12

Head Quarters 12^th Ambulance

Corps, Aquia Creek Landing Va.

March 4^th 1863,

Dear and most beloved Wife

I now take my pen in hand to answer your letter which I receved last Satturday was glad to hear that you ware all well it found me well and I still remain the same and when this reaches you I hope it will find you all enjoying the same great blessing , since I last wrote to you I have moved I have been detailed on detached service to go with the  Ambulances my duty will be in case we go into battle to go round and help pick up the wounded and carry off from the field I do not have to doe guard or picket duty now. I am at Aquia Creek about eight miles from Stafford Court House now but how long I shall remain here I cannot tell I started for here on sunday did not get here until monday noon the mud was knee deep some of the way I should liked to have you seen me ploughing through it with my knapsack and other traps on my back my legs have been so lame and stiff since I got here that I could hardly walk. you wanted I should write what I thought about your spending so much money. I do not think you have been very hard in that line of business I want you should buy what you need do not deprive yourself or children of anything that you need for your comfort or health but anything that is mearly for the gratifycation of looks think twice before you leap and look at your funds and remeber what is  most needed, I was very glad to receive a letter from Edgar if he composed it himself I think he done first rate and I should like to have him write some in every letter that you send it will learn him to write. I am glad to see that he can do so well it looks as though he was trying to learn. I was also glad to hear that Frank could read so well in the bible he must try and see how fast he can learn for he is getting to be quite a boy now I suppose and if he trys and gets a good education now while he is young when he gets older he will not be sorry for it; it is very cold and blustering here to day regular old march weather in Connecticut while I write my fingers are cold and the sap runs from my nasle organ and come very near droping on this letter but I stoped it by drawing my finger across it; I am here again with out any house I gues I shall go to worke and build one however in the cours of a day or two so as to have a place for shelter through the March storms; Well Edgar you spoke in your letter about Granpa,s wanting you to come over and see him after school was out if he wants you to live with him I think you had better do so and see what a good boy you can be for your mother will not nead you at home; Georgia good afternoon how do you do I am well and hope you are the same I was glad to receive your letter it does me good to receive a letter from you to see how much you improve in writing but it would doe me more good to come home and see you all and get some thing good to eat diferant from soldiers feed I think I could help you eat some of that frosted cake now that you used to wish that you could have to live on at every meal when I was at home are the apples all gone if they are not you may run down some afternoon and fetch me a few, my love to you all

From Your Husband and Father

A.C. Smith

Copyright © 2009 Bruce E. Leandro. All rights reserved.