Saturday, August 6, 2011

Tuesday Aug. 6

Ephe has just returned from Gallipolis where he has been on business connected with the thirty sixth regiment.  This is the regiment that William got Secretary Cameron to accept.  Melvin Clark has been appointed Lieut. Col. and Prof. E. B. Andrews, Major J. M. Woodbridge, Quarter Master.  They hope to procure a West Point man for Colonel.  They will have no difficulty in getting up the regiment.  Sixteen companies have already offered themselves, three are now in Camp Putnam.  Ephe brought Lucy a letter from Rufus.  He was in Harrisburg, could not get a furlough to visit us.  He expects to be in Gen'l Banks division at Harper's Ferry.  He had a fine trip from Wisconsin, saw Major Anderson's family.  He sent Lucy many kind messages and $15.00 and hopes to send more.  Ephe seems determined to enter the volunteer army.  This is to me a great trial.  I cannot bear to have him go.  Henry is dead, Rufus in the army beyond recall, and now Ephraim!  I feel like Israel of old, "will they take Benjamin also".  Rufus and Ephraim are both very dear to us.  May God bless the lads.  May they be Christ's own chosen ones, true soldiers of the Cross.  Into his hand we commit them, he alone is able to keep them.  May he "hide them in the secret of his pavilion until these calamities are overpast".
William went today to Chillicothe and probably will go to Cincinnati before his return.  Lucy went to town this morning and came back on the evening train.  Ephe came with her.  He is going again to Gallipolis.  Mrs. Sandford, a Virginia refugee from Charleston, died last night of consumption.  Mr. Sandford lives near the meeting house.

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