.NjU0.NDc0OA

Stafford Court House Virginia February 4th 1863

My dear son

                feeling an anxiety for the promotion

of your welfare and happiness I seat myself this morning to congratulate you on your safe arriv- al home to your friends and associates our folks must been glad to see you and I wish I could have been there to have enjoyed it with them but could not so I must content myself a few months longer then if I live I shall be with you at my old Auburn home my son it is usless for me to undertake to tell you of the sleepless nights I have had about you since I left you at culpeper I have worried myself sick a number of times but it was of no use but I could not help it but you do not know how much better I feel since I knew you had got home safe but it makes my heart ache when I think of your misfortune but I must try and reconcile myself to it but it is hard now my son I want to give you some advice which I hope you will take as a fathers love and friendship I want you to go and visit your friends all around that you want to see and get through as