To Mary Milroy From RH Milroy Jan 18 1863

              (Upside down:) 
I have sent no pay since Sept. last & am nearly out  
of money & don’t know when I can get any.  So I can’t send you  
any soon, But there is some hope of a pay master here soon. 
 
                   Winchester, Va. 
                              Jan. 18th, 1863 
My Dear Mary, 
	I have received two letters from  
you since I last wrote, I believe, one of Dec.  
25th enclosing a letter from Cap. & the other of Jan.  
8th each of which afforded me a beam of pleasure. 
I have delayed writing to you longer than I ought,  
not from negligence but for want of time.  I had  
determined in my own mind a dozen times to write  
to you, but something always intervened to prevent  
it until this evening.  I am much pleased to  
learn that you & the children are comparatively  
well.  I hope your neuralgia is temporary &  
that you have recovered your health.  I was glad to  
hear from Cap. & hope he will write again.  I  
hope your sister Valeria will find it agreeable  
to stay with you till I come home,  she could  
be company for you & assistance in sickness,  
every mail brings me a batch of letters & papers,  
I always look eagerly among them for your well  
known hand writing & it’s sight always affords me  
a thrill of pleasure.  Write as often as you can. 
I feel almost like scolding Ella for not writing oftener,  
I feel deeply for my poor friend Hammond.  I can imagine  
what keen anguish the irreparable loss of his noble wife will  
occasion him.