1861 December 21 Manassas

Dear Miss Fanny [Dickins]

I most grateful
ly acknowledge the receipt of
your charming note in reply
to the letter which I ventured
to write you. For some days
I have meditated writing you
in pursuance of your most
kind permission, but felt I
could not do justice to the
occasion. I am sadly changed
since you saw me last, ah
me--become dull and moody--
have lost the sparkling vi-
vacity for which you thought
me distinguished, "for an old
man," and ever fear I shall

[page 2]
soon become "a melancholy
Jacques" or get jaundiced if
some remedy is not soon
applied. Here, there is no
trace of civilization--nothing
refining--I have seen but
two bonnets in a month
and they concealed plain
features and unfamiliar
faces. Your charming re-
mittance brought time
by relief, but alas, reminded
me too sadly of the distance
which separates us. You
will naturally wonder
that I do not substitute
something for the freezing[?]
tankard of "blessed memory."
Alas, i have tried that, my

[page 3]
Fanny, but find that with-
out the purer inspiration of
the presence of the fair
"Maid of Accotink," there is
but madness and folly in "the
flaming bowl" instead of wit
and humor and generous af
fections, and now, I no longer
resort to that. You know I prom-
ised you a poem. "The Maid
of Accotink"--I have lost my
muse. With your assistance,
she may yet return and my
promise be fulfilled--my
gloom removed and the sun
beam once more shine through
the lattice of my heart. Write
me a sweet letter as
soon as you receive this and enclose

[page 4]
a few extracts from your
journal, which chronicle
my visits to your dear old
home. I am a man of ho
nor--a soldier and a gentle-
man and pledge my faith
that no eye but mine shall
rest upon a line and none
shall know traces ever sent.
Send me this to relieve my
dull Xmas and my heart shall
our forth its gratitude n
flowing verse. Business will
call me to Carolina about
the first of January; how I
would love to see you on the
way! I sent your letter to
Frank but have not seen
him. I hear nothing more from
the Hall. My hands are chilled
by writing in the cold air
in front of my tent, though a
fire is near--but my heart
is as warm as ever towards you
and yours. If in your exile you
need a friend remember me.
Warmest regards to Miss H.
Most sincerely yours

J.B. Kershaw

General Joseph Brevard Kershaw, 1822-1894

MSS 5533-d