Tuesday, December 09, 1862 - Harpers Ferry, Virginia

Camp near Harper Ferry

Dec 9^th 1862

Dear and most beloved Wife

I now take this opportunity to answer your kind letters I have received both of your letters the on dated Nov 23^th and the one Dec 2th and was glad to hear that you ware all well I am well to day and have been all the way through thus far and when these few lines reach you I hope they will find you all well and in good spirits you Lucinda must keep up good courage I should judge from your last letter that you was getting down to the dumps a little but keep your eye on the bright side of the picture and all will come out right yet do not worry about me take good care of yourself and children as you can and trust luck for the rest you have always wrote to me that you was well if that is true I am glad of it; but thare was something in yoiur last letter that made me think perhaps that you was hot as well as you might be now I want you should write jest as it is if you re not well I want you to write so and not deceive me. I want you to docter if you nead it go and get what medicin is necessary for you in season to help you and not put it off to long; we have had some very cold weather here for the last week we had another snow storm last Friday afternoon and night I was I was out in all of it on picket Saturday and Sunday the wind blew a perfect tommy cain and it was as cold as we often see it in Moodus to day is quite mild and pleasant fixing I presume for another storm for we have been ordered to hold ourselves in rediness to march we are to take eight days rations with us we are to carry three days rations on our persons and the [teems] are to take five along whare we are going I cannot tell or when we shall leave here is not known for certain but probably to morrow morning; it has been four weeks last Saturday since we came to this place we have had pretty miserable quarters to stay in all of the time up to now and just as we have got a good log hut done we have got to go and leave it we have not stayd in it one night yet but I am a going to stay in it to night so as to get one nights benefit from all our hard labor; Lucinda Dearest you have wrote a number of times and wanted to know if I was not sorry that went to the war on my own part I can not say that I am but I am sorry for you and the children for of course it would make it easier for you and perhaps better for the children if I was at home but I am away and therefore I want you should do as well as you can be very carful of your health for on that depends all; be shure and keep your feet dry and warm this winter for by so doing you may save yourself a great deal of pain and trouble I expect to receive a letter from you as often as once a week if not oftener but it will depend upon circumstances how often you receive one from me but that nead not make any diferance with you so good afternoon

Fromn your Affectionate

Husband A.C. Smith

Good afternoon Georgia I must write a few words to you my dear girl I am very sorry to hear such a report from your dear mother in regard to your being such a naughty girl it give me a great deal of pain to think tha my only daughter should be guilty of such conduct and I hope the next I hear from home t will be better news I hope that your mother can say that Georgia is a good girl and you must write to me and always remember that is is for your good to obey your parents in all things.

From your dear father A.C. Smith