Civil War Letters of Fannie Austin

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Carrie Padgham
Letter


1865

Junction March 16



        Dear friend Fannie     we received your kind letter and was glad to hear from you     we are both well at present and hope this will find you better than you were when you wrote;     we are sorry to hear that Charley is in prison yet     I hope that he will be exchanged and get away from the wreched creatures down south     it seems as though they did not know how to be cruel enough,    I know that you must be very lonely without him and then to live in daily fear for his life     it seems almost more than one can bear,     but you must try to trust in Him who has said my grace is sufficient for thee,     and as thy day thy strength shall be     I know that I was very lonely when my companion was gone and he whear I could write to him and he to me     but the time was very long and I feel for you deeply in your loneliness     but I hope to hear that he is at liberty when you write again,    Oh that this rebelion may soon be crushed and many loved ones return to there homes and friends,     poor Richard is gone a sacrafise to the wicked pasions of the south,    now I guess that I must tell you about my new house that Thomas is building     he has worked on it all winter     we hope to move into it the first of April     it is in the vilage not far from the depot    it is quite a pleasant spot a little on a side hill but not such a hill as we have down east,    It, the house, is 16 feet high so you see we can have some nice chambers     we are going to have a cellar kitchen when Thomas gets ready to fix it,   we have a nice cellar under the whole of the house     there is a kitchen and bedroom buttry and parlor and closet down stairs,     we do not intend to finish it this spring only so we can live in it   Thomas is makeing me a good large cistern so I shall have plenty of rain water,     now perhaps you would like to know how I like this country     I like it very well     I had just as soon live here as down east but for one thing     that is there is not the rest of the folks here     I often think of you and wish I could see you and have a good talk with you     I wish you could come in and spend a few hours with us    it would seem like old times dont you think so,    we say sometimes we wish Charley and Fannie lived hear     it would make it pleasant,    I wanted to see you before I came away but I could not     now I guess I have told you all the newes so I will close with best wishes for you and yours     Thomas sends his best respects to you     remember us to all the folks    hopeing to hear from you again and that your dear husband is at liberty,     I remain your true friend        Carrie Padgham

Junction Dupage Co
Ill



P.S.    we are going to have some pictures taken some time and then will send you one     the others are such poor ones

excuse the scribbling


EDITOR'S NOTES:

Emeline "Carrie" Padgham from Vernon, Oneida County, New York moved to Junction, Dupage County, Illinois in 1864. At the time, both she and her husband, Thomas Padgham (b. England), were 24 years old. She was about 25 years old when she wrote this letter to her friend and former neighbor, Fannie Austin.

Thomas and Emeline were still living in Bloomingdale, Dupage County, Illinois in 1880 with their three children.

Richard Padgham (younger brother of Thomas Padgham) enlisted on September 10, 1864 in Verona, New York at the age of 20 years. He was mustered in as a Private into Company K, 189th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment to serve three years. Richard Padgham was killed at the Battle of Hatchers Run, Virginia on February 6, 1865 and was buried on the battlefield.

Annual Report of the Adjutant-General of the State of New York

1865 New York State Census