Camp near Stafford Court House, Va.,

Dear Wife,-

We remain in our new Camp yet having a good easy time, plenty of good things to eat, with only enough work for exercise. The five newly promoted Lieutenants added to our number of officers make our duty light. If it were not for the doing duty on the Sabbath I would like the service very much better, but I do not like to work on the Lord's Day,. Some of it, I know, might be put over, but we must do as we are told, or we cannot get along well here. There must be no back talk. Of course I have the greater part of the time to myself when on duty and shall try and use the time the best I can.

You write me you want me to resign and go home. I cannot do so now at this time if I keep as well as I am,- it would not be honorable. I know I am sacrificing both pleasure and money, and perhaps health and life, but I think it is my duty to stay and help put down this rebellion. I am sure the Lord wants me to do this work and if it is His will He will keep me from harm and I can trust in Him. I hope the time may come soon when the South may see their folly and come to terms with the North. My opinion that slavery is wrong grows stronger every day and it is the sin of the Nation and must be done away with.