GOODELL FAMILY LETTERS- #28
 

Anson to Parents & Brother Charlie

Dear Father, Mother & Bro. Charlie:

            Yours of the 20th inst. Came to hand yesterday and I was very glad of a few lines so late from home. I have been especially favored with regard to mail, for the last two I have received all that have yet come to Camp. The remaining have been carried to the Head Quarters of the Regiment we suppose some dozen miles from us so that we shall not get it till tonight or on the morrow.

            It is Sabbath day and a lovely day it is too. The river is quite not a ripple disturbing its placid surface. The sun is shinning in all its southern splendor and just warm enough to be comfortable. The air is mild and balmy with not a breeze to stir the gentle zephyrs. We set in our tent doors around the fort or anywhere to enjoy the soothing quiet of the morning.

            A delightful time to meditate and in my cogitations I am borne away from the scenes of strife and warlike preparations to my dear, precious home in fancy I see you all, this happy morn preparing to attend church. The bells are tolling the hour of divine service and I can see you wending your way church ward and entering take your accustomed seats in the little church whose aisles my own feet have trod. Bro. Wright is in the desk and rises to introduce the morning service from a heart all absorbed in his glorious work he reads the hymn and conducts the morning lesson then proceeds to his sermon. O that I could in reality sit with you and listen to the truth as it comes from the depths of his soul and charged with his electrifying faith, sympathy and love. But this inestimable privilege is denied me and I’ll try to bear my cross in staying away while duty shall call me here. This is the hardest and most trying part of the experience – the lack of opportunities for attending prayer meetings and church service. I would not have you think there are no meetings. We have them and attempt to improve on the privileges we have but if you are all acquainted with the Old South Church of Worcester you know the aristocratic style in which our meetings are conducted and the little real spiritual profit can be gained from them. But we have a family altar already established in our little family of four and each evening witnesses our offerings at the throne of grace. They are not profitless I assure you but Morton and myself found it exceedingly good to commune with heaven and peruse a portion of “John’s” Epistle while you were met somewhere for your weekly class on last Eve. We thought of you and earnestly was the wish expressed many times that we might join you and mingle our voices with yours in the songs of praise – the earnest prayers and warm hearted exhortations.

            How true it is we little know the worth of our privileges till deprived of them. Thank God we can pray - can read His word and meditate upon His promises – how fraught are they with joy hope and comfort to the Christian. I delight to think of them and try to make them my own by faith and thank the Lord I sometimes succeed and am richly blessed in waiting on Him. Grace sufficient is accessible to the prayers of faith here as well as at home surrounded by so many helps and means of grace. The joys of Salvation are as full & abundant and why should not Heaven be nearer and more precious to him who is surrounded by dangers incident to life in the Camp and on the field for here it is emphatically true that “dangers stand thick through all the ground to hurry mortals home!” It matter little where one may be or what the attending circumstances if he only be ready on the Masters Call “Come home.” How trifling are own little trials and privations here when compare with the glory yet to be revealed. How varied abundant and glorious are the inducements of the Christian. The Lord helps me to be faithful in the charge He has committed to me and see well to it that my own soul not ruined on the quicksands of unbelief and this careless indifference that is constantly exerting an indifference detrimental to Christian progress. In your prayers remember us – we know you do let them be earnest in our behalf.

            You speak particularly of our health – my own is as good as could be expected under the circumstances. The change of camp has of course made a change in the water also in the temperature, being near the river. Water has seldom injured my so I drink quite freely on our arrival here thinking it would do no harm and I was mistaken for it brought on an attack of diarrhea accompanied by severe pains in my stomach and bowels. This has made me keep my bunk for a couple of days but now I am much better and if I let water well alone feel well enough.

            As to the labors of which you speak you are quite mistaken. There is not another man on duty in the Company that does so little as I do. In fact the boys complain because the Capt. has excused me from so much. Once in a while I have a hard days work and who does not! And sometimes they come when I am poorly prepared for them but I don’t recollect of but one that made me worse for the wear that being the making out of our last Pay and Muster rolls. I feel blue when I write sometimes and perhaps too discouraging but don’t ever think again I have too much to do.

            I think many time the trouble when there is any trouble, is because I have so little to do. There is a danger of my rotting to say nothing about rusting out.

            Edwin is fast becoming himself and fatting up but he will tell you more of himself than I can.

            With regard to our clothing I have sent by one of our men on furlough and he will give you all necessary directions and perhaps stop with you a short time to deliver a few packages sent by the Dudley boys. I sent a letter to you with some pictures of my comrades and a package of old letters.

            Charlie, I am very mush obliged to you for your real good letter and I’ll try to do just as you advise me. I want to see you very much and have lots of good times with you but we must wait a while till the war is over, then dear Bro. I hope to come to you. I am trying to be a Christian by praying every day and reading my bible – and I hope you will do the same.

            Write me again Charlie and write often. Tell Father not to learn you to make your letters wrong side out. It was very plain and I could read it easily but some of the letters want turning backsides to the front.

            The boys are all well I believe and we like it very much.       Good bye

                                                                                    Your Affectionate Son & Bro.

                                                                                                Anson P. Goodell        


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