Mary (Chapin) Burt - March 16/23, 1862 - Newark, OH

Newark March 16/62

Dear Father & Mother,

You must think that I have forgotten you, or at least so much so as to be neglectful of writing. It is not so. I often think of you and wonder how you are, and what you are doing. I would just like to take a peep at you to see how you are getting along if you were all there, if Oscar had gone to the army or not. Since I received Marcia’s letter which (I am ashamed to say I have never answered) one thing after another has transpired to keep me from writing, good night.

Sunday March 23/62 I have commenced writing again) The children are jogging the table, and pulling my chair (by way of making me straight marks I suppose) I miss one from among them. Our little Allie is dead. He had a long and severe illness, was getting better, when he took the measles, there was no relief for him, and - he has gone to dwell with the angels. O, how much trouble & sickness we have had the past season. Thomas was quite sick last fall. He has never been so well since The doctor gave him so much calomel that it hurt him. It was a long time before he was able to do much work. We have all been sick. Nora & Willie have not been more than half well all winter. Since we came to Newark, they have got quite hearty again. Nora is complaining today of the head ache. I expect she has caught cold. I think it was a sickly place where we lived last summer. It was about three miles down the railroad from Coshocton. Tommy is in Van Wert now with Uncle Daniel. We expect to move there soon. I think he will do better there than he has done in the coal business, that is, if the Lord sees proper to give us prosperity, to disperse the clouds of adversity that have hung so dark and thick around us. If not, may we [illegible] to our lot what ere it may be, and remember that “He doeth all things well.” We are staying with Father for a while, until Thomas knows what he is going to do. Will know this week. When we get settled I will write again. I have not heard from any of the folks in Illinois, since Sarah Cosgrove was here. Heard of Mr. Carle & Bradley, that they had gone in the army but in what regiment or where they are I do not know. Would like to hear from Ben Burt. I suppose he was in the battle at Pea Ridge. How did he get along? did he escape unhurt? Donot learn the [illegible] of the fight from any of the papers here, that I have seen. Would like to know so well.

Welling was in the battle at Fort Donelson but was not shot or wounded. None of the regiment were killed, and but few wounded, and those lightly. He said the shot or bullets flew as thick as hail around them, and he believed he dodged a little once, when a cannon ball passed pretty close, cutting the limbs of the trees. They had a pretty hard time sleeping in the snow with their arms. Malona has gone with her children to her Father’s. They started from here last Friday. I suppose they are enjoying themselves there now.

Philip is in the army with Welling. His wife is at home with her parents. She had a severe sickness here in Newark It was the typhoid fever.

Josephine is sitting at the table writing She has written four letters and laughs at me because I have not written one yet. Willie is so full of his capers and mischief that I have to turn round and watch him now and then. He was up to the table a bit ago and commenced marking [illegible] some papers, said [illegible] me writing to you

Mother is not well this winter, is [illegible] with the rheumatism very much. She cannot sleep nights with it. Josephine is going to [illegible] the milliner’s trade with [illegible] Strickland She used to be my school teacher in Massachusetts. Her countenance looks quite familiar. Did not know me until I told her who I was, then she said that she remembered me We talked a little of the old school days Have you heard from Elmer since I was there? Would like to know where he is.

Give my love to Hannah McNeil and tell her I often think of her If I do not write, Just wait awhile, and if I have no bad luck I am going to write a stack of letters. Tell Loesa & Denny & Harry that Lizzie often speaks of them and would like to see them and have a little fun again. Hannah & Marcia you must write and you shall have an aswer if it is in my power to do

yours aff.

M. L. Burt

[illegible] Alie was buried by the side of [Louis?] & Samuel in the graveyard