October 9, 1864

Hudson, Wisconsin

Dear Brother Jimmie,

I have just come from church, and feel somewhat tired, as I got up this morning with a headache but the first thing I will do will be to write you a few lines.

I will make some apologies before I begin my letter. You may expect a dull letter this time for my head does not feel any better than it did this morning. You know that as I generally do send you such good letters you will feel bound to excuse this. I do not believe in making apologies and as I see that I have made rather blundering work of it, I'll give it up.

I received a letter from you yesterday and glad indeed I was to get it. We had not heard from you since Monday. It seemed a long time to all of us, we feel so anxious about you.

I heard today that your company when they went down on the boat were used shamefully. You have never written anything about it. Is it true? I want you should write us everything how you are treated. What you have to eat -- I have heard that you did not have much to eat. I hope while you are in a land of plenty you will buy yourself whatever you need in the way of fruit and other good things.

I have not yet got that draft but will before I send this. I am glad you sent for it. I am ever so much obliged for my present but I think that I had better not use it. I would much rather that it would be left for you. I shall think just as much of it as if I used it.

You had better not send that blanket home -- you will need it very much this winter. The government furnish such poor ones. You must be sure and dress warm. You had better have you some flannel undershirts and drawers and plenty of good woolen stockings. We may have a cold winter and you will have to be out so much that you may get cold. You cannot dress too warm.

You said in your letter that the people from Hammond and the Irish had it all their own way in the election of officers. Are there any Irish that have got into office? If so it is a perfect shame. But cannot be helped now.

You must try and please and always obey orders. I do hope that you can get into some easy position. Has the Captain a clerk? Is not that James Wilson Lieutenant?

The Fair came off last week according to Programme (and as Ceal says of their times at Eau Claire) it was a gay time and nobody to it. It was the poorest affair of the kind I ever attended. I was ashamed to have strangers
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see what a miserable thing could be got up here. There were some fine vegetables there. The cattle and horses looked swell. I liked the trotting as well as anything. If the premium list is published will send it to you.

Emory took Lib and I along side the other day, we went all around the suburb of the city. The wind blew so hard we did not enjoy it as much as we would. Emory wants Lib to go over there this week andmake them a visit. Lib says tell you that she wants to see you ever and ever so much. I wish that you were here to visit with her.

Aunt Lydia visited us all up there Friday and Mr. Seymour's people. Mr. Seymour has a nephew here from the Sandwich Islands, a very pleasant young gentleman. He leaves tomorrow and also Mrs. Thomson (Mr. S. sister), she intends spending the winter in Minneapolis.

I left this letter and wrote to Ceal. I had written to her that she had better come home the first of this week but as they are going to have a Mush and Milk festival there this week and some other doings she wants to visit until the last of the week, so I have written to her that she can stay until a week from yesterday.

As the Teachers' Institute is next week I think that she had better come. Mr. Richardson has come home. I have not seen him but have heard that he did not go to Madison. I am sorry he did not, it would have been so pleasant for you to have seen some of the Hudson people and for us someone that had seen you.

Mrs. Thomson and family are going to Milwaukee to spend the winter. I am very sorry to have them go. She told me that she thought she should go to Madison to see her brother, Tom; if she did she should certainly go and see you. I hope she will. Mr. [T. E.] Keeley called the other day. He said when we wrote to you to give you his regards. He expects his wife this week. Mr. Gross came in to the Sabbath School today and made a few remarks. He preached at the Methodist Church today. He wants to get a school this winter as his health is so poor he thinks he had better not preach for a while.

We had a letter from Father today, he did not say anything about coming home.

Mrs. Cowles is looking for Mell every day. Mr. and Mrs. Betheond, the railroad man, have been stopping at Uncle John's, she came down here with Lib to go up to the Fair with us. She is one of the greatest talkers you ever heard. She talks as fast as we thought Mr. [H. C.] Baker's sister did. She says if the railroad is built they will come here to live.

Where is Dwight Barnett from? Do you like Theodore as well as you did? Frank does not mean to do anything wrong, does he? Is not it all in fun, but he should not carry his jokes so far. How does Ira get along? Are you and he friendly? Try hard to be friends with all. You are away from home and may need some friendly care sometime. I know you will be kind to all.

Write just as often as you can. Mother worries if she does not
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get a letter very often. We are all very lonely without you. You must take good care of yourself. If you should be sick be sure and have someone write. With a kiss and ever so much love, I will leave you.

Charlie heard a few moments ago that Sam Sturtevant and James Brayton were in town I have not seen Aggie since you left so she has not got your photograph. I think Maggie is staying up to Dr. [W. H.] Cavin's as I see her pass every day to school from that direction.

From Sister Sarah

I have not heard any bear stories since you went away until Friday morning there was a report that there were three large bears up near the Fair grounds. The report proved to be false. I do not know how the story started. Mrs. [J. S.] Moffat and Mary were out to church today with their new cloaks. Emma Searls is getting better.