02. Harry's Letters, 1864

fellow many a time since, what a noble wife that girl will make. You know what girl I mean. If you don't, go get your picture taken and thereby make her acquaintance.

Now I'll tell you honestly, that the next time I get so far as New York, I mean to make you a visit; and if my present intentions don't fail me, I shall lay siege to somebody's heart with a will, and quit this skirmishing, for an assault by storm. I have declared my plan of battle, like a Chivalrous Knight; and the enemy had as well keep strict guard over her breastworks to avoid a complete and unconditional

surrender, for I shall come with preparations for a vigorous campaign -- and no lines of retreat. Moreover, the terms of capitulation must be mine; and the enemy must abandon all foreign alliances.

Is the foe prepared to withstand such a siege? I hope not.

Nellie, I am writing in my tent between frequent interruptions from intrusive soldiers and sich; and am so quite unfitted to write you an interesting letter -- and, indeed am but a poor news monger at best. But poor apology as this is for an answer to your kind letter you must reply to it -- and in so replying don't imitate my unfortunate

example and wait five months, but do it at once. Your letters do me more good than any occurrences which fall to my lot in this half savage life.

It is confidently expected that our Corps will be ordered to New York, soon. It is said to be design of Gov't to make us the nucleus of Gen Burnsides' 50 000 men -- and we are daily expecting marching orders.

Should such be the case you may expect to receive the infliction of a visit from me sometime in the Spring or early summer. I know I can get away when I tell them I am going to visit my sweetheart.

Present my kindest regards to all of the house of Verrill and accept much love from

Yours most truly Henry R. Mighels

To Miss Nellie Verrill Portland Me

[sideways in margin] P.S. Address me as usual Hd Qrs 2nd Div 9th A.C. Near Knoxville Tenn

Missent via Ford.

Postmark Knoxville TN Feb 1 '64

Postmark Portland Feb 21

Miss Nellie Verrill

Portland

Maine

Care of Byron Verrill Esq

[in pencil: Jan 29 1864]

Hd Qrs 2nd Div 9th A.C. Morristown E. Tenn March 14th 1864

Dear Nellie:

I got your kind letter of Feb 26th only yesterday. They evidently didn't know what a precious little package was in the mail, or they would have hastened its coming. A million thanks for the excellent counterfeit of your dear old face. The picture is as good as I could desire, and I have put it in my little pocket album just opposite the scowler you sent to Missippi. (The "father of waters" don't run as great a distance as is laid down in the map, in the spelling I have given it -- but you know it's dangerous navigating that stream and the sooner you get over it the better. So much for my pen-blunder.)

The contrast between the two is very striking and I shall keep them in their present relative places that I may readily compare them, -- for private reasons.

You don't know how dearly I value your kind allusions to your meeting with my dear old Mother. Thank you Nellie from the bottom of my