Translated from German. The original letter is currently held in the Sophienburg Archives (New Braunfels, TX)
Corpus Christi, 22 October 1862
Dear Father:
We received your long-awaited letter yesterday and I want to reply immediately. You wrote that you would like to have us back home again, which, if it had been possible, we would have been quite some time ago because we were homesick, but it was impossible for George to get a chance, although more than one time people said that they would let him use some of their horses, but each time there came some interference. George has now been gone close to seven weeks. He wanted to be gone about three weeks, and then planned to take us home but unfortunately he became very sick at Wharton, and had to stay there in bed. The people there doubted whether he ever would get up again. We received a letter from him yesterday. It said that he has seemingly recovered sufficiently so that he can think to soon continue his trip to San Antonio, when he no doubt will come through New Braunfels, and you can speak to him yourselves. He wrote that he is sorry that he had been compelled to let us wait this long to again bring us home, and believes that father will not forgive him since it was his fault that we had to stay this long time. It is difficult under present conditions to get a chance and so no doubt we will have to wait until George comes home before we can go. We would have come long ago if matters would have depended on us since we wanted to stay at the longest two or three months. Babett was quite sick a few months ago, however is by now almost well again.
It is here quite cold already. Last week we had a cold norther which lasted four days. In fact, all through summer it was agreeable, especially at nights. The only thing we don't like down here are the mosquitoes, which in the ground rooms of the house are very bad except in our little room and which is the only second story to the house. It is here right now quite difficult to get wheat flour and the past week potatoes for the first time came on the market. They are being cultivated on the other side of the bay. The price of a bushel is $3. The Yankees have not troubled us since that first time, although they are expected to come again. I wish they would stay away because that packing and unpacking always is lots of work. We had a few small parties here at which we enjoyed ourselves quite well. There are no news here that would be of interest to you. We hope that the next time we will be talking to you personally. Many hearty greetings to all of you. In hopes that this letter will find you well and healthy,
We remain your dear sisters
Babett and Marie
P.S. Kiss your children for us and tell them that their aunts will soon come home.