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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
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From Albert E. Swap to miss Sarah E. Watson, Mendota, IL
*enlisted Aug 25, 1862 pvt. Co. C, 6th ILL Cavalry
 mustered out July 12, 1865
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                      Germantown Penn
                                   March 5th /64

Affectionate Friend

I address you a few lines in answer to your most welcome favor which I
received before we started on the raid but I did not have time to
answer at the time.

We have had some verry hard marching sinc I wrote you last but the
most of come back to our starting point alive and in verry good
health.  We was on the march 16 days.  You wished to know if I was
going to send any Valentine but as this is Ca* gear I do not think I
shall send any if I had sent any you would have known it.  It begins
to seem like a long time since I saw you or any of my

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friends at home but this war will not always last and some of us will
come home again.  It would be the happyst hours of my life to be at
home for a few days with my loved friends on the holley days but I am
determined that when I do come home to be free from all bonds to the
U.S.  I cannot see them on the vetran question.  I suppose there is a
great many soldiers home on furloughs for reinlisting.  I would like
to be at home with them but I would not like to have three years to
serve in this cruel war for my 30 days at home.  Excuse me for this
short note as it is late.  Give my respects to all enquiring friends,
and accept my most sincere good wishes and respect and remember me as
a true friend.

A.E. Swap