To RH Milroy From Mary Milroy Dec 22, 1863

              Rensselaer, Ind. 
 
						Dec. 22nd 1863 
 
 
 
My Dear Robert 
 
 
 
		I received your letter of 
Dec. 13th and was truly glad to hear from 
Miss Northern, poor woman she has had many  
sore trials since the war, in the loss of property 
and of those that were dear to her, but I think 
she bears up bravely for a lone one of her years, 
and is not yet shaken in her loyalty to our 
good government.  
 
 
 
I would liked to have 
been with you when you visited the Russian 
fleet, it would have been a noval visit 
to me, and I no doubt would have enjoyed  
it very much, Ben Summit has been 
here again, he was sent out for recruits, and 
was allowed to come home a few days 
he got 6 men at Chicago, and started off 
this morning from here with Martain’s 
darkey, he is first Corporal, and was very 
proud of his blue clothes, and epaulets, he attracted 
considerable attention, so that he no doubt 
began to feel himself nearly as good as a  
white man, he said that letter of recommenda 
tion from you helped him a “heap” he said that 
he meet a good many slaves at Detroit