Camp Winfield Scott, Va.
April 24, 1862

Dear Father,

Your letter was duly received by me. I am pleased to hear you are all so well. I am enjoying the best of health at present and I hope I will continue so till after this battle for I would not miss it for anything. But I am afraid we will miss our aim yet for I understand the Rebels are about leaving, but I hope it is a false report for I do sincerely think if we whip them here, we will have very little more to do and then for home. O! it makes me so good to think (if God will only permit) that I shall soon see home and friends, never again to leave them until death calls me away.

This morning I saw N. DeMott, Billy Manderville, A. Ryerson, & Billy Stagg. They are lying close to us. They seem to like it about as well as I do and that is not very much. They are all well and so are our boys here. We are all anxious to see the end.

I have just bough the Herald of the 22nd. I have not read much but I see the Rebels have a great idea of the intentions of the Minister of France. I guess they are a little mistaken. I see Secretary Stanton is about resigning. It is a pity. I hope he will reconsider this small difficulty between him and the President. He is too sound a man for such proceedings. McClellan should have all he wanted and no mistake. I hope it will all turn out well yet.

I see by your electoral ticket that you have whipped the Democrats all out but I am glad Mr. Heath is Squire instead of Van ____. He would burst if he got it.

You must show Mary my farm and see how she would like to live there. I want to know what kind of a house she wants. Tell her she can’t have a very large one for if we have a large house, we will have to much company. You know I never liked that. I hope Mary will comply with your wish for her to spend the summer with you. She could not find a place I would like better. If she is not a good girl, you must spank her. That is, if you can find anything to spank. If not, just let me know and I’ll fix her off when I get back.

That live oak is an evergreen. Tell Mary this flowers are very nice. I believe they are forget-me-nots but I can hardly tell they are so dry.

You must put in a good big crop of everything this summer for grain will be high next winter. I hope you will not have to go to Morristown this spring. If Tony is working for you, tell him he must be a good boy. Tell Sammy I am coming back pretty soon. He must not break his dray for I want to see it. We had quite a hard rain for three or four days but it has cleared away and is warm and pleasant. Everything is like summer. But I must stop. Give my respects to all enquiring friends & remember your soldier son, — Cornelius

P. S. I have not had a letter from [home] since January. Write soon. — C. V. H.

Take good care of my dear little wife!