March 18th, 1863

Stafford Court House, VA
March 18, ’63

Dear Wife,

You must be contented with a very short letter this time for I have more than the usual amount of work to do today, we have got to get the company ready for a grand review today.

I received a long looked-for letter from you¹ last night it came three days later than usual and I began to feel anxious about you, I did not know but baby was suffering from the effects of that fall, I am glad to hear that she is better. I hope your anxiety about her may be groundless it is natural for you to worry some about the future but I am glad to see you trusting more to God and His providence, and I trust you may have a better faith and brighter visions, work as we may we cannot change the decrees of providence and it becomes us to submit as good children to His chastisement and thank him for his manifold mercies.

Your letter [sic] are a great comfort to me, especially those that have a cheerful tone. I imagine that I can tell your feelings when you write no matter what your words are. I was feeling pretty blue when I left home² and for some days but, I am again getting reconciled to my lot.

As I wrote you before all about the box and stuff you sent I don’t know as I have anything to say about that I got everything through that I started with. My watch I left at Munson’s it was not done I paid for the fixing he said he would send it by Capt. Morse but the Capt. came with out it I wish you would get someone to see that they send it along you had better let them send it for they are responsible for it. I spoke to Elford about it when I left.

We are having considerable to do now and it looks as though we were a going to move as soon as the mud dries up but that won’t be as long as it rains or snows most every day.

A very singular freak of nature has been brought to our notice lately, there is a spring about two miles from here of some size, there was plenty of water in it two weeks ago and it is dry. Now this certainly is singular for it has rained most of the time since, but the joke of it is, it is said that it commenced to run three months before the war begun and that it has done the same way in all the wars that this country has been engaged in, that is commenced to run three months before the war and dried up three months before its close, the man on the farm offers to bet his farm that the war will close in three months, he might lose his farm and not lose much at that.

I beg your pardon for writing so poor a letter but I could not do better without putting off ‘till I have time and I was afraid you might be anxious as they are having some fighting in front³.

Give my love to all friends. Much love and many kisses to you and our darling.

CA Burleigh