Letter Number 34--From the Mary/Sue Collection--Robert to Sarah--4 July 1864 (Date Provided in Letter)

 

Letter 34 Original Front

 

Letter 34 Original Reverse

                                                             Letter 34 Enhanced Front

 

Letter 34 Enhanced Reverse

 

 

THE CORRESPONDANCE BETWEEN ROBERT BOND JR. (1819- 1894) AND WIFE SARAH ANN (MAIDEN NAME “FISK”—1823-1909) BETWEEN 1862 AND 1868

 

From the Mary/Sue Collection

Transcription of Letter “34”—from Robert to Sarah

4 July 1864—Date Provided in Letter

Transcribed by William B. Bond—Sept., 2013

FRONT:

July Geord gai¹ 4^th 1864

ever Dear Wife I fele² it

my duety³ to let you now how I

am get ingalong⁴ I am

will⁵ and hope you are

the Same, you are having a

good time but it cem⁶ that

you dwe⁷ not think off⁸ me

but think off you every

day I writen⁹ sevll¹⁰

letters I have had not enny¹¹

from you yet I can give

eneny¹¹ reson¹² for it if you

have let me no and if

you have discard me I have

live a true husband to

you I have allway¹³ been

wiling¹⁴ to lay doon¹⁵ my

for you, life for you

my love to William^A &

the grils^{16, B, C, & D}

REVERSE:

I hope you well¹⁷

write as Soon as you

get this, we are

fiteing¹⁸ every day

how must I fele² not

to hear from my

Wife that I Love

fore¹⁹ So long

from your ever

true husband

          Robert Bond

written on the left and right sides of reverse of the paper:

Cope^E get A letter every week

How dwe⁷ think I fele²

NOTES:

1.  Georgia (See Note #4)

2.  feel

3.  duty

4.  getting along

5.  well

6.  seems

7.  do

8.  of

9.  written

10.  several

11.  any

12.  reason

13.  always

14.  willing

15.  down

16.  girls

17.  will

18.  fighting

19.  for

LIST OF FAMILY MEMBERS MENTIONED:

A.  William Othello “Willie” Bond (1860-1928)—Fourth oldest child and only son of Robert and Sarah.

B.  Louisa Maria Bond (1845-1896)—Oldest child and daughter of Robert and Sarah. Married to Alvaro N. Griffin who is away from home during the Civil War serving in Company “E” of the 12^th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry—the same as father-in law Robert.

C .  Sarah Elizabeth Bond (1847-1912)—Second oldest child and daughter of Robert and Sarah.

D.  Luella Hortense “Leellie” Bond (1856-1893)—Third oldest child and daughter of Robert and Sarah.

LIST OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED:

E. “Cope” or “Mr. Cope” is mentioned in letters #23, #27, and #34. This is probably James A Cope who served in Company E of the 12^th Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers-- along with Robert during the Civil War. Presumably Robert Bond and James Cope were friends since they enlisted on the same day—August 30^th, 1862—and were mustered out on the same day—May 31^st, 1865. Robert was from Dellona, Wisconsin, and James was from Linden, Wisconsin. Both Linden and Dellona are very close to each other.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

NOTE 1: Reading this letter is a challenge due to the unusual spelling and grammar. In some cases I had to take a “best guess” as to what was written. But it should be remembered that this letter was written “in the field” most likely under very difficult circumstances. So it is a treasure that it exists at all—especially considering the phrase on the reverse “we are fiteing every day!” It should be noted that Robert’s handwriting and spelling in this letter are much improved over that found in letters 2 and 3.

If anyone who examines a scan of the original letter can better make out what the words are or can see anywhere that there is an error in the transcription, I would welcome their input.

The following is my attempt at a transcription of the entire letter with spelling and grammar corrected:

FRONT:

July Georgia 4^th, 1864

Ever dear wife. I feel it

my duty to let you know how I

am getting along. I am

well and hope you are

the same. You are having a

good time but it seems that

you do not think of me.

But (I) think of you every

day. I (have) written several

letters; I have had not any

from you yet. I can (not) give

any reason for it. If you

have let me (go) and if

you have discard(ed) me, I have

live(d) a true husband to

you. I have always been

willing to lay down my

life for you.

My love to William &

the girls.

REVERSE:

I hope you will

write as soon as you

get this. We are

fighting every day.

How must I feel not

to hear from my

wife that I love

for so long?

From your ever

true husband,

          Robert Bond

Cope get(s) a letter every week.

How do (you) think I feel?

NOTE 2:  This letter was written on the front and reverse of a single sheet of paper.  There is no “embossed seal” indicating the paper manufacturer at the upper left of the front as was common on many papers of the time.

 

NOTE 3:  This letter was found loose and not in an envelope.

NOTE 4: The “STORY OF THE SERVICE OF COMPANY E, AND OF THE TWELFTH WISCONSIN REGIMENT, VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION” (Published 1893 and available on CD) indicates on pages 296-297 that the company captured “Marietta” (which is about 15 miles northwest of Atlanta, Georgia) on July 3^rd, and rested in camp on July 4^th. The transcription “Georgia” in the first line of the front is a stretch, but I believe it is correct. The pronunciation among the soldiers at the time may have sounded like “Georgie” and this spelling may be a reflection of that pronunciation.

NOTE 5:  This letter starts with Robert letting Sarah know hew is well, and his hopes that she is also well. The rest of the letter—except at the bottom of the front where Robert sends his love to his children—is of Robert lamenting the fact that he has not recently received any letters from his wife Sarah. This seems to be particularly hurtful since his friend Cope has been receiving a letter from home once each week.  The reference on the reverse that “…we are fiteing every day.” is one of the few references he makes in his letters to fighting and battles. According to the reference in Note 4 (above), July 1864 was a time of much fighting and military engagement for Robert’s company as part of Sherman’s Army and the taking of Atlanta.