H. F. Scarborough
Camp Ashby Apl 8, 1864
Dear Wife
I recived your letter of the 2nd day before yesterday evening__ and am truly sorry that the letters I wrote to Addison
and Susan had the effect to make the matter worse for the intentions of the letter
was to settle the fuss and to gratify Susan as much as possible Lt Girly requested
me to write to Susan as she was very much troubled on account of the reports concerning
him__ I did not mention in my letter to her anything about his having the pock__
I only contradicted the report__ that Girly and Franklin was lying about drunk
I said everything in his favor that I possibly could say__ (and tell the truth) for
I had und=erstood that Susan was setting about and crying all the time__ and I thought
that I would console her if I could__ as her and More was already married and the
reason that I wrote to Addison was __ that I was fearful that they might think from
what I had wrote to Susan__ that I was trying to deny what I said about More__ and
I just stated to him what I told Sarah__ and why I told her so__ and that for the
future I was in hopes that there would be nothing more said about it for the sake
of Susans feelings__ that you may better understand I will tell you the sub=stance
of what I wrote to him__ I stated that Sarah had asked me concerning the matter and
that I told her as there was a probability of Susan and More marrying that they would
do well to enquire into the matter before the marriage took place__ that it would
be to late after__ (and I do think they acted very imprudently__ to mention it to
him after he was married as they did not do it before)__ I stated to him also that
I had answered some points to you direct and that I had never said or wrote to you
anything that I could not prove__ I told him that More was conducting himself very
well at present__ and that all men was was subject to misfortunes and that I did not know that More was any worse off by his
misfortunes__ You may rest assured that I did not contradict anything that I had
ever said in either of the letters__ my intentions were to give satisfaction__
and to stop the matter where it was and if they are disposed to keep up a fuss about
it let them__ rip__ they cannot injure me by it__ Girly did not mention it to me
for some time after he got back and when he did he told me that Addisons folks had
told him that I had told that him and Franklin was drinking and gambling and spending
their money with loose characters about Savanah__ I told him that much of it was
false and told him precisely what I did say about it__ and asked him what else I
could have said and he appeared to be satisfied__ and said that he knew that he had
done things that he ought not to have done__ and asked me to write to Susan__ myself
Franklin and More is as friendly as we ever were__ you said that you wanted me to
send you transportation by Sid Williamson__ that you wanted to come back with him__
Turner Johnson has gone home in his place and I do not know when Williamson’s time
will come__ Franklin will go home in June and you had better wait and come with him
for Sid is a very poor chance__ transportation will entitle you to half fare__ I
will send you transportation as soon as I can get the chance to go up to Savanah__
and it will be good to you whenever you a chance to come__ I want you to come when
you get a chance__ If I can save money enough to pay your way [down] here__ I have
been detailed on a garden for nearly two months and have not had the chance to make
any money this year__ and I do not know when I will get off the detail__ I did not
know that Lt Grisley had sent an instrament of writing home proving his character__
when I wrote to Susan and Addison__ they did not show it to me__ but I have learned
that my name was not mentioned in it__ He only tryed to prove that his character as far as getting drunk was concerned__ his pock care was not mentioned
in it__ and I have no idea that he will ever try to prove that he never had it__
for I can prove to the contrary by the whole company if it is necessary__ do no say
anything about what I have wrote in this letter__ keep dark and rest easy__ I will
send you the books as soon as I can__ everything is quiet here no news of importance__
this leaves me well tell [Sarah?] and Louise to let Susan alone do not say any to
aggravate her__ write soon and tell me all the news__ how you are getting along
farming__ and gardening etc. have the hogs come back__ my love to the children__
Your Affectionate Husband
H. F. Scarborough
[Transcribed by Stacy Bryant, June 2005]
[Edited by Tina Bernath, June 2006]
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