The Civil War Letters Bowers Hill, Virginia July 23, 1863

Bowers Hill July 23d 1863

My Dear Wife

i received your very kind letter last night and i was very glad to hear that you was still injoying good health as this leaves me at present.  we are still at Bowers Hill and i think we are likely to stay here for sometime to come  i was up at Suffolk the other day on Scout  we captured six Rebels there who had come down to see there friends  so i guess it will be a long visit for them

My Dear Wife  you spoke in your letter about sending me some thing good if i stayed here any length of time  but it is not worth the troble of sending any thing and i would advice you not to send anything while the weather is so warm as it would be sure to spoil.  i can make out very well on Uncle Sams Rations for another year  and by that time i will be at home with you and i hope i will never have occation to leave you again  at least i can promise when i am once more free that i will never Enlist again as a Soilder  for i have learned a lesson that will last me my lifetime and i will know how to value a good home and a kind and Affectionate Wife.

Dear Maggie  i often Picture to myself a life of Happyness and Peace when this war is over  for i know that you will one of the Very Best of Wifes which you have Proved to me allready  for though i have been so long away from you and left you so soon after we where married still you love me as if i had been with you all the time and had been the best of Husbands to you.  Dear Maggie  i hope you will receive your Reward for if a life of love and devotion by me to you will reward you you shall have them

Dear Maggie  when you write again you must let me know if any of my home staying Friends have been Drafted  also let me know if Cousin Thomas will pay $300. or go to war

i must now close hoping this will find you and Lizzie injoying the Very Best of health and spirits

Give my Love to all the family

My Very Best Love to you
My Very Dear Wife
 i am as Ever Your
Affectionate Husband
William Lancaster

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