April 25 1865

Fort Delaware April 25^th 1865.

Dear Sarah

Last Sunday we received a mail the first since the 14^th it having been kept back on account of the death of the President no business being done at this place I fully expected to get a letter but have not received a line in the last three days. The last from you was dated 13^th in which you stated that Robinson & others were prisoners. I wish you had forwarded the box as it is now doubtful about my getting it if you have not done so when you receive this send it and do not fail to place the permit on it as I suppose you received it with my letter. I cannot tell when I will be able to come home probably not for a long time to come I am well and think my eyesight is improving has Ida recovered from her fall I suppose a good many people are coming home when you write let me know who have arrived. I have never been able to see Cpt Crocker but hear from him occasionally. When I last heard he was improving. If any more of my boys are home let me know I would like much to be with you dear Sarah but I cannot act as some have done before me we may all have to take the Oath before we will be released I look upon that in a different light. If we are conquered of course it must come to that if I was single I would never set foot in Portsmouth again as it is I do not expect to remain there after the war ends I must close give my love to all home and remember me kindly to all relatives & friends. Kiss my dear children and accept the sincere love of your affectionate Husband.

H A Allen

Division No 35

April 13 1865

Fort Delaware April 13^th 1865

Dear Sallie

I have just received your kind letter dated 11^th acknowledging the receipt of my three letters of Mch 31^st & April 2^nd & 6^th this leaves me enjoying good health and doing well at present. I am sorry to hear of dear little Ida’s fall I hope that she will soon recover from the effects of the fall. You did not state whether you received the permit with the letter. I wish you had sent the box as today we have received another order revoking the last and will now have to get permits again. I fear the box will be stopped. The shirts I can make out very well with but if the drawers are the same size of the pair I brought with me when last home they are entirely too small so if this letter reaches you before the box starts let a piece on as to make them about three inches larger in the waist. I wrote to you a few days ago Monday I think telling you that the order had been revoked relative to getting permits to receive boxes and we could now receive boxes of clothing eatables and also money without getting a permit here but as I stated above all packages mow sent must with a permit gotten at his place. We have indeed met with sad reverses (?) within the last three weeks but I am not as yet hopeless and still trust something good may turn up but I am afraid you will not see me for a long time yet. Did Grant & Tyson desert or were they taken prisoner and paroled. Let me know I am indeed sorry to know that Robinson & the boys are prisoners it is getting dark and I must now close give my love to all home also to Shells family and to Ada and the Owens family also to Mary G and to all enquiring friends Kiss Ida & Lucy for me and accept the best love of your affectionate Husband

Henry A Allen

Cap 9^th Va Infty

April 10 1865

Fort Delaware

April 10^th 1865

Dear Sarah

I would not have written to day as I wrote in answer to you second letter a few days back. I had written a few days before receiving it asking you to send me a few articles of clothing I will name here what I wrote for drawers, pocket handkerchiefs, and a needle case with needles, thread, & buttons when I wrote there was an order here for us to get a permit at this place to receive any articles of clothing this morning that order has been revoked and we can now receive boxes of clothing, or eatables without an order although no doubt you would have to get a permit as formally at Portsmouth if you should send the box you can put in any thing that you think I need smoking tobacco if you can get it. I thought it best to write to you informing you that I had written for the above articles as possibly you might not have received the letter. If you have and can send them do so as soon as possible as we may not stay here. Since we have been here we have heard nothing but bad news this morning it is reported that Genl Lee has surrendered with his whole army bad news for our cause if true. Have you heard anything from Jim & Francis since the fall of Richmond Dear Sarah I would not have written to you for the clothing mentioned if you had not of told me that you would send them to me if you cannot send the articles I named it will make no difference so not trouble yourself I will try and make out. I must now close give my love to all home and to all relatives & friends kiss my dear little girls for me and accept the best love of you affectionate Husband

Henry A Allen

A salute is now being fired for the capture of Genl Lee

April 6 1865

Fort Delaware April 6^th 1865

Dear Sarah

Your kind letter dated 2^nd I have received after waiting a long time. It gave me much pleasure to hear that my dear ones were all well I also can say the same I am now enjoying fine health and think my eyesight is improving. No doubt you have heard ere this of the evacuation of Richmond. Rather sad news but I am willing and satisfied if our authorities think it best no doubt I will be a prisoner the longer but I trust I shall be able to stand it. The trinkets came to hand tell Mrs. Green the piece of comb is too thin to put a set in but if she wished I will have a ring made for her (out of a button). She did not say whether it was for a grown person or child it is too small for the former and a set cannot be put in it even if it is for a child tell her not to speak of pay. I will have a ring made both for Ida & Lucy on a different style from Ida’s. You had better send me the size of their middle fingers you can send the ring if Ida wishes it and I will have the letter replaced. I have written twice since the 23^rd Mch with my last I made application (here) for a permit to receive a few articles of clothing if you receive my letter it will give you the ___ information more will be allowed to come without a permit is granted if you can get any more pieces of gold send them. I intend having a nice made for you soon. I must now close as it is nearly sundown and my sight failing my love to all home also to Mary Hodel & family Mr & Mrs Green and to all friends & relatives. Kiss my little girls for me good bye from your affectionate Husband

Henry A Allen

April 2 1865

Fort Delaware April 2^nd 1865

Dear Sarah

I fully expected to receive a letter from you yesterday but was disappointed as no letter came to hand in answer to mine of the 23^rd. I am quite well this morning with the exception of a cold we have service this morning in our Division Sunday is rather a quiet day with us as we abstain from those duties carried on during the week I have received an answer from Mary Griffith. She was glad to hear form me and to know that I had paid you a visit she spoke of the ring that ida sent to her little boy and says he was delighted with it. Dear Sallie as I am almost without a pair of drawers I must get you to senf me those you had for me, also some (pocket) handkerchiefs either linen of silk the latter if convenient you can also send me a needle case with needles thread & buttons. The drawers you put in my bundle when I left lasted but one wearing as they were small. The under shirts were very nice the calico shirts you did not make quite large enough in the body although they answer very well I have plenty of clothing with the exception of the above named articles try and send them if possible I have to get permission here for them to come and I understand you will have to do the same from Genl Gordon in Norfolk. I wrote to you on the 31^st Mch. Give my love to all home and to all relatives & friends kiss my dear little girls for me poor little Ida I can almost see her crying now. Good bye Dear Sarah and may we soon meet is the prayer of your Affectionate Husband

Henry A Allen

Cpt. 9^th Va. Inftry

Division No 35

March 23 1865

I have written to Gus

Fort Delaware Mch 22^nd 65

Dear Sarah

Your kind letter in answer to mine of the 14^th came to hand this morning and gave me much pleasure in knowing that my dear ones were well. Councill received one from his Mother yesterday in which she spoke of you and the children as being well. I have improved much since I saw you and at present feel quite well with the exception of a cold my eyesight I think is improving and I trust will soon be as formerly. I suppose Aunt Mary thought Lou had the best claim on her little property as she had been living with her for some time and cared for all her wants while sick. It was kind of her to remember Ida & Lucy. She thought much of them strange she did not think of Brother did she leave no farewell message for him or myself may we all meet her above. I was much surprised to find Ida so very different from what I expected so soft and easy in her manners when I thought she would be wild and noisy as when I left her they are both sweet children and both pretty and I trust we may both live to be proud of them at a future day. Try and get word to Cpt Crocker’s father that his son is here in hospital has been quite sick with chronic Diarrhea but when I heard from him last was improving you tell me not to be uneasy about you how can I help it Dear Sarah when I know you are by yourselves you try to buoy me up but I fear you have or will suffer. Tip Shannon told me about Md Williams what does his wife say to it. If you have any small pieces of gold or silver broken jewelry send it by letter when you write again as I want to have some trinkets made. Love to all home and to all friends. Kiss my little girls good bye and God Bless you my dear Wife

Henry A Allen

March 14 1865

Division No 35

Fort Delaware Mrch 14^th 1865

Dear Dear Sarah

You will no doubt be surprised to learn that we are back again at this place it was indeed a severe disappointment as we fully expected to be exchanged it was the only time since being a prisoner that I believed we would go through but I shall never again be fooled. At any rate I had the pleasure of seeing my dear wife & children and feel very thankful after being separated so long it is time I had but a short time to remain with you but it was a source of great gratification to find you and the little ones in such good health. I feel indeed grateful to my friends for the kind manner in which I was treated by them you know to what I allude Gus is indeed a friend and I shall never forget him. The next day while in the harbor Augustine Moore came off to see me and brought me a basket of provisions also a little money which came in very well on the boat. I was much shocked when I was told Aunt Mary was dead she is now happy no doubt. I often think how you will manage when your Ma leaves I trust you will do well. Do not think of sending me money ot anything else as I can make out very well some think we will go through soon if we do I think I will have you with me my stay with you was short and having so many sisters could talk but little with you dear Sarah but never mind we may meet again shortly in Dixie. Give my love to all relatives and friends. I would have written yesterday but was quite unwell Councill wrote yesterday. Kiss my little girls for me my love to all home good bye from your affectionate husband

H Allen