September 8th 1861
Sorry I haven’t been able to write for a while, the farm has been having trouble since my brother came down with the scarlet fever. I’ve had to do double the work while he recovers. Rose comes over more now to bring soup for Moses, but she mainly stays for me. She comes out while I work and talks to me. I couldn’t help it, I told her about my feelings for her. To my surprise, she feels the same way. Ive never felt so warm in my whole life, how a pretty little thing like Rose could want to be my wife- I don’t know.
It made things even harder for me today as I kissed her goodbye and left for the muster call. Ive been put into the 83rd Pennsylvania volunteers. I had never shot a gun before, but today was my first experience with that. I’m not sure why or where I am going, all I know is that I want to get back home to marry Rose. I won’t be a hero- I will just do what I can to survive this war. I don’t think it will take more than 6 months, the rebs are even poorer than us, they can’t hold out for much longer now.