1862 March 20 Charlottesville, Va.

Charlle, Va
Mar. 20th 1862

My Dear Bettie,

I received your letter of the
12th inst. with the greatest pleasure.
It found me in the midst of the
greatest stir & confusion, but, like
a sweet ray of hope, it cast a
cheerful light over my heart.--I
felt that there was some one, in
whom I could confide, and whose
soft & gentle heart would beat in
unison with my own. Whatever
may be my cares or troubles with-
out, I can always have the sweet

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comfort of a contented heart, so long
as I merit & secure your love--
You expressed your sorrow over my
disappointed hopes, but it seems to
have been best for me. I immediately
united with Jas Carrington of this
place, & we have raised an artillery
company, numbering now 100 names,
& with a fair prospect of getting 139.
I have been elected the 1st Lt of
the company, the place which I
would have chosen, if I had been
allowed my choice. It is the very
place which I had rather have
than any other company office, &

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it is in that arm of service,
in which I take most delight.
So far the Lord could not have
blessed me more. Several students
of the University have joined us, &
many of my old company. I have
also the pleasure of saying, that I
had no opponent, & was elected
unanimously--so was Carrington.
We will have the regulation uniform
& will go to Richd in about ten
days. I shall then come & see
you, but will write you word when--
I am sorry your minister has become
so slothful, but he is a man of
fine parts & a good heart. I hope &

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pray the Lord may wake him up
to a quicker sense of his duty
& of the great responsibility resting on
him.--
Dr Swan, whose death you alluded
to, was an old friend of mine
from Kanawha, and was with us
in the campaign in Western Va.
He was a cousin of the one in
Richd, & a noble-hearted, chivalrous
gentleman, and exile from his
home.--
I left home last Wednesday week
expecting to go back the next day,
and have been here since, and
expect to remain several days
yet. Write to me here therefore.

[the remainder of this letter from James L. Dinwiddie to his future wife Bettie Cariington Dinwiddie, is missing.]

James L. Dinwiddie, 1837-1907, 1st Lt., Carrington's Company, Virginia Light Artillery.

MSS 10102