1862 March 22 Harwood's Mill

Harwood's Mill--Saturday March 22
1862

My darling wife
No sooner had I written to you from Wmsburg
than we were ordered to Yorktown, at which place we
bivouacked one night and the next morning went to
within a few miles of Bethel. the next day we came
here, at which place we are and that is all I can
say--I received a sweet letter from you the day before
I left Wmsburg--I was glad to see that you were in
better spirits and more hopeful than when you last
wrote. That is right. Keep a brave little heart in your
bosom and it will all come right after a while
and when we do meet wont we be happy? I cant
help hopeing to see you before long and yet I have
no particular reason for doing so--if I had not that
hope, I would be miserable indeed. You certainly
cannot want to see me more than I do you. I feel
sometimes like I would willingly give fifty dollars
if I could see you--I expect another letter or two from
you this evening and if they as sweet & cheerful
as the last I will be satisfied--while I like to hear
that you are cheerful I should yet feel badly if
I thought that you did not feel my absence--but I
know that you do and greatly too. I dreamed last
night that I saw you and friday night dreams
they say come true. I hope they do.

I received you letter this evening telling me of
my Mother's sickness but Green Peyton and may the
Devil fly away with him, wont give me a recom-
mendation for a furlough--the wagon is about
to start for Yorktown--so god bless you and
restore my mother to health give my love to her
Your devoted husband

Mrs. H. P. Cochran
Charlottesville, Va.

MSS 9380