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Greensboro Aug 13th 1864
My dearest daughter
Your letter of 5th Inst. was received a few days ago but on account of the press of business with me the past week I was unable to attend to answering it as early as I wished to do. My health also has been quite feeble for some time past which was another reason of my not replying sooner. I am pleased to inform you that I have now a furlough of 7 days to go home to recruit my health and hope I may improve from it. I wanted to get a sick furlough, and did obtain a reccommendation for one for 15 days from one of the medical board, but on going to Capt. Barnett for his approval, he informed me that the application would have to go to Raleigh for approval with the other Surgeons signature to it, and on inquiry I found one of the Med. Board had an application at Raleigh for 2 weeks without hearing from it, so I went back to Capt. Barnett and asked him how long I could get from him when he said 7 days and I at once accepted it in preference to the other of 15 with its delay. Your mother does not know of my coming so it will be another surprise to her in addition to one last Monday when I staid home from 11 A.M. to 1 A.M. 13 hours to transact some business (a Hard Ware bill of $1800). Since my visit home I have not been as well as before and have not felt like writing home until to day (Sunday) when I will try to reply to your letter to some extent. I do not feel like going to church this morning so I sit down to write to you. I shall enclose Georges letter to you which will no doubt be very acceptable to you also. Mrs Emery was quite sick a few days ago with jaundice but have not heard from her since. Mr [Hulfords?] family is as well as usual. I saw Mr & Mrs Bogart this morning at their window enjoying themselves in the cool shade, they both looked as well if not better than usual. Miss Eliza Hall is at Greensboro at Mr Gorrells, but I have not seen her since the morning of her arrival about 10 days ago when I came up with her & Miss Mary Carrow from the company shops where I had been on business. Miss C was on her way to Mrs Deweys at Jamestown. She appeared as well and pleasant as usual, but did not like the large vote Holden got at Jamestown. My friend (not political) Caldwell is elected to the Legislature from this county and therefore will be clear of duty at this Camp after
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he gets his certificate of Election. I am glad for his sake that he is clear of the Camp although his duties as Commissar are quite light in comparison with those of the privates in my company. The most of the company have been engaged in expeditions into the surrounding Country after deserters for several days at a time lately, but without much success in their arrest, but not without effect in scaring them off from the infected districts. You may well concur this labor would have been impossible for me to perform. So I may well congratulate myself on my comparatively easy position as Capt. although some of my duties tax my energies & strength to the utmost, which duties would have been as nothing to a man in health. We have plenty to eat at our mess and that of the best, or at least as good as any one ought to have these times, for instance Chickens, Cheese, Bacon, Vegetables, Fruit, Pies, Cakes, Biscuit, Rice, Butter, &c all of which are tempting to a person in good health but not so to me at present. Our, or my, mess as it is called by the other members, is composed of Lt. Pucci, a quite intelligent widower of 46 of strong robust frame light complexion, red hair & whiskers, about 5 ft. 6 in high, he is of quite a musical turn, has a fine voice and is acquainted with the most of the favorite songs of the day, the singing of which he sometimes amuses us with of an evening. The other members of the mess are Pen King the clerk of Capt. Barnett, a pleasant youth of about 20 of rather ill health (an affliction of the Lungs) but strong looking frame, not very fond of ladies society (like Lt Pucci is,) except that of very refined & intelligent especially those who are musical in their acquirements. The other member is I. S. Arthur formerly of Washington N.C. late of Thomasville where his Father resides, now a clerk in the Commissary Department here of some responsibility, having the charge of the Personal transportation in the office, he is also quite pleasant in his manners and is quite fond of ladies society particularly that of Miss Eliza Hyman who is now at High Point, where Arthur has gone to see her today. King has also gone into the country on a visit so the Mess will be much reduced to day at dinner, and we have concluded to cook nothing today for dinner. We have a cook & waiting boy for our Tent & Mess—good water near by and but for my health my situation would be quite pleasant here. Lt. Pucci (pronounced soft Puse) is of Italian & French origin, originally from Petersbury Va —now a resident of Person County N. C. has a son and daughter of 13 & 11 years of age of whom he speaks very highly, both as to their intelligence & appearance, he is able and willing to do all the arduous duties
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I require of him, and takes charge of the Camp in my absence. I expect the arrival of Lt. Stacy in Camp, so my absence will not be as much felt after his arrival as it may be with only one Com. officer in the Camp. The weather is quite warm to day, but by keeping quiet in the shade I make out to feel quite comfortable so far in the day. Our Tent is rather warm in the middle of the day but pleasant enough at night. I am pleased to find you are enjoying yourself both intellectually and physically and trust you will continue to do so while your visit lasts. You need not "wear your wellcome out" before you conclude to leave for home where we shall be pleased to welcome you back when it is time for you to return, the time of which I leave to you & your Mother (not that I will not be pleased to see you as soon as you can come to me). We are looking for another letter from George showing he had rejoined his Regt. in the Valley somewhere, where it is generally supposed the next hard fought battle will be fought, and perhaps with the entire forces of both the contending armies, as Grant is leaving Petersbury with the reported intention of proceeding up the Valley. Goerge has been fortunate in not having been wounded at all up to this time although the poor boy has met with several very narrow escapes and much fatigue & hardship, and some sickness during his short experience as a solider. I have written to him twice since I have been here but do not know whether he has received either of them or not. I am sending a good many men to Camp Holmes from the Gun Shops &c, able young men that ought to have joined the army long ago. I sent 57 down yesterday. A deserter was brought into camp this morning who is stated to have deserted 7 times, to have fired at a militia officer the ball passing through his clothes, and altogether a very bad man and will most likely be shot at this camp after his trial. I am instructed not to send him to Raleigh like the common deserter. Monday morning. Since writing the above I have arrived at home "Sweet home" and find the family in tolerable health, your mother not quite as well as usual. My health I hope will improve under home influences and diet. We think you had best come home soon after receipt of this letter. You have had quite a lengthy, pleasant visit that should be satisfactory to yiou. Give our best respects to Mr & Mrs Perry & family, Mrs. Rockwell & Mrs Kirkpatrick. Your mother on further reflection says as soon as you get your business (bonnet making) and visits out and can feel satisfied with your visit, you can come
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home and you had better make up your mind when you can come so we can know when to expect you, whether at night or day. There was a very severe rain here yesterday making it quite muddy in the streets, there was but little at Greensboro. Your mother says she sent you the things you wanted in a box by mail except the cotton which she will now prepare to send you in this letter. Mr. Pearce has been conscripted for active service in the field, being put in by some malign influence here exerted against him. He hopes to get clear yet on a plea of disability which he has found very successful heretofore, but it is hard to tell. If what he says is true I think his chance of getting exempt is quite good. I do not know whether he [line obscured] for him as otherwise would be. His son [Cassias?] has got a position in the Telegraph Office at Greensboro which it is calculated will keep him out of the army for the present. Mr. Pearce had just purchased Mr. [Hicks?] property next to us including the vacant lot the other side for $10,000. Which was considered very cheap, and was no doubt (he thinks) one of the causes that set the malign influence at work against him. He is you may well suppose in much trouble about the matter at this time. Mr Patterson one of the shoemakers here who had sent in his petition has been sent to Camp Holmes at Raleigh. There are no others that you or I know who has been sent there lately I hope [obscured] Dr. King keeps along in the same old trade doing nothing, but keeping out of the Army on the plea of being a Physician. I do not hope he may continue to keep out. We all send love to you and hope to see you soon.
Your loving Father Geo. F. Fisher