“The Devil get Him at Last”

Henry Bolton

Letter to Miss Mary Ewings

Location: Camp Jessie, Lafayette Park, Missouri

Date: August 29th, 1861

Camp Jessie, Lafayette Park, MO

August 29th, 1861

Miss Mary Ewings,

My friend I take my pen in my hand to let you know that I am well, and I sincerely hope these few lines will find you the same. I received your letter yesterday and was glad to hear from you. 

The boys is all well, but Bill Gould, he is sick but is getting better. He is in the hospital. Yet you wrote that you had got your likeness taken since I left, and he said that people said it was the prettiest picture they ever seen. 

Well Mary, it is a pretty likeness I seen it, but I don’t suppose you knew when you wrote but I think you might not give to me your likeness for to look at when I am lonesome. 

I think you and May(could be Mary) might send me your likeness in one case, if you will, I will send you mine and James Moore. 

I wanted to have got time that day we left to get him and I’s pictures taken. You wanted me if I seen any stray religion down here to take care of it. Well I will, but it won’t be much bother me for all there is here taken up Robert Alexander and Sam Plymeseed have got all the religion there is in this company. 

I guess Creepy(?) has got a little of it. Ginn is sleeping while I am writing. I am (?) to hear that Martha has so good an opinion of me since I left. I wonder if she has seen Harry Reesee yet? You wrote that you had not seen Brains since I left. I do think you have used brains just right. I am glad to hear that the church is in so proper state. 

I hope Brother Mullen will live a Christian all the days of his life, and the devil get him at last. I am much obliged to you for the feather and clove you sent me. I gave Ginn his. The locust tree we have got between is the feather, we will take good care of well old honey. I guess I must stop for I have about filled this sheet. When you write again, I will answer it. I will write four sheets, but I must stop. So goodbye from your friend WM Henry Bolton 

To Mary Ewings. Well my dear Mary I give you(?????).