Sunday, September 06, 1863 - Kelly's Ford, Virginia

#31

Kellys Ford Va,
Sept 6^th 1863

Dear Wife & Children

I now seat myself in my shanty and attempt to answer your letters I have received two sence I wrote to you but I hope you will excuse my tardiness in answering your letters for I have been so busy I have not had time to write before I received one of your letters one week ago last Friday night and the other last Wednesday night, I was glad to get them and to hear that you ware all well they found me me well and I still remain the same to day and hope when this reaches it will find you all enjoying the same great blessing. It is Sunday Morning very pleasant indeade, I have not much news to write. Our Regiment has received this last week about one hundred and fifty of the drafted men or their subtitutes and we expect more soon. those that come ware mostly from New York. You spoke in one of your letters about haveing a pain in your side from the affects of working so hard now do you jest stop that kind of business untill you are obliged to do it for a living, then it will be time enough, to kill yourself with work, You also spoke about getting you some teeth. I dont know as I have any particular objection to you haveing a set of teeth but I should rather you would waite until I come home before you get them but you can do as you are amind to about that. It would be a pleasure to me to have a chance to say something about what kind of a set you should have I think that I could do full as well in getting a set as you would but you are boss at home now so I shall have to keep quiet, I should like to come home and take tea with you first rate but when the time will come that I shall do it is more than I or any one else can tell at preasant, but I hope the time is not far distant, I will send you two dollars in this letter if you receive it you can put it one side towards getting you some teeth. I am glad to hear that the children do as well as they do but Edgar must mind his Mother in whatever she says to him not run away and plague her when she sends you on errands you should always go and come rite back that is what makes a boy and you must remember what I said to you about learning devote all of your time to study whether to home or at school see if you cant improve your time in such a maner that when I come home I shall be proud of my son Edgar, Frank must do the same study your books all the time you can get insted of spending your moments in play devote them to learning now while you are young for this is the time for you to get an education, Now my dear boys do as Father wishes you to and you will never be sorry. Georgia is a good girl I know and she must always be good and take her Fathers & Mothers advice in all things and you never will be sorry. You and your Mother must write as often as you can for I like to get a letter from home althoug I do not answer everyone immediately that must not make any diferance with you My love to you all

From Your Affectionate Husband & Father

A.C. Smith