1861 June 5 Harpers Ferry

My Darling –
I received your sweet
letter of 1st inst on yesterday, and the
return of Mr McClure gives me the
opportunity of sending you a line
in return for it. When McC came
here to see his son a member of our
Company I offered him my hand
which he took and thus I have
made friends with the only man on
earth with whom I was not on
speaking terms. I bade a cordial
goodbye to Wilson when I left whom
home, which I think he returned
in the same spirit of good will
I now may say that there is none
on earth for whom I entertain
anything but feelings of kindness
and I think I have the illwill of no one
In view of the danger before me it
is indeed gratifying to feel that I have
the goodwill of those I may leave behind
that I leave no one who has received
wrong from me which I have not
regretted and which is not forgiven
If Mr McClure calls on you
for my sake treat him with

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the utmost kindness –send
me the minature
Good bye dearest
Ever yours
E F Paxton

MSS 2165-a