1862 October 20 Richmond

Richmond Oct 20 62
My Dear Sister Molie  I avail
myself of the opportunity of
writing to you this beautif
ul [day] as I have the chance and
can send it to the boat
this eavning.   I recieved
your kind and interest
ing letter day before yest
day.  I was very glad to hea
r that you had
lost your baby.  I know
it must grieve you ver
ry much but you must
try and keep from it as
much as possible for gri
eving dont [do] any good for
I have no doubt it is
better yes far better off
than either of us for

[page 2]
it will have no sins
to answer for nor nothing
to trouble it for I allmost
wish sometimes that I had
of died when I was a child
for I know I would have
bin a greatdeal [better] off than
I am now.  There is no news
of much importance afloat
here now but I write you
all I have. I saw in the pap
er yesterday morning where
our old Division had been
into a skirmish with some
yankey Cavilry a few days ago
it lasted about four hours
drove the Yankeys back some
three miles but I have not
heard how they came out
but I am in hopes none
of my company got
hurt for I think enough of
them has bin killed and
wounded to last a while.

[page 3]
I heard yesterday that G. F.
Boatwright & [N.?] G. Powell ha
ve gotten a fifteen days fu
rlow was at home I recon.
I will have have to go back to
the company before I ca n
get a furlow fro
me there than i would from
here.  I think I will try &
go to my Re[g]iment in a
week or too.  I recon i will
go about the middle of we
ek after next. I continue [to]
mend though my bre[a]st do
not seam to get much
better but shall not wait unt
-il that gets well for I do
not think that will ever
get well of that.  the Doctor
has bin giving me some of
the worst medicine you ever
saw in your life.  It is horse
medicine what do you think is.  I will tell you
what it is.  it is asifaedia the worst
that i ever did take.  I dont
know what he can be giving
it to me for unless it is
to make me long winded or high spirited.

[page 4]
  If you have heard from
Sam let me know how he
is getting on when when you write
again.  Tell Mama to send
my towels some soap and
some dried Peaches when she
send my box & to send it as
she can.  Give my love to Papa
Mama & all the Family
also to all enquiring friends and
my best love to you--remain your
affectionate brother until death  Richard Putney

Richard Putney, 44th Virginia Infantry

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 11095