Transcription:
Hebron, June 28, 1863, Dear Sister
I received yours Friday night. Had the headache so that could not write then & think you must have received mine & Mr. P. of the 16th about the time of mailing yours. Helen’s health is improving. Though not able to do much, she has been to church half a day today for first time since March. We have heard today that Henry has been very sick indeed, but was better when the letter was written on the 16th. I think Horace said George Lord wrote home & he saw the letter today, taken from the office today. George had been sick, said he should not have been alive if it had not been for Henry. Soon as he got about Henry was taken. We have not had a letter from him since 6th of May. Then he was at Bayou Boeuf. Since then the Rebels have driven them to New Orleans over 80 miles. If he lives don’t suppose he will be at home till September. Hyde said so. He says that it was a complete swindle of over 20 months. They are all well. Horace was at church today with Anna. He says Mary gets along very well but cannot do much sewing. Helen went there Friday morning & brought Ida home with her. Stayed all day with us. Charles has had a horse that H. could drive. He traded it off yesterday & she had a crying spell about it. Don’t know as she can drive the one he has none. Mr. P. is sorry you wrote till you received his. It is very dry here. Things in garden begin to look yellow. Have not had any rain this 5 or 6 weeks of any accounting. We are going to have a light crop of grass. Some have mowed small patches. C. has not any yet. We have a Daguerrean Saloon on the Common. The artist is boarding at Honey’s. His wife is coming tomorrow & he says they shall come here to board. We have cool nights & mornings. Pretty warm in middle of day. Dr. Craig has come home enlisted in the Army. Wrote home that he was sick very, & wanted to come home. Some clubbing together & sent on money to pay bills & he come home. He & Wife were here Friday night. Says he is getting better. They say he has signed off drinking. We are making cheese. Have made 13 decent size. Have eat one. Went to see Sibyl last night & told her about Anna & Family. Said that they wrote her 2 letters about the time they were married, but she had not answered them, for she did not know what to write. Did not say she would none, but was very glad they were enjoying themselves. Said she had not written Almira since she sent her wedding cards & letter. Mr. P. comes in to see us most every day. Mrs. P. has been here a number of times. We have lettuce & peppergrass & radishes & beet tops & all for greens. Craig wife told us that Mr. Finly’s youngest son was dead. Died near N. Orleans. When Henry wrote he said both of the Finly boys were there. Amelia F. has come home & Hitchcock’s 2 oldest boys are here with her. Says she is going back in September. Julia is coming in July to spend a week. Mary is at work in the shop as usual & Emma has to attend to her domestic affairs. Guess it comes pretty hard for her. C.H. Post’s oldest son is at Dr. White’s. Has been in Virginia keeping account of grass &c. Says he liked it very well at first, but was very glad to get home. There is going to be some cherries, but small & great many blusted. Mr. P’s Mulberry tree is very full of berries. Wish you were here to get some of them. Some of the apple trees are full of fruit, but if holds dry am afraid they will drop off. Write soon & what you are doing. Have not heard of the collection in Goshen you spoke of. Your aff. Sis.
S.A.P.
Heard that 2 enrolling officers in East Hartford had their barns burnt when they were out enrolling.
You ask how baby looks. Don’t look a bit like the others. Is the best looking of either. Received yours with edging in it & answered it.
Likely the Henry mentioned captured at Bayou Boeuf, Louisiana is Henry Porter of the 24th Connecticut. Also mentioned is George R. Lord of the 24th Connecticut. Henry had a sister Helen (Hellen) mentioned in the letter and an older brother Horace.
