Jamaca Plains July 11th 1850
Dear Caroline
It once More becomes My Duty to inform You of a Little More delay since Genl [General] Green arrivd in this Last Steamer. I should Now be on My way to that peaceful Home I So Much appreciate, as Much as I value Your Society & the Love for the Children. I feel in duty bound to wait the arrival of our More Steamer, which will be in two weeks from the Last. I shall then Make My way west with all the dispatch possible Genl Green, or Not, providing I can raise the necessary Means. As Money Matters are Hard, a Great deal depends upon Genl Green. Addeline Has been to a Great expence in fitting up her place this summer. I am well aware of the anxiety of My return. Both Yourself and that of my Creditors, but things are Just So & dont Know How to remidy it at Present. Adeling [Addeline Green] Got Letters from Genl Green by this last Steamer. He is a Great Person out there. He is at the Head of the Military Department. The reasons He Gives for Not Coming according to Promise, this Last Time was owing to Some difficulty with the Indians. He ordered out Several Companys & Headed them. Had quite a serious engagement with them. Loss of Life was Great on the part of the Indians, the account of which I Presume You have Seen by the papers. I should Like to Send you Some money, but suppose You Can Get what you Stand in need of at the Stores. To tell you the Truth I find it a Hard Matter to find a sufficient Supply of Traveling Expences, Still I Live in Hopes of returning Soon & Settle up with everybody, that are So impatient. Tell Theodore I want him to take an intrust in my affairs as I Suppose Harvesting Has Commenced by this Time to have it done the best & most economical way. We are all in Good Health this way Mother & Eunice Stay up to [methewn?] I am with them part of the Time. I have a Good Many Pretty Presents for You, & Sarah, & Esther has Sent Many Presents to the Children. Among them is one Little Baby dress white & embroydered. Oh! How long I to be with You, & See it rigged up in it. How is it is it Handsome. I recvd [received] a few Lines from Theodore, but no description of the Baby. I think You Made a Good Choice for the name Charley Martin. I Yesterday went down on a finishing party with Mr. Cheney & had a fine Time. Tell Mrs. Harding I Called upon Mr. Harding the other day to inform him of the Loss of Caroline. He was away upon a Visit down East Should be absent two weeks. He has a Handsome Trunk filled for her, the Contents I did not See. I hope You have recvd [received] the Case I Sent You, as it Containd many things that would add to your Comfortable situation. Now I believe I have Told You all that is going on this way, & the prospect of my return & Shall soon wind up. I must Say a few words to Children. Tell Old Add I have Got Some of the Pretiest Books for her & some for old Eunice to & as for Sarah Esther tell her She Shall have that Little doll I promised her & that they Must all be Good Little Children, & Not Plague that Little Baby Go to school Steady & Mind their Mother.
Close by Sending the usal Love & remembrances to you all. You will now Excuse [...?] writing more by Saying that the sincere prayer & wish for your Comfort & Health is from Your Devoted & Loving Husband until Death Separates us.
James M. Burr
P.S. You might have Time to write me once more before I Leave which I think will be about the 25th
[Next letter, December 29th, 1850]