Petersburg
August the 16th 1862
Dear companion I rec’d your kind letter the 15th of the present month which found me well and I was glad to hear that you was all well. I could not tell you how the times are here. If I ware to they only are hard and distressing so far as I can see. You spoke something about sending my type back. I will do so if I can for I just want to see it one more time, it would I think, gratify me very much. You spoke of wanting to see me. I know that you are no more anxous than I am to see you. I cannot express to you how bad I want to see you all. It does seem like it would be the greatest satisfaction in the world to me to be at home with you all once more where I could tell you my troubles and trials living the life I am now living. I do not mean to grumble there is a supreme being than any of us and I wish to submit to his will who has promised us if we do put your trust in him we shall come out conqerors in the end and I also want you to put your trust in that good being, and if I never return again he has promised good to all of them that trust in him. A father to the fatherless and a husband to the widow. You can tell Mr. Osbornes mother he is in our camp with the rest of the boys and has been very sick for some time but is now on the mind it is thought. You pay over to Polly for that weaving she don for you and tell Polly I have not forgotten them all yet. I will bring my letter to a close by saying write soon.
Your affectionate husband
Until death
George W. Eddinger
Co. B, 48th Regt of N.C.T.,
Com. By R.C. Hill, col.
Sources: Christopher Watford, ed. The Civil War in North Carolina: Soldiers’ and Civilians’ Letters and Diaries, 1861-1865, Volume 1. (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2003). Original in a private collection.
