more closely to the Rock, where all our strength lies.  I know that this is a source of comfort to you too, that if our fondest earthly hopes should never be realized, though we should never meet again, that there is a brighter happier home, that if we strive to we shall live in and enjoy; these joys are unsullied; O! that every wife whose husband is in the army had the comforting assurance that I have, that he was not only a soldier of his country but a soldier of the cross of Christ.
  I have felt ever since you sent away a nearness to every one in the army and more particularly to those in your regiment.  I don't remember whether I wrote you of meeting Capt Roach at Hulls or not;  His health is improving and he has received an appointment of enrolling officer for four townships, viz: Four mile, Camp Beaver and Deleware, and last Wednesday evening in pursuance of his duty as enrolling officer, he called at Mr R he did not intend stopping but Mr R told him that I was at the house, and invited him to stay all night so he came down to the house, I tell you I was almost as glad to see him as you say "as if he had been a brother."  Mrs R said that she thought that Mr. Garrett had come, I made so much fuss over him, and shook hands with him so long; you know he is a great talker, and he talked all the time and told us all about army life, and then we have a great deal to say now a days about "Copperheads".  I tell you they hate Roach with a perfect hatred, they have been so mean as to circulate a story of him, that when he saw a prospect for the 23d having anything to do, he feigned sickness and got a discharge.  I don't believe a word of it; he was so anxious to be doing something for his country that long before he was really able to do anything, he went to Desmoines
