Letter 23 Original Page 1
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Letter 23 Original Page 3
Letter 23 Original Page 4
Letter 23 Enhanced Page 1
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Letter 23 Enhanced Page 4
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 “23”—from Robert to Sarah
14 November 1863—Date Provided in Letter
Transcribed by William B. Bond—Sept., 2013
PAGE
1:
Natchez, Miss Nov 14th /63
Dear Wife I just
received
thee1 things that
you sent me
by Mr Cope, and I
send you my
thanks for them,
and I hope
God will Save me
to come home
fore to pay you fore
them, fore
none could have sent
them, But A
true hearted
Wife
and my Life is yair2
I never
shall set a stane3 on you or
our famley4,
Robert Bond
To S A Bond
I got all
thes5 things you sent me,
I can not
find word6 for
my feeling
towrd7 you for
thee1
things, and I hope God
noe8
my heart I have Sold
the, for
Six Dollars fifty cts
Boots for six dollars and
fifty cts
PAGE
2:
I have just
got a letter from
LouisaA
and you must give her my
Love, you
will send my over
Cote9
doon10 by Mr Briggs,
I don’t know
werher11 I shal12 com13 home
or not it
will cost fifteen
Dollars to
com13 and the Same to
geet14
back, I sum15 times
think the
mony16 will du17 you
mor18
good then it will me to
com13
home, wath14 du17 you think
a boot18
it you no19 that I wood20
like to see
you, But you see I
I hav21
pad22 a Capt23 twenty Dollars
for my
Cikins24 things cost a big
prise25
here, you must not think
that I du17
not wont26 to See you,
I shall send
you five Dollars wen27
pay for them28,
give my love to
Sarah E BondB,
AlvaroC will try
to com13
home when I du17 if I can
PAGE
3:
I am much
plese29 with your
picture give
Love to WillieD &
LellieE
my Love to you
Dear Wife
R Bond
FOOTNOTES:
1. these
2. yours
3. stain? Uncertain of this word.
4. family
5. these
6. words
7. towards
8. knows
9.
overcoat
10. down
11.
whether
12. shall
13.
come
14. what
15.
some
16. money
17. do
18. about
19. know
20. would
21. have
22. paid
23. Captain
24.
chickens
25. price
26. want
27. when
28. them? Uncertain of this word
29. pleased
LIST OF INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED:
A. Louisa Maria Bond (1845-1896)—Oldest child
and daughter of Robert and Sarah Married to Alvaro N. Griffin who is away from
home serving the Wisconsin Volunteers during the Civil War.
B
. Sarah Elizabeth Bond
(1847-1912)—Second oldest child and daughter of Robert and Sarah.
C. Alvaro N Griffin (1838-1916)—husband of
Robert and Sarah’s daughter Louisa who is away from home serving in the
Wisconsin Volunteers during the Civil War.
D.
William Othello “Willie” Bond (1860-1928)—Fourth oldest child and only son of
Robert and Sarah.
E. Luella Hortense “Leellie” Bond
(1856-1893)—Third oldest child and daughter of Robert and Sarah
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. It should be noted that Robert’s handwriting and spelling in
this letter is much improved over that found in letters 2 and 3.
If
anyone who examines a scan of the original 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:
PAGE 1:
Natchez, Mississippi November 14th, 1863
Dear
wife I just
received the things that
you sent me by Mr. Cope, and I
send you my thanks for them,
and I hope God will save me
to come home for to pay you for
them, for none could have sent
them but a true hearted
wife and my life is yours.
I never shall set a stain on you or
our family,
Robert
Bond
To
S A Bond
I got all these things you sent me.
I cannot find words for
my feeling toward you for
the things, and I hope God
knows my heart. I have sold
the boots for six dollars and
fifty cents.
PAGE 2:
I have just got a letter from
Louisa and you must give her my
love. You will send my over-
coat down by Mr. Briggs.
I don’t know whether I shall come
home
or not. It will cost fifteen
dollars to come and the same to
get back. I some times
think the money will do you
more good then it will me to
come home. What do you think
about it? You know that I would
like to see you, but you see I
I have paid a Captain twenty dollars
for my chickens. Things cost a big
price here. You must not think
that I do not want to see you.
I shall send you five dollars when
(I) pay for them. Give my love to
Sarah E Bond. Alvaro will
try
to come home when I do if I can.
PAGE 3:
I am much pleased with your
picture. Give love to Willie &
Lellie.
My
love to you,
dear
wife.
R
Bond
NOTE 2:
This letter was written on a
single sheet of paper folded in half to make four “pages”. The top edge of page
1 has a thin red stripe, and the right edge of page 1 has a thin blue stripe.
With the white of the paper, it shows “red, white, and blue.” There is an
“embossed seal” indicating the paper manufacturer at the upper left of page 1
as was common on many papers of the time. The embossed seal looks like an
American flag on a staff with a banner over the top. The banner over the top
has writing on it, but I am unable to read the writing. Due to the embossed American flag and the
red, white, and blue decoration of the paper, I believe this paper was probably
Government Issue. The letter seems to be complete.
NOTE 3: This letter was found (along with letter #24
dated November 16th, 1863 ) in an envelope addressed to:
Sarah A Bond,
Lyndon Station
Juneau County
Wisconsin
The postmark on the envelope reads “Natchez”. The date is very difficult to read, but my best guess is “Nov 1863” The stamp on the envelope was issued from
1861-1867. The folded letters fit this envelope nicely. It is possible that
both letters were mailed together and that his
envelope could be the original envelope these letters were mailed in.
NOTE 4:
This letter describes the daily life of Robert while serving with the
Wisconsin Volunteers during the Civil War. The major topics are giving thanks
to Sarah for sending him “things”, expressions of love for Sarah and the
children, and asking for Sarah’s opinion as to whether or not he should come
home due to the expense.
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