June 13, 1862
New Orleans, La.
June 13th, 1862
My Dear Wife,I received today a letter from you and one yesterday. I hasten to reply. I am as I wrote before, well, very well. I never enjoyed better health than now. Do not worry about me. There is no sickness in New Orleans, not a case yet known in the city as reported in the N.Y. papers. We received papers of the 31st of May. The day the Steamer sailed, I was, and am, much worried today about you. I fear your sore throat and pain in the side. You must get Doct. for it or it will, I am afraid, terminate in something worse than can describe. Do take good care of yourself until I return and I will then take care of you.
We are now in the custom House. We moved yesterday. I have been at work hard as usual and now stop to write as the mail has just advertised to leave at 7 o'clock. It is now about 5. I am setting at my desk all of a dripping sweat and my sleeves rolled up to my elbows. My shirt and under-shirt are wet through with the sweat. How warm it is. Oh dear, I wish I was home, but there is no chance as I have to do this, that and everything. C is with me now. He has recovered. Our goods are mostly open and we shall commence to sell tomorrow if nothing happens. I want to come home badly, that's so, but I must stay a little while longer to straighten up things. I do not want you to tell any of our folks (or anybody) that I said I had everything to do, but I will tell you when I get home.
We had a letter today of Waite's arrival. Also, Howard, a merchant in N.Y., had shipped us 56 cases of qoods, another job to sell them. I told C last night I was aqoing to sell them at wholesale. The whole bill at one sale. I will sell it the first chance I have. I am more for getting home than anything else. I have had a first rate situation offered me by the Collector to act in one of the Departments of the Custom House, but home first. If it was fall of the year, I would accept and send for you to come down and stay. I would accept it if you were willing. If not willing, of course, I would not.
An Officer has just called to pay his bill. I am cashier and he has paid it. I now write on again. Your health I want to hear from you so much again to know exactly how things are. I did not hear from you for 30 days and I began to get discouraged, but now I feel better than before after I know you can write. Ere this reaches you, you will hear all about what I am doing as I have sent one to four letters every Steamer and will continue to send them until I return. I am so warm I do not know what to do. Here comes some more money - good for letters all right. I am tired of the business. Enough. Here goes some more cash. I will send by next Steamer to you. They have commenced to pay the Officers and I am glad for now we can sell off goods and get our money back. I do not know but I shall send Father home a bottle of sugar (Father Ely) if I can buy it cheap and get the freight reasonable. I looked at some yesterday at 4 cents per lb., the best you ever saw. The man did not want to sell less than 11 cents per lb. All he had. I talk some of buying the whole and sending it to N.Y. first. To sell molasses, I would send, but at this season, the risk is too great. I can buy it for 17 cents, the best. I must get through as soon as I can and come home for I want to see you. I think of you night and day and amnow worrying about your health. I go to sleep thinking of you and dream and wake up the same.
I received Aolin's letter and am greatly obliged and will answer if I have time, which looks doubtful. Give them my respects and all inquiring friends. The sweat rolls off my hand while writing. I received a letter today from Sarah which says they are all well and Merritt is catching fish. Well I am glad. You will please excuse the writing for I want it to be sure and go in this mail to N.Y.
Write often and you need not send any papers of the N.Y. Dailys as some sent every copy to us from the office. Now, with the unceasing thoughts of a true husband, I send my love to you hoping this will find everyone in good health.
I am ever,
Henry
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