Day 23: Letter # 4 September 5, 1861

Comin home from school, I went to go check the mail. Momma was sittin out on the porch and handed me an envelope, it was addressed to me! I got my hopes up, I think....I know it has to be from the boys! I tore it open, Momma stood over me as I opened it. It was from the boys! I had the biggest smile ever on my face. The letter read:

Dear Family,

Sorry its been so long since we have last sent a letter, everything has been tight and there has been no time to write out a letter. We ended having to be recruited to fight in Battle of Bull Run, thankfully they didnt need us so we didnt have to fight. We were in Kansas for the longest time and now we are back to campus. Everything is about the same, General Mowell has been sayin that hopefully nothin will stir up before January of next year and they will let us go home for the holidays. But we may have to come back just in case they need us, other than that we may be home for the holidays. I hope all is doing well, Owen and Arthur are doing great but you can tell they want to come home. We have met many new guys, that includes a guy name Tyler Jackson. He said that he cant write but he really wants to write a letter to his family but he cant. We have also seen AnnaMae's brother Peter around sometimes, but he thinks he too tough for us so we dont really talk to him. Love you all

Nelson

Oh wow! Little did the boys know they met our new neighbor and I have to go tell Eric and Rose that their brother may write them a letter. They will be so excited to hear that from me, and to hear from Tyler. BE HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! is this a joke? I cant wait till December now! I want to see them so badly! I hope nothing bad goes wrong to where they cant come home. This has been the best letter yet!!

~Beth