Brandy Station, Virginia
February 10, 1864

Dear Father,

Yours of the 8th was received tonight. I am very glad to hear from you and home. I am very much pleased to hear that Mary is getting better. It was a hard task for me to leave her unwell but as I knew she was among the best of parents, it did not seem quite as hard. I know Mary has had the best of care—I think better than if she had been among her old Aunts. They would sooner kill anyone that I loved than nurse her. Father, please Tell Mary that I wrote to her as soon as I got back [and] before I wrote to you. There must be some mistake in the mail for it was directed right but suppose it has come to hand before this so I shall not write again until I either hear from her or you. Please tell her that if she does not get my letters immediately, it will be no excuse for her not writing to me. I am sure she has plenty of leisure and perhaps more than I. Tell her that I am very much disappointed through some mistake in not sending our muster rolls to the paymaster, I could not get one cent of pay this payday but next I will get it all and four months pay besides whereas if I had been paid now I would only get two months pay. We expect to get paid again sometime in March.

Father, I am much obliged to you for those stamps and that bill, but as I have all that is necesssary for a soldier (such as tobacco and paper and postage stamps) I will not [need] any money now. I have made out to get among my friends nine dollars and the one you sent me and will be able to send Mary ten dollars. You must not worry about me not having money for now. I can do just as well without it for as I said before, I am in need of nothing that money can purchase. None of the boys have paid me yet but Louis Carmen. But it is all good enough. I expect I could get all if I could ask for it, but dunning is something I hate.

Tell Mary to keep this and not send any back. I sent her two dollars in the letter I wrote to her. I hope she will receive it. It was all the money I had left when I got back.

Father, did I send you that fifty dollar note or did I send it to Albert? I have forgotten which one I sent it to. My mind is almost turned upside down.

I think it will be better for me to wait till you write again before I write to Mr. Hill. Then I will know a little more how to do it. Father I thank you very much for the trouble you are putting yourself to and I hope we will succeed and then I can do more. In the meantime, I shall try to repay you by doing my duty diligently.

Tell Mother I am alright. Only I miss her buckwheat cakes. — C. V. H.

If you have not received that note that Albert gave me, you need not say anything about it to Albert for he did not wish anyone to know about it. I shall hear from him whether he has received it or not. Perhaps I put it in Mary’s letter. I meant to send it to you to keep for me but I believe I made a mistake. I have a great deal to say but I cannot collect my mind tonight.

We have been ready for a fight twice since I have been back. It was on account of the recent raid across the Rapidan by our cavalry. Everything is all quiet now. So give my love to Mary. Tell her that I am well in body but not otherwise. Give my regards to all my friends while I remain your son, — C. V. H.

Please write again as soon as possible.