March 12, 1865 pg 1

New York March 12th / 65

Dear Nellie: --

I feel too "poor in
spirit" to write to you as I
should like to today. I have
had a lump in my heart
as big as a turnip ever
since I said good bye to
you; and it gets no smaller
"very fast" as the time ap-
proaches for my going on board
the departing steamer. How
jolly and happy I should be
if you were going with me.
But you may be certain,
that as poor Pat says in the
song, "I'll not forget you
darling dear, in the land I'm
going to." And you know, you
are to go with me to that