Auburn Jan 14th 1847
My very dear son,
Your second letter from
Jalapa came the day before yesterday at
the same time one for Aunt Clara from
the same place — You can hardly
conceive how eagerly your letters are
looked for and read by us all — They
are read aloud for Grandpa and Willie
and over many many times by your
mother and Aunt Clara — Your father
is much pleased with your graphic
descriptions of the country — Grandpa
was very curious to know what your
rations consist of — and Willie had
his love of adventure gratified by your
account of the landing at Vera Cruz —
I am always thankful to hear that your
health continues good — I hope the exceedingly
cold weather we have had here has not
been felt in Mexico — We have had some
very cold days since Christmas —
The newspapers tell us that Gen Patterson’s
train reached the city of Mexico the
7^th of December — — I really hope some
of the letters which I have written will
see find you there —

[top Margin] Once more my beloved child I command you to the
care of him in whose hands are the issues of life and death
Your affectionate Mother

We have many rumors from Mexico
which vary every day and of which
it is perhaps as well not to write —
I shall endeavor to be content so long
as I hear of your continued health and
safety — Will your being transferred to
another Regiment change your destination?
and who is the commanding officer of
that division? — does it include any
of your classmates? — are all questions
I am desirous to have answered —
Cousin Frances who was here when I wrote last
returned home last Monday — Fred went
back to College Friday and yesterday
Clarence returned to Geneva —
This morning your father went to Albany
and will probably go to Washington
before he returns so Grandpa and I
are alone again with Willie & Fanny
One week has made a great change in
our family — the house seems quite
desolate — I continue my French
but do not get along very well
without the boys who were a great
aid to my poor eyes — I shall be
glad now when the course is finished —
I have been expecting Aunty out for
some weeks but she cannot make it
convenient to come — Henry Cheesbro

and his sister e did not come New Years
because Aunty could not come with them
New Years day was very unpleasant it
rained all day and some part of the
night — I invited a few young persons
to see Frances in the evening — they
danced and seemed to enjoy themselves
very much — I could not hep help wishing
continually that you were one of the party
and thought after of the last time I
saw you dance on Lake Huron —
It is perfectly idle to make any calculation
about when I am to see you again but
I would cheerfully go many hundred miles
for that purpose — Ferdinand Mumford
has been married recently to a lady of
New York or Boston —he is fortunate in
not being sent to Mexico just at this
time — Mr William Mumford the
husband of that sister of Mrs Hills whom
we met last summer has just buried
has been buried ^been buried^ — he died very suddenly
of Apoplexy — Mr Childs of Rochester
whom you may remember (the brother of
Col Childs) died on his passage to Havanna
where he was going for his health —
Their mother lives at Pittsfield Massachusetts
and is now more than 80 years old I
am told — Mr & Mrs Hills with

James and Sarah are in Rochester making
a visit of some weeks — — We are having
a remarkably open winter — it is raining to day
with the Thermometer at 45 seems more like
March than January — we have had very
little sleighing the river at Albany has
only been closed for a few days at a time
Willie who was quite unwell for a long
time in consequence of an injury of his hand
is now much better — he has been engaged all
day making a mud puddle into a mill dam
He makes but little progress in his lessons — unless
his eyes improve very much he will never
be able to study — Fanny is well and fat
She often speaks of you and hopes you will
come home again —I did not finish my
letter yesterday thinking I might see Aunt
Clara but the wind and rain have prevented
Wednesday Willie drove her out to see Ann
Sheldon — with Johns pony which happening
to be smooth shoed Willie had some difficulty
in keeping on her feet — I shall be looking for
a letter from Mexico in a week or two — I see
a mandate from Washington permits all letters to
officers in the Army and Navy to be sent free
of postage so this will not be charged as heretofor
Remember me to Lieutenant Hunt when you see
him — I fancy he is one of the classmates in your
mess — or was at Jalapa — Where is Wilcox?

[right Margin] Aunt Clara would not let me keep her letter all night
I read mine to Mrs Miller

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Mary Miller

Birth: 1785-04-24 Death: 1870-04-17

who was much gratified

[top Margin] e

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Editorial Note

This text is scribed across the center of the page from the top of the letter down.

All send love as usual