Headquarters 3rd Regt

Camp Arlington

Co. F

Summer 1861

Dear Brother,

I received your letter of the 14th also Catherine's and Nettie's. I was so overjoyed that I could scarcely wait to read them separately. Dear Brother I see you have a disposition to rally me a little. You talk of Mounted Batteries as familiarly as though you had been to Bull Run. I was not taken by surprise knowing your disposition and being familiar with such attacks. I am pretty well prepared to meet them. I must admit however in the way of a compliment that I do decidedly admire your military style, but seriously I hope the avenues leading to my heart are not so completely closed and barricaded by its love for another as not to admit the affectionate approach of a dear Brother especially when he carries a flag of truce. The subject of religion which pertains to our future happiness is a subject of vital importance to every one and never can be exhausted, never be it.

Dear Brother since I left home and have had an opportunity of witnessing the weakness and wickedness of man, the wisdom, greatness and goodness of God has become more apparent to my mind and I am going to make a great struggle to lead a different life but it seems to be a very hard place to begin and any encouraging words from you will be appreciated. I cannot write but little at a time on account of my hand trembling. I have been sick but am getting most well. It has been a lonesome time I assure you to me, and to make it still more gloomy it has rained most of the time. I found that little Bible you gave me a good companion when I was able to read, I also obtained a few good books. When I would read your letters over. My condition while sick was made as comfortable as could be expected under the circumstances. When you spoke about good advice my conscience smote me that I never had tried to follow it better. You said you have been to Nels Cumming's. I hope you will get my things together and take care of them. I have written a letter to Edwin and Nels both but have received to answer. They probably never received them. You write that your work drives you. I wish Emer and myself could be there to give you a boost with it. I do not understand about my school money. I thought there must certainly be $10 or $12 due after the debt for the watch was satisfied. I supposed also that I had fully settled with the McLains, John and Oliver both. I allowed John his school bill, gave Oliver an order and was to pay Elder Norton the balance due and I supposed there would be money enough coming to do it. I wish you would tell John and Oliver to make out their bills and give them to you and send me a copy. John is such an awful bungler. I am fully confident that I do not owe either of them one cent. I am real glad you got my dulcimer though I should thought it would have tired you to death to have fetched on your shoulders. You can get new strings for a dollar and then I will pay you. Job has just brought me a letter from Helen and one from Thomas Symons. You say you think you shall go to Mr. Brewer's. There is a likeness there of myself and Emer both in one dose. I have send Laura one from Washington and I want mother to have that one. You need not say anything about it unless she does. I will write her about it. I suppose you have got the flute. When we go to Washington again we will try and send home some of our likenesses. Please write whether Mister Jackson paid that not or not and also how my business stands with Nelson whether my cutter has been taken care of or not, not as I can do much about these things except as they go to pay whom I owe. I think I shall be able to send home some money. I see you are as deeply interested in Education as ever. Your method of unifying those letters to make words I like first rate. I can imagine just how Eva looks when she is taking to Clare. I could not help but laugh at her skits. I would not take a dollar apiece for those letter.

You said you did not receive an answer to the other letter you wrote. I wrote an answer but I guess it did not go through. I prized that letter very much. I have read it over many times. I was so full of feeling and good advice that it brings the tears to my eyes every time I read it. I will try and be good. You wanted I should describe a rebel flag. I can't very definitely. The day we had the battle they did not come out of the woods but once and then there was so much smoke and confusion we could not see anything. When the firing ceased we could see them from our lines but could not see to distinguish the color. I looked through a glass. I could see two black stripes on a white groundwork with something black in the corner. There was another incident occurred after the battle which made me think of your dream. I will write about it in the next. I am writing this against the Doctor's wishes and I cannot write as much as I would or I would like to. I would like to be there to go with you visiting schools. I like the plan of noting the progress of each class. I am glad to hear Nettie has good luck in teaching. When I come home I'll examine those maps you have been getting up. All I have to do now is to lie on my back and think of past present and future. [I] speculate a great deal. I know but little what's going on outside. The boys come to see me often. Emer is here now. He is well and hearty. Tell Min if she wants to help the south she better come right off for they will need her pretty soon. There is a large cherry tree just before the hospital tent. I lay and watch that as the wind shakes the leaves and think of home and friends. Every thing sounds melancholy. The sound of the band, the wind as it sighs through the trees and even the singing of the birds has a mournful sound. This is very disconnected. I don't know as you can make out head nor tail to [it]. I have had the fever and the headache so much that I don't know as much as usual.. Do write often. We prize your letters above all others. That little paper you sent we read very carefully and consider it of great importance to us.

I shall always remain your affectionate Brother

Ambrose

Ambrose D Bell