1861 December 18 Camp near Centerville

Camp near Centreville
Dec 18” 1861.
My own darling Jennie
I have just Received both
your letters dating from the 14” up to the
morning of the 17”. I am sorry you labor
under so many disadvantages in geting [sic]
your mail and hope you will be able
to make some permanent arrangement
by which you will be out of dificulty [sic]. You
complain that I do not tell you any thing
of my plans & prospects. My darling if I had
anything Reliable to tell I would cer-
tainly tell you, but I have been so often
disappointed and have so often disappointed
you that I am actually afraid to write
anything. We now have orders to move to
morrow our camp will be as I told you
about 2 or 2 ½ miles below the Junction
we will make a very early start and have
our tents up before dark and be Ready
to go to work at our cabins the next day
this move does not look much like we
expect a fight here in a short time
or before Xmas. The truth is so far as
I have been able to learn no one expects
any fight here until next spring. I dont
that is certain. I can make you no [sic]
certain promises about going to see you
but am strongly in hopes that I may
make some arrangement whereby I can
get off if it is only for one day & night.
I will make the effort for a longer time
but will take the shortest possible that will do

[page 2]
I would like to come & Reclaim the bride
I sought & Received on the 5” of December 55
when full of pride & bouyant [sic] with happiness
I met you as Jennie Magruder in the parlor
of Frescatti. That I might meet you alone I left
the carrage [sic] & crossing the dam on the foot
crossing met you in as I desired Dont you
Remember how I put my arms around your
neck & kissed you again & again. I Re-
member as well as if it was on yesterday
how sweetly beautiful you looked and how
blushingly yet gently & confidingly you Re-
ceived the impassioned attentions of your
lover. You did not seem to be an the bride
at all – there was none of that false modesty
which Required you to not to appear before
strangers & none of that abominable deceit
which holds the lover at a distance. but plainly
dressed and unassuming and beautiful
as an angle [sic] in your sweet virgin purity
you appeared before the world with an easy
unaffected manner and when we were
alone Jennie was most happy & most beau-
tiful when with full confidence & devoted love
she placed her pretty little hand in his & heard
her lovers & heard his oft Repeated story of
love. If at such moments a kiss was stolen
from your pretty lips who could condemn me
Then followed the weding [sic] night. We met in
the hall up stairs Oh how beautiful you were
in your flowing dress – which in its pure white
emulated the purity of the wearer – in your orange
blossoms & veil. You have often told me
how nervous you were while dressing in
the presence of your friends & old playmates – how the
least allusion to the occasion excited you

[remainder of letter currently missing]


"Junction", line 16 - 'Manassas Junction'

[transcription and annotations by John P. Mann IV]

MSS 7786-g