My Dear Wife, [Ann Elizabeth Baldwin Taggart]

Yours of the 26th is at hand also fathers both of [which are] very acceptable indeed. It is very Strange that the -200. don’t got along. I have got 220- more ready to send you but am afraid to send it until I hear from the first. There is a little prospect of my being promoted in my own Regt & would undoubtedly if there was not several old captains in the regt. that has been with it a great while & by seniority are entitled to the major ship, however most all of the officers here say that I am entitled to by meritorious conduct in all our battles & in my promptness in the discharge of my duties generally. We have sent on to Albany a petition to have our Lt. Colonel made Col. & are going to wait the issue of that before we try any other, & by that time most of the officers will get back to the regt. I don’t know as would do me much good for I am afraid my constitution is to badly racked for much more active service, however if I should get the position I should have a vast deal less work or duty to do. There is no man in the Regt that has done the amount of labor I have for the past six months. Col. Bingham says I have done the duties of 3 & 4 men all the time up to within the last 6 weeks during which I have been excused from Drills +c. all except the office duty which I have done regularly every day & when going into battle have been on hand to share with the rest. I wish I was well & Strong for I like to be around & see to everything as far as I can. I would send you more money now but am afraid I may need what I have got before we get any more. I will send 220. now as we have just received orders to be ready to move at a moments notice. I want to send Jim Swift 10. + H. Babb 30. He is the R.R. Agent at Cateraugas Station, NY. Pay my note to [my brother] Clinton Dewitt Taggart or A. Wornbough 110. & send John 100- don’t pay any interest to any of them, take up my notes & tare the name- off & keep the Note for a receipt. John will send you my Note & so will Babb if you ask them to. Pay Elisha B. Murray whatever you think is right but you did not go there until Oct 26th pay Kinney also if you can and that I believe clears us of debt. It will take 264. dollars to pay them which will not leave you much after paying E. B. but perhaps it will last you until I draw again and then I can send you enough to make you comfortable. I want you to make yourself & children as comfortable as you can. Tell Sue I have had so much to do that I could not tell whether I have answered her or not but I will as soon as I can + tell her not to wait for me but write whenever she can. The weather is very hot here. Give my love to all remember me to the children. It may be some days before you will hear from me again but will write as often as I can but never wait for my letters but write often. May the Lord ever bless & protect us all.
Ever Yours, George

July 31st P.S. I could not send this yesterday and will put in 20 more making 220 for fear I may loose it here. If the paymaster gets around again in September I shall have enough to last me I guess. Make yourself comfortable as you can.
God bless you. G. [George LeRoy Taggart]

Letter submitted by: Stuart MacPherson