Mr. Lincoln's War - - - printer-friendly version
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October 5, 1862
... I have been teaching contrabands today, have only one little book. They
are crazy to learn boys and young married men. They cook and wait on the Officers.
Let me see, did I tell you about some of our pickets brought in 3 men and
2 women with little babes. They come 70 miles on foot, mostly in the nighttime.
The men had bundles of clothes; the women 'fetch de babes herself'. I talked
with them, they said, 'Rebels catch some of us.' Now a word to the rest. Dill
how does poor old Cala do? Is he alive? Now Dill, be a good girl and when
I come up to York maybe I'll fetch you a little nigger girl to wash dishes
for you.
Oh! How I ache to hear from home. Not one word since I left. "How do you do
Cynthia"? Kiss baby Wait for me, if I was there I would save you the trouble.
Pa Wade, I want you to look after my little ones. I hope they will not be
as destitute as some here, if they are God pity them when the cold winter
comes. Ma Wade you can send me a kiss and Pa Wade won't know it.
I look at the stars while walking my rounds as sentinel and wonder if.
Some other eyes with heartfelt pang
Those stars are going on
Thinking how deep the farewell rang
of one that now is gone.
Now about writing me, I know there is a lot of letters somewhere... We expect
our mail from Washington tonight but may be disappointed. Now my dear little
Della, Pa wants to kiss you. I hope you are a good girl, you may kiss the
picture on this letter, I kissed it for you. Clare! You must be a good boy
and not say pa pe!
Good Bye, write to me
O.S.Allen