very bad. As no mail will go out this evening I will keep this open until morning so that if anything new occurs I will let you know.
Saturday morning bright sunshiny, all quiet. Would you send me some stamps or envelopes. The one you sent saved me from borrowing. I have no chance of getting any here. Josey cries when mother corrects Jimmy. Well Josey mother does it because she loves him & she wants him to be a good boy. I am glad that my children are good to mother & I am glad too Josey that you said your questions so well when Mr. McKee was examining you. I am glad too that Lucy could answer some & Bell say her little prayer. It would have given me great pleasure to be with you then to answer too. If all our friends at home would be earnest in prayer for the soldiers & our country, might we not expect to have the blessing of God on our efforts. The reason my horse was shot was, that he had something like glanders. I will get another in a few days. Our surgeon has not arrived yet.
The weather today is warm and pleasant the roads are dry & I wish I was at home to go up to church tomorrow having the whole family along. Will you have an opportunity of going? At least Josey can go & when he returns tell you where Mr. McKee's text is. Can he remember the text yet? He could tell some part of the sermon I suppose. Tomorrow we will have mounted inspection in the forenoon & in the afternoon inspection of camp & the mens quarters. That will be our Sabbath's duties, although the Lt. Col. is a Presbyterian yet he must live up to regulations.
Write soon Cynthia & let me hear from you regularly.
Your most affectionate husband
S. M. Potter
