City Point, July 9th, 1864.
What strange beings we mortals are—swayed to and fro by each passing emotion. At last I have received a letter from home, dated June 21st. It found me wallowing in the dark pool of despondency. I could not write—often did I make the effort and failed—could only conjure up images of evil. The only consolation I found was in ministering to the needs of others, and in this I found constant employ. All this a few cheering words from my darling has power to change. Hope, confidence and trust revive. The newspapers bring us, today, news strange and startling. The Alabama destroyed! Sherman defeated, and a “Rebel raid” in Maryland! Great excitement in Washington, etc.
