14 April 1839 Fox River, White County, Illinois

Dearest son Amos,
As I sit here writing to you, I ask the Lord to keep you safe in New York. Since you enlisted in the Army last year, you have been so far away from us. You are seeing places we will never visit. I put my trust in the Lord to keep you faithful and prudent. You are so young yet there is a fire in you.

As I look out over our prairie farm, I notice your absence in the fields as you would work side by side with your brothers. When we have meals, I note that your chair is empty…I long for you to fill it once again. When I want to soothe myself with reading the Lord’s words, I find your letters tucked in our Bible.

My question for you is what sent you so far from us when you enlisted. What made you make that choice? Perhaps, your father’s and grandfather’s senses of defending our peoples and our lands sent you to it. I pray that this decision sends you back safely to us. I long for your homecoming.

Your sister Matilda sends prayers. She and Henry will be married in July as they are most anxious to start farming.

Blessings, my son
Your loving mother (Rhoda Howell Boultinghouse)

Note: Rhoda Howell Boultinghouse was my third great grandmother. She was widowed when her son Amos (my second great grandfather) was only 5 years old. Amos enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1838 when he was 19. He would later reenlist in 1861 as a member of the 55th Illinois during the Civil War. Both are very dear to me.