Lieut Rob^t S. Edwards
48 Reg^t N. Y. Volunteers

My dear Robin

     Nothing from you by the last mail but Annie sends extracts from yours to her of — dates 12 July — to 29 —
     I am right glad to learn of your continued good health — and to see that you write in such good spirits — Have you been promoted to that 1 Lieutenancy I infer so but do not know as I yet have a right to congratulate you —
You will be right pleased to know that business matters with me look capitally and that "that good time a coming" appears really to have arrived — After the 1 Jan^y I shall know positively but I can calculate now on doing better than we did in 1856 when we cleared $70,000 It has been a hard & wearing pull, & last year was an anxious one but now things look jolly —
     Katy continues bright & healthy and is my great plaything —

Nellie continues in good health & yours truly though getting older does not feel it much
     Here you have all the family accounted for — And how does it go with you dear boy? The news from home have been so bad that I have but little heart to write about them — Oh the sad homes & weeping women — Somebody has blundered wickedly — Who I am sure I do not know but far too many precious lives have been wasted & wasted in vain — God grant that there may be a change and that the best blood of our country be not a useless sacrifice —
     I am not reading much now. I am very busy in the office and when out of it baby Kate absorbs most of the daylight hours —
     We are not yet at the Concordia but I hope we may get out there this month The country life will be a great thing for Nellie & her bairn —
     My heart goes with you all the time Rob. my boy I have been not a little

exercised in mind by the reports we have heard of the "Fingal" [i.e., C.S.S. Atlanta] preparing at Savanah to get out and eat up all the US navy at Port Royal besides incidentally devouring the garrison of Pulaski —
     I am sorry for your sake that you missed your furlough and yet can but feel that your place was with your troops — It was fortunate that you were able to keep your band it must add very sensibly to your few enjoyments to be able to listen now and then to the spirit stirring strains of martial music — Is your band a good one?
     I suppose if I were at home it would not be proper for me to call Sec^y Stanton a jackass as it might give aid & comfort to the enemy but at this safe distance perhaps I may insinuate that he has made a mess of it — I have a page for Nellie & am ever

Very affectionately your brother
Ogden E. Edwards

Novem. 6th. My dear Rob, I am sure there is a storm out beyond the Bay somewhere, the afternoon is so dark, but in spite of it my pen shall manage to travel down this page. I wish I knew where the sheet would find you, — speculation about that is so useless, though, I might as well come back at once to las Islas Filipinas, and this particular corner of the same. We are just waking up to the fact that the year is almost gone. How wonderfully fast it has flitted by, and to us individually what blessings has it brought! — I rose just there to put the chiefest of them safely into her crib, and I hope she will get a tolerable siesta, to be ready for a romp with Ogden! It is a pretty sight to see the two together, and when my eyes can feast on it they do not generally do much else. And then to observe what good it does Ogden to have so sweet a plaything, how it renews his youth, and cheers and rests him after his dry Office-work, is of all things most delightful to me.
     Ogden has already told you of his recent relief from wearing care. The Good Father has been very, very merciful to us. Oh, the change from this time last year, and indeed from January & February of this. When we can talk it all over vivã voce you will know much more, but it is not easy to write of it. Home looked so distant when '62 began that I more than half thought we should never see it; but now I count it as not more than five years away, and if for all of us they fly as rapidly as the last five have done that will not be very long, will it? We think next mail will surely bring us much later word from you, and look eagerly for it. In our thoughts you have always a place, and already Kitty hears much of Uncle Rob. May this find you very well, and very prosperous and happy. Ned would be sure to send a message if he knew of our writing. Receive warmest good wishes and very much love from

Nellie