Franklin County: Samuel M. Potter to Cynthia Potter,
April 9, 1864
Summary:
Potter asks about the health and well-being of his family at home and apologizes
that his letters have not been received regularly.
Cynthia Potter
April 9th 1864
Hospital Department 16th Pa. Cav. Turkey Run, Va.
Dear Cynthia
Yours of the 1st of April was received this evening & I am glad to know that you are well but feel sorry my dear wife that you was disappointed in not getting my letter in good time. I mailed one to you on the 1st of April & on Saturday the 26th of March one to Josey & you & a pamphlet history of the regiment on Saturday the 19th one. I am too glad to get a letter from you to disappoint you in not writing. The fault is in the mail department. Perhaps you will get them before this reaches you. Major McFarland was here last Saturday the 19th & if you happen to see him he can give you an account of how we live here. The paymaster was here. I got 2 months pay (60) Sixty dollars. (50) Fifty of it I expressed to father, keeping (10) ten for my expenses. If you dont get along for money you had better draw some from him. Let me know how far your fifty goes.
I am sorry you had to write without one of mine to answer if it gives you as much pleasure to write as it does me to write to you all I fear is that I may make myself look foolish for writing how dearly and tenderly I regard you & how anxious I feel for your happiness. If it is foolish I cant help it & am willing to bear the charge of foolishness as long as I have your love and affection to cheer & lighten my heart.
I am sorry that I will have no chance to make garden for you, but still indulge the hope of getting to Harrisburg before long & then of course home to see my wife and family. I will look for a letter from Josey some of these days. I got a letter from fathers folks they are all quite well. You ask me to excuse the short letter. A letter from you is always acceptable whether it is long or not. I dont think of it being short for several days then when I look at it I sometimes wish it was longer but one from you is always welcome. The reason I did not write my name in the book was that it would have to be classed with letters & that would cost too much. Dont think that I am simple when I tell you that while I am writing I am looking at you & you have a smile so pleasant on your face for me, while Jimmy looks sober as a judge. You ask me to join you in prayer. Most cheerfully & sincerely my wife will I join you & hope to have closer communion with you by our joining our hearts to God in prayer for his blessings on us & thanks for the many mercies we have enjoyed at his hands. As he is the giver of every good & perfect gift we will praise his holy name for his goodness to us. We have nothing new here all is quiet. Dr. Herrmann is quite unwell has inflammation of the lungs. My own health is very good as it has been all winter. I am glad that your cold is better & hope the children will not have whooping cough until the weather gets warmer. Bell wants you to write that she is a good girl. I feel sure that my children all are. Are they not mother? I hope God will take care of them that they may always be good be kept of temptation. Keep them out of bad company mother that makes children bad & I pray that God will crown you all with his richest blessings. I will not close till morning. Friday April 8th a most beautiful pleasant morning all quiet. Well as I will have the sick here in a short time & the mail goes out at half past eight I must close assuring you of my kindest regards. Give the children a kiss for me.
Your affectionate husband
