~ Letters from Lieutenant A. Bowsher~
Camp Paris
Jan 22nd 1863
Attachment of 8th Regt. O.V.I.
Advance army of KY
Miss Nancy Thompson
Malvern Carl Co.
Madam
After intentions long Defend not through Neglect or Desire but from almost incessant Duty I at last find the time to address you a note for the purpose of frankly saying that being so highly pleased and entertained by your appearance that I much desire a further acquaintance with you if agreeable to yourself. You will favor me with a note in answer to this expressing your will in haste. With the kindest regard your sincere friend
Address to Lieut. Bowsher
118th Regt. O.V.I. Co (D)
Paris Kentucky
Camp near Paris
March 4th
Detachment of 118th Regt. O.V.I
Co (D)
Miss Nancy Thompson
Malvern Carl Co.
Esteemed Miss
This is the second note that I have been permitted to write to you for the purpose of letting you know that I am still enjoying health even thanking God for that favor towards me. Ever trusting that this note may find you in better health than days gone by. I received your kind note a few days ago. I was very glad to hear from you. Under the previous circumstances I was much surprised when I unfolded your note and saw who it was from. It was so long a coming that I thought you had forgotten me. But I ascertain it was on the account of health. You said in your note you had been forgotten and therefore you was much surprised when you saw the signature. I will admit you had reasons to think so. I must acknowledge you have not been forgotten. Nor I have no reasons to think that you will. My time will not permit of me writing much this morning for the reason we expect to be attacked daily at this place. We are bringing in prisoners every day from the rebel pickets so with these words I will close hoping to hear from you soon. I hope the time will soon hasten when this unholy rebellion will be put down so I may have the pleasure of enjoying your society if agreeable to you. You will favor me by expressing your mind in your next note. So I will close till I hear further.
I am respectfully your true friend in the army
A Bowsher
April 3rd
Detachment of the 118th Regt. O.V.I.
Army of Ohio
Miss Nancy Thompson
Malvern Carl Co.
Madam after intentions long deferred I at last find time again to drop you a short note for the purpose of letting you know that I received your little missive & was very much pleased t learn of your good health & to learn that you do enjoy all the pleasures that is allowed you here in this world. My health is also good. I even thank God for that favor towards me. Why should we not thank him for such great favors is that is one of the greatest blessings that can be bestowed on human beings.
Nancy I hardly know what to write that would be of any importance to you every thing here in Kentucky all appears to look very pleasant. The pretty green grass appears to be finding its way up through the earth. While I am sitting here in my tent enjoying the sweet pleasures of camp life I can hear the little birds as they soar high in the air singing their pretty little song & indeed every thing appears to look very happy. I can hardly realize that there is a war in our country but something appears to whisper in my ear that they is & it must short come to a determination & in favor of our Glorious Flag all though some thinks it looks very dark. But I feel very much encouraged as regards our country fares I think light will soon burst out upon us. Then we will be enabled to go on our way rejoicing & say we have done as we were commanded. Well Nancy I will change my subject a little and say more about it the next time. I returned to camp a few days ago from being at home. I presume you have seen Mr. J. Hall by this time. When I left home he told me that he was agoing out to see you. I would feel very happy if it was me instead of him. You may think I am pretty fast for a stranger but I think fast as a writer. Well I have nothing more to write that would be of any importance to you this evening. So I will close hoping to hear from you soon. My best love is with you. Your cincere friend A Bowsher
Cynthiana KY
Camp Near Paris
Detachment 118th Regt. O.V.I.
Company (D)
May 8th
Miss Nancy Thompson
With Respect
I am again favored with another kind priveledge of addressing you a short note for the purpose of letting you know that I am in good health an I even thank the Almighty for that favor. I trust you are in good health also. The reason why I drop you this note is for the purpose of accertaining of you whether it got miscaried. I have received no answer from my last note you will do me a great favor by letting me know with these few remarks. I will close hoping to hear from you soon. I did not anticipate writing but a few words.
My best wishes is ever with you. I have the honor to be your sincere friend in the Army
(A Bowsher) not written
Co D
Detachment 118th Regt. O.V.I.
June 18th
Miss Nancy
With Respect
I am again favored with another kind priveledge of conversing with you with my pen for the purpose of letting you know that I yet live to enjoy the sweet pleasures of this life & to do all the duties that is required of me to do. I am in good health even thanking the Almighty for that great favor towards me trusting that you may be enjoying all the sweet comforts of life when this reaches you . Well Nancy what can I say to you. I don’t know as I can say one word that would be interesting to you for I feel a little discouraged this morning as regards the affairs of our country but perhaps the darkest hour is just before day the best we can do is to put our trust in the Lord for he has the power to close it or continue it just as he sees proper. Perhaps it will all come out right at least I hope so. Well enough on that subject. I am now in receipt of a letter that was written by you the 25th of April. You said in that letter that you heard that I was in Allen County. I was there on business. You also stated in your little Missive that I had showed one of your letters which is a mistake. I did not show no one your letters, they was a Lady while I was at home put her hand in my coat pocket & took it out & in getting it away from her she tore it in two & keep it. But I did not care I was not ashamed of what you wrote but I am sorry it wounded your feelings by letting her take it out of my pocket. You said I did not act the part of a Gentleman. I am very sorry you have that opinion of me but I am not help it. I will have to be brief so I will close for the recent until I hear from you again. I shall make a call in your County as soon as circumstances will admit if agreeable to your will. You will favor me by writing to me express your mind. So good bye, my love is even with you.
I have the honor to be your cincere friend in the army.
A Bowsher
Camp at Paris KY
Detachment 118th Regt. O.V.I.
July 17th 1863
Miss Nancy Thompson
Malvern Carl Co. Ohio
Good Morning Nancy
Are you well & enjoying the sweet comforts of this life & have you been well since you last wrote? I sometime think you do not enjoy yourself but then again something appears to whisper in my ears that you do. I trust you will till we will have the priveledge of seeing each other. I should be very happy to see you & talk with you for I don’t know how you look or talk but I hope the time is (not?) hence when we shall become more acquainted with each other & be better satisfied. I received your kind little Missive a few days ago & was much pleased to hear from you from one that I so much respect as I do you. Your note found me well & enjoying the sweet comforts of this life but this morning I must acknowledge that I am lonesome although the fares of our country looks encouraging. Indeed I wish this cruel war was over don’t you. I would like to enjoy the pleasures of living a civil life again. I have been in the war so long that I hardly know what civil society is. I hope it will all be right in a short time. Then if it is agreeable to you we can enjoy each others society. I attended a very nice picnic on last Saturday about three miles from this place. They was about twenty ladies went down from Paris. We danced from 9 oclock a.m. till 6 p.m. & enjoyed ourselves very well but in all of my pleasures I remember you as a dear friend. My time will not admit of me writing more at this time & I don’t know as I could say anything that would be of any benefit to you but shall I be permitted to visit you as soon as circumstances will allow it. If so you will favor me by letting me know in your next letter with these few remarks I will close hoping to hear from you soon. So good bye I still remain your true friend in the army
A. Bowsher