[Stationary has vignette of Northern soldier saying farewell to family, including dog, with a verse from “The girl I left behind me” printed beneath]
Fort Tillinghast Dec 3/62
[vig-
nette
here] My Dear Wife
Yours of
Nov 28th I have just
received, I am well and
hearty as ever, I have
[verse here] not as yet sent
any letter to Cal,
I dont know as I shall, I dont like
to be bothered with such affairs
anyway, Probably there is not any
thing of much value left of my
brothers property, if he had any, which
I very much doubt, as he was never
very prosperous there or any where
else. I may send a note to the
man who wrote me the letter,
Who is this Mr Edwards that you
write about. I take it that you
have sent a pair of mittens by
[page 2]
him, to me, I have not, as yet
seen nothing of him, I dont
anything
suppose he has arrived here yet
when he does I shall probably find
out who he is, I dont think that
I shall do anything about the Cal
affair, untill my friend Earp gets
a little better, he is improving very
fast, he has been out once since
I sat up with him, when he gets
a little stronger I will ask his
advice and assistance in the
matter,and he will cheerfully
give it, for we are very firm friends
About our clothing bills, Government
allows each enlisted person so much
every year (Forty two dollars) and all
that a man draws over that amount
is taken from his pay at the
end of the year,or at some time
Some of our company have drawn
as high as Sixty and Seventy dollars
I have not drawn over Thirty five
[page 3]
dollars and shall not probably
draw any more, for a very long time
I have plenty of clothing and if I
dont draw the full amount that
government allows me, I am en-
titled to the ballance in money
when I am discharged, They do
say however that those who lost
their clothing on our advance and
had to draw things when we come
back, will have to pay for what
they have drawn over the forty
two dollars, It’s a hard case, but
Uncle Sam can do as he has a
mind to with us, while we work
for him, I may when I have
an opportunity, go over to Washington
and call on JB, I dont think
however, that I shall go untill
I get some money, as there are
a few little things that I want
very much, I dont see any signs
of our being paid off, some say this
[page 4]
this week, but I dont think we
shall be paid before the middle
of January, I am very much
obliged to your Mother for the
Postal Currency, it will work in
quite handy, there is such a
confounded noise here, and I
have such a poor light, that I
cant write, nor think of anything,
I wont try to write much more
to-night, I would not have attem-
pted, to write, only that if I
did not, I could not send so
you could hear from me on
Saturday next, I will write again
in a day or two, and try and do
better, Give my love to Father
and Mother, A Kiss for all
of you, and remember that
I am ever the same through
distance and time, now and
ever—Yours with much love
Robert
Sgt. Robert P. Mansfield, Co. M,
1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery
MSS 1242
