1861 December 25 Fort Grafton

My darling wifey

A happy christmas and
a merry new year--or a merry christ-
mas and a happy new year--the christ-
mas will hardly be a very happy one
to either of us, being as how we are
separated, but I do hope that it will
be a happy new year to us.

This is the most beautiful Christmas day
I ever saw, and we are not altogether
without some sources of amusement
and pleasure. Lieut Brown has a
large bowl of egg-nog (eggs 50 cts per doz)
which he is dispensing to his friends
and Major Brown has invited me
to dine with him.

I was very much disapointed that
I didn't receive a letter from you
yesterday, but hope to get one tonight.
Your letters are always agreeable and
welcome, and you have nothing else
to occupy your time but write to
your husband. I was sorry to see in
pone of your late letters that you
stopped because some body called
you.

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I have written to you several times
lately do let me know if you have
received my letters and let me
know what you have done with
regard to obtaining for us the
professorship--Three weeks from
to-day the election takes place; I
hope it will pass quickly--I would
like greatly to be with you about
that time and I dont know any
way except applying immediately to
the war department--You know that
Genl Magruder allows two privates and
one non-commissioned officer to go
home every twelve days without
any particular reason and the
way our officers determine who shall
go is by lot--but those who have
been home are not allowed a
chance until all the others have
been and I am in the former
class because I had the pleasure
of seeing you in Wmsburg, and
they think that is all a man wants.
This rule with regard to furloughs is unfair to our company
because we have two or three times
as many men in our company

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as are in any other company. What
do you think of applying for me?
I would like very much to have
a furlough commencing about the
8th of Jan. so that if I am elected
there will be no occasion for my
coming back--and if I am not, you
will console me--besides if I am
elected, from the time I get the news
to the 6th of February when I have to
commence my duties is too short
to make my arrangements--do
talk this over with your mother
and see what you can do--
I want Charles kept at home
at least until I can see whether I
will need him--Tom, you had
better hire out--

I think about my darling a great
deal and last night I had a long
dream about her. Do write often
and believe me as ever your
devoted husband
Give Sister Virginia and your Mother
much love and extend to them the
felicitations of the day.

Mrs Howe P. Cochran
Charlottesville
Va.

Howe P. Cochran, Sergeant, 1st Virginia Artillery

MSS 9380