To RH Milroy From Mary Milroy Feb 17 1862

              Rensselaer, Ind. Feb 17th 1862 
 
 
 
My Very Dear Robert, 
 
 
 
	I have defered writing  
longer than I intended. I felt so certain that  
I would get a letter last week, but I waited to  
answer it, and now I hear so many reports of the  
9th being ordered to Ky. And you being ordered  
with them that I hardly know where to direct  
your letter, but will direct at a venture to Huttonville  
for I think you would not go to Ky without letting  
me know of the change.  
 
 
 
Our children have  
all got over the Measles. Val and Walter attended  
School last week – Val is reading now and wants  
me to get him a second reader. I think he is  
disposed to be quite a student – Walter does not  
like his book very well.  
 
 
 
I let him go to school  
or not as he please, he can spell some on the book,  
and can spell almost any word of 3 and 4 letters  
and some words of two syllables off the book, but  
he has not yet learned the letters as perfect as he  
ought to, so that he learns more by ear than by  
sight. I feel now more concerned than ever