*** Note From David
letters from my GGGrandfather Robert Hurley that he wrote to his wife Martha when he was at Camp Butler during the Civil War. I was able to copy from the original letters, which my father still have.
 

IOct 10th 1861
Camp Butler.Ill
Dear Martha, I received your presents by the hand of Mr. Holmes ------ with them, as I always am with everything you do for me. You wrote to me that you wanted to move one of the houses, I have no objection to your moving it if you would rather, but from what I know I would like for you to wait until George comes home before you leave Ann Hallidays. I know you would not be safe there and that is the only reason, for the sake of the country I left home and now I am where I cannot help you if any such calamity should befall you when you meet with things that are not pleasant , just remember me and think that I too have to make sacrifices every day, and put up with indignities beside the exposure and danger that I am exposed to.Yet my dear Martha when I think that you are safe from the chilling blasts the exposure and worse than all else the insult of the miserable rabble of that part state, which you would be in danger of if you were to move. My heart is comparitavely light, I have no confidence in Andrew and how do you know what minute he might betray you. Any living man that will betray his country will betray or rob his friends and I do not know that he would murder, and I hear that the old man Shekorn and all the Boys belong to the (circle), the meanest kind of traitors. If George comes home and you can get Andrew off and George in his place then I have no more to say, but dont go there while you would be sure to fare worse. If I can sleep I can stand the balance, but if I must be worried at night with thoughts of yours and Eddies being exposed, it would add terribly to my already heavy thought burden. What ever you may do in this matter will be right with me, I cannot see with your eyes nether can I judge for you without hearing your reasons than the taking care of our property. I would just say let it take care of itself, but you and Eddie keep out of danger, if you have trials think of what brought me here and how much more I have to contend with, every time I have guard I have to stand in the rain except one. I cannot think of much to write only that I would like to see you and Eddie, tell the little fellow his father remembers him every hour in the day. My most anxious moments are when I contemplate the uncertainty that is surrounding me about ever seeing you and him, but if I never should I will do my duty. Write to me often I want you to be paticular when you write yourself to spell well, and get someone to write for you anything that you are not particular about, you can send two half sheets full of news ,one your own and one that you get wrote. I dont expect to get home soon there is too many relations and particular friends in our company and these things go by favors, but never mind I will always do what I think is for the best as far as I can tell. I will send you my likeness some of these times when I have an oppurtunity. Dont fear I want my beard to grow a little more. Now goodbye Martha I hope we will all get home and be with our friends, be of good cheer, my health is good, no more
R Hurley