Reuben Billings Letter to Judson Gray-Civil War (MIL.5)

This 1864 letter was from Reuben Billings to his son-in-law Judson Gray who was in the 16^th Maine Infantry.  Rachel, Rueben’s daughter and Judson’s wife, died July 5, 1865, about a year after this letter was written. A transcript of the letter and information about Judson follows.

Transcription of letter from Reuben Billings to Judson L.  1864

Dear Judson, I have just now read your letter of the 21st and we are glad to hear from you we are as well as usual. Rachel is some better than when you left she has violent spells of headache and is so today I am about the same as when you left. The weather has been favorable this spring but we have to keep our sheep to keep the wildcats from killing them. We could not understand what you meant by your explanation of being payed off. You say if we get twenty dollars they have over paid you. I want you to write particularly and explain the circumstance of the payment so that we can understand it. And let us know if you have done anything about the twenty dollars that we did not get. I shall go to Ellsworth soon and put it into Waterhouse’s hands.

We are in hopes that the Rebellion will be put down soon and that the blessing of peace will be given us. Our quota is full by volunteers and the new call is filling up fast You must do the best you can till you get an honorable discharge. I do not think of anything else to write so I must close by subscribing myself as your friend and well wisher.

Reuben Billings

We received twenty dollars in the letter you sent and that is all we have received.