Daniel Pontious Letter, 1865 June 13

Scope Note:

Transcription of Letter:

Shell Mound

June 13th 1865

Dear Hannah

Your long lengthy and newsy letter of the 7th & 8th came this morning. I had been thinking for a few days of writing to Will so that when I got an answer to my letter I would know something about how the farm was running this spring. From the tone of your letter I am led to think that it is running at large mostly if not more. Haven't you any "potatoe patch" , and if you have, where is it and what was fathers reason for turning the cows into the meadow. I thought that he had hired pasture for them of Mrs. Jones. I heard last Saturday that Em was sick but did not hear how bad she was. I am very glad to hear that she is getting better and hope she may speedily recover. I think that the spoon after being wiped on "Fangs" pants must have been fully equal to his tobacco scented fingers and I know from a short experience that they were delightfull. I am glad to hear that the fence is so far advanced that there is a prospect of its completion before I get home. When the fence is finished I want some one to send me a description of the animal. The miserable flies are driving me nearly crazy but I will try to cover this sheet and then I shall light for the cave and lie in the shade a short time and see if I can't get cooled off a little. I s'pose that Ell Lawyer is going East to find a man. "May success attend her" is the wish of your humble servant. I had a letter from Lou Demming this morning and she says that she and her father and mother are going East this fall. I am afraid that there will be an earthquake or something of the kind if Hiram and Eliza and Mr. & Mrs. D. all of them go East. I wish I could have been at home to have attended commencement at Hiram, but I presume that Addie will write me such a glowing description of the affair that I will almost imagine myself there. There was a spell about a month ago that I some thought that I would be home to attend Commencement at Hudson but my hopes have all vanished. I think that "Uncle Samuel" has forgotten that there is such a Regt. As the 184th or else he don't think us of enough importance to take any notice of. The old fellow may think just as he likes if he will only keep us in pork and hard tack. That is all I will ask. For the last week or two some two or more trains loaded with soldiers have passed thru here for the north where the soldiers are to be mustered out. They are mostly Artillery and Cavalry. Kendell Norton has been at Bridgeport ever since we came here but I have been too Awfully lazy to go and see him. Some of the Bat. boys there started for home yesterday I think and I don't know but he may have been one of them. I had nearly forgotten to beg your pardon for scolding so hard because I though you had not sent me any stamps. I blowed till I was nearly blowed out and then in looking into the envelope I discovered the stamps stuck up in one corner of it.

Oh Yes!, if you will only wait a few days or weeks or months I will come and help you make soap and do two or three washings for you. Carl and "Lynn" do most of my washing here, but the reason is I have no pounding barrel and don't know how to wash without one. But as long as I can hire my washing done without paying for it I consider it all clear gain. Ain't it a queer notion for "Clemmie" to be sewing straw for a living. But maybe she sews for amusement instead of for a living. I s'pose by the papers that Will Parsons will be at home before long under the order to muster out troops whose term expires prior to the 1st of October. This letter reminds me of turtle soup, it being a choice mixture of several kinds of critters, and I hope you will consider it as good as I would a dish of good soup for notwithstanding, it is not so very hot. This P.M. the flies are as think as ever. I was out after dew berries this forenoon and found all I could eat and just now one of the boys brot me a pail full which I promised to dispose of in a summary manner. Well, I believe I have done all agreed to for this time and will proceed to bring my remarks to a close.

Yours truly, Dan P.