Letter to Mary Jane Foster from her cousin.

Camp near St??’s Mills Ga

Sept 16: 1864

Dear Cousin Mary:

As I have just wrote to cousin Emma: I will write to you too. I am enjoying fine health, and I sincerely hope this may find you enjoying the best of health, Dear cousin: deeply do I sympathise with you in the sad loss of your bosom companion the most cherished of all other objects on earth, The dearest tie that binds devoted wedlock has been burst asunder, But remember the one for whom you weep and mourn; died the death of a brave and gallant soldier; and died defending the rights of his countyr, Remember too, that your condition is not so deplorable as you think it is, for while you are left alone, there are thousands who have fallen and left a found wife and children to mourn an irreparable loss. In your bereavement this is a consolation to know that you have no children to be made orphans by the sad misfortune. Still I know it is hard for me to give up the object that is most ? and dear but remember that sooner or later we must all part with our dearest relative.

Remember too, that we part to meet, and meet to part no more. Remember too that all works together for good and not evil. If God saw fit in his wisdom to take your companion from you it will prove a blessing to you although you cannot think so. He has gone I hope where the dim of battle and the clash of arms are heard no more, where all is peace and happiness.

I am truly thankful that I am yet among the living, enjoying good health. My lfe has been in great peril on several occations within the past 4 months. But back in his kindness has shielded my head from danger. Cousin Mary we are doing finely compared to what we have gone through since we left Dalton. We are lying up doing comparatively nothing but eating and sleeping, but I fear our good time will not last long.

We are some 29 miles south of Atlanta on the Macon run/

The yankees are at Atlanta. What they will do next I cannot say, I am getting very anxious to hear from home. I have not heard from home since the 20 of May. I am in hopes that there will not be any more hard fighting. I am in hopes we will have peace before long. I am anxious for the election to come off. I think there will be a change in affairs after that time if McCullan can be elected. Oh what a happy time it would be if we could again have peace, so the veteran soldiers might enjoy the many comforts that awaits them at home.

I hope it will fall to my lot to get a furlough this fall or winter. It I do I will spend it with you and the Roanoke girls. I think I would have a good time. I have nothing more to interest you with. You must write to me as soon as you get this, for I am always glad to hear from any of you.

Write me a long an interesting letter, for I love to get long letters. I wish you all the prosperity, happiness, enjoyment bliss and consolation that a (cannot make out looks like closed) brow can have.

I hope ere long the gloom which you realize will soon be dispelled. I remain your sympathising cousin

Fayette

P.S. I dislike to send this without paying the postage but I have not one cent of money, nor any postage stamps. We are looking to be paid off every day.

Sept 17. Cousin Mary, I was a grand concert last night. We spend a lively time. It was given by Fenners batter. We will be doing something in a few days. A march on hand I think, but I do not know where to signed ...Fayette