#30
On the bank of the Rappahannock doing picket duty Aug 24th /63
Dear Wife
I now seat myself on the Rappahannock shore under a good shade and attempt to answer your letters they found me well and in good spirits I received the one dated the 18th on Friday afternoon and the one of the 19th Sunday afternoon, was glad to get them and to hear that you ware all well. I am well to day and hope when this reaches you it find you all in good health for that is everything, without health out here a person would be a poor misrable creature indead, I am on picket now everyother day go out one morning and come in the next and out the next and so on, It is quite pleasant here now, It is rather warm days however but cold nights. We are doing picket duty on one side of the Rappahannock and the Rebs on the other in speaking distance of each other, Yesterday they said a Rebel oficer swam across the River and one of our Captains gave him a paper and he is under arest for it now what they will do with him I do not know, I was glad to hear that you had such a good visit over to Youngs Streat hope you will enjoy yourself generaly if you can, I was glad to hear that Ella, G. likes so well to Mr. Lewis and that they like her for if they like her it shows that she is a good girl. I certainly have no objections to her staying there if it is going to be any improvement in her for the better. you are well aware that girls of her age ought not to be away from home too much, for they are apt to think that they are for themselves and they can do as they are amind to. But Georgia I know is not quite so old as some girls of the same age that I knew of when I was at home and I am very glad she is not you know very well what I mean she can stay to Mr Lewis's as long as you think it advisable for her if they boath like; all the fall and all winter if they will send her to school that is if they want her so long; And as for Edgar if you can not find a good place for him to live away from home send him to school all you can if their is another term of select school this fall send him by all means, Now Edgar you are getting to be a great boy you must go to school all that you can and study your books at home wheather you go to school or not. for now is the time for you to learn. you are now most twelve years old jest think of it when I was of your age I read in the first class could read any whare and anything studyed Arithmatic Geography and Grammar and now is the time for you to learn while you are young for one of these days you will be to old to go to school and if you do not try to learn now when you have a good opportunity you some day will be sorry now take a Fathers advice and jump into learning with all your might mind and strength and see if you cant conquer that old fellow that does not love to study and learn Edgar you jist write to me and let me know if you dont think that you can conquer that old chap. Frank may consider this for him as well as Edgar, my love to all of you
from your Husband & Father
A.C. Smith.
Copyright © 2009 Bruce E. Leandro. All rights reserved.