1862 October 26 Fort Tillinghast

                               Fort Tillinghast, Oct 26th/62
                                        Sunday Morn
Dear Wife
                   Last night I received yours of the
20th .  It seemed a long time since I had had
anything from you.  I am much pleased with
your last, because you tell me so much about
the children, I should think you would enjoy
them a great deal.  How much I should like
to be with you, and them, We are now having
a cold storm, it commenced to rain this morn-
ing, with the wind northeast, I think it
will be a long storm, it is time for them
now here, We are very comfortable in our
quarters, with a good fire going, and plenty
of dry oak wood to keep it going with,
We have had a nice breakfast (baked beans)
We have them now every Sunday, twice, we miss
our brown bread however.   have made me a
bed-sack and got it filled with good oat
straw, My bedfellow and myself sleep quite
comfortably, all we want now is a little
more clothing on top of us.  You say that

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if you were keeping house, you would bake
an oven full of things and send me, with
the quilt, in a box.  Can't you buy the things
that you need, and do it now, or are you out
of the money to buy with.  I think we shall
have some more money coming about the
next first or middle of next month, We
have had four or five boxes in My Mess, since
we have been here, good ones too, I wish you
could take a peep in upon us now, I guess you
would think you had stepped into a writing
school, as there is no less than nine of us
writing letters for home.  I suppose there
is not less than an hundred letters goes from
this Company every Monday morning,
The health of the company is much better
than it was, the cool weather has done much
to improve the whole of us in that respect.
We dont have so many "Shakers" around as
we had a few weeks ago.  I have had the
shakes a great deal within the last two
months (contracted at Runyon) but have got
entirely rid of them now, So much for Runyon

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About the Boots, I don't care how soon I have a
pair. It will probably be very muddy soon, and
these army shoes are rather poor things to wear
in the much especially when the said mud
is ancle deep, but you need not go to too
much trouble about them because I am get
along a spell longer, I have got used to a
a soldier's life now, If I dont have any this
winter, I shant complain, for I always try
to reconcile myself with the thought when
I am deprived of any little thing,that we
who are here in the forts,are so much better
off than thousands of other brave fellows who,
deprived of all the comforts of life, not
having half enough to eat for many days
in succession, sleeping in the rain on
the cold ground, without any covering
these cold nights, and  many other incon-
veniences, which you at home little think
of.  You seem to talk that if you had no children
to take care of, that you would be tempted to
come out here and see me,  Now I can tell
you this, that if you had no children

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you would never get my consent to come
out here to see me, You might come as far
as Washington, and I would come and see
you, but for you to come into camp,would
be the means of my hearing a great many
remarks that would be any thing but pleasant
to a man who thinks anything of his
wife,  A Soldier is in some respects like
a Sailor, they don't see many females often
and when they do, remarks are made about
them that would not do for a very refined
person to listen too,---When you send my
box you may put in some paper & envelopes,
(good ones) I am nearly out and no money
to buy any with,  As I am nearly to the
end of the sheet I will close by saying
Take good care of yourself and the children
untill my return, which I hope will be
at no distant day, Give my love to Father
and Mother, A kiss for you and our little
darlings, and ever believe me yours in love,
                              Robert

Robert, an unidentified soldier from Lynn Mass., in Co. M., 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery

MSS 1242