Dear Brother,
As Mother has gone down to Marshalltown and not fulfilled her promise to write you I thought I would write a few lines myself to let you know how we are. We are all well and hope you are the same, but I suppose you have been very busy of late the reason we have not heard from you. There was very bad new come into town yesterday that President Lincoln was shot. We can hardly believe it and hope it is not so, if it is so what is to be done. Oh wrote had being that done it, just as we were looking for peace, but we will still hope for it yet.
Monday afternoon Aprill 17the
I had to leave this rather short yesterday, but will try and finish this note. Mother has come home she says that the greatest excitement presided there, all business was suspended, bells tolled all day and all loyal men are to wear a badge of mourning thirty days and yesterday all the congregations met and held their meetings to gether had a very appropriate sermon. When you write please tell us what was done in the ?? ?? this occasion. We see by the papers that the 6th corps and the 94th are not very far a part and I think you will run a chance of seeing henry if he can leave to go, I have not heard from him it is near two weeks and I do not know what it means for I generally hear from once a week.
We expect Grandma and Aunt Mary this week for they wrote that they should start about the 18th that is tomorrow, Tuesday. Father is very busy now getting his spring work done there is hardly a day but what he wishes that you were with him to help do it, and he says if he don't have some help next year he will go and leave everything to destruction. Well Lumen I guess I must close for this time hoping to hear from you soon. Father and Mother send love, give my love to Frances when you write - to her and receive a large share for yourself. Mother will write to you in a few days. Barrie is well and so are we all, please write soon, from your sister with love.
Martha Jane Babcock
Marrietta
In same letter
My dear son
I have neglected to write your for a long time. I want to let you know that I have not forgotten you. I am alone in the field and have to work and get pretty tired and my fingers are too clumsy to write. Cant write but few words this time my health is quite good at present and I hope you are enjoying good health also it is the greatest blessing we can enjoy in this world. We are very much astounded in hearing the death of President Lincoln at this present crisis. Well, Luman, I will do my errand and ?? for this time. I am ?? ?? up this spring I had to finish paying for my place and the taxes if it is convenient for you to send me a few dollars it would help very much. Yours, N Baldwin
A word more. If it will make any difference about you having money enough to bring you here when you get released from the Army you need not send any.