Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2011, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ====================================================================== From Albert E. Swap to miss Sarah E. Watson, Mendota, IL *enlisted Aug 25, 1862 pvt. Co. C, 6th ILL Cavalry mustered out July 12, 1865 ====================================================================== Memphis July 31st 1864 Affectionate Cousin (as you call yourself, and I can asure you I have no objections) Again I attempt to write you a few lines this ple asant Sundays morning in answer to your very welcome favor of July 24th which come to hand in due time and was perused with much interest to me for I never enjoy myself as well when I am reading kind words of some of my friends at Home and it is a pleasure to me to write to such of my friends as I feel the most interested in and you can judge who they are by the tenor of the letters for if I had a corraspondent who I did not feel free with [page 2] I asure you I could not write them more than one letter and then I would give them to understand that there letters were not very welcome. When I was in Illinois I was so verry backward in the company of young ladies that I could not enjoy my self at all but I can begin to see where I have lost many a happy hour by not having confidence in myself but I find that will not do. I was very sorry to hear that you did not enjoy yourself better on the Forth and I am in hopes you will see happyer days in the future although this is a world of trouble and disapoint ment we must not set our affections to much upon any one object or we may be disapointed and thus our happyness blighted forever [page 3] I am surprised to hear that you do not attend Sunday school as you used to bee the first one in the class and was always in your seat I could never see your seat vacated and now to hear that you do not attend at all I am supprised you wished to know what time Charles Dewey arrived in camp he was only this day coming from Mendota he is well and all of the Boys in this company of your acquaintances are well and anxious to get home but we can not leave our banner until in honor we can come. When the Boys come into service in 1862, we were enlisted for the term of two years and our time would be out of the 18th of August but I think we will have to stay one year longer our Govern ment does not see fit to do as they agree with us [page 4] We have Inspection every Sunday morning and they have blown fall in now so I will have to close I apreciate your Kiss very much and send you a dozen in return. in regard to the Picture I have not had a chance to get any yet but as soon as I can you will not be forgotten we was ordered to LaGrange yesterday and packed up our things and sent them to the Depo and then the order was counterman ded and we was sent back to camp I have to go to Inspection and must close From your affectionate Cousin A. E. Swap