1862 March 28 Yorktown, Va.

Yorktown march 28th 1862

My darling wifey

Another one of your long
and sweet letters on yesterday evening.
I enjoyed it very much and am only
sorry that I have not generally the
facilities or the time to answer them
at more length, but I have been running
about so much lately that I have not
had time--all the letters that I have
written have been to you--I have
been very much relieved by your
accounts of Mother's health--I am truly
glad that she is recovering so fast
and pray that she may be spared
to us many years--You have no doubt
found out yourself by this time and
I judge so from you letters, that
no children ever had such a loving
and self sacrificing mother--and if
you did not lover her it would be

[page 2]
because you have no heart and I know
that you have one large enough to contain
your country, your mother, my mother, you
husband and various other persons & tings
beside--I believe that I love my country
too, but I do wish that the service of
my country didn't require me to be
absent so much from you--I could
get along very well were it not for that--
I cant help rebelling sometimes-
I last wrote to you from Grafton church
we did not go back to Harwood's Mill
as we expected to but came here--last
night we were ordered to Winns Mill
but as we were about to start, the
order was countermanded--Yorktown
is very much excited expecting to be
attacked by a large force of the
enemy who are reported to be advan-
cing, but the last account was that
they had gone back below Bethel.
We are in position here and will

[page 3]
I hope give the enemy a warm
reception if he comes on. I would
like very much to drill Jimmy
s company, but I would'nt like to
have just now unless ordered,
for the same reason I am glad
you did not come down with
Major Maguder--besides it is im-
possible to get accommodations any
where about here as all the frame
houses in Yorktown have been pulled
down--you had better under the
circumstances accept of John Lewis'
offer. I would certainly give all
my pay to see you--I am glad
that Rachel Miller and Eugenia are
at our house house[sic]--give my best
love to them and tell Eugenia that
we approach nearer to er ideal of
husband and wife than any persons
she ever saw or will see--
Remember me affectionately to your

[page 4]
Mother and Virginia--Tell Virgnia that
I hope if she with the inflammatory
rheumatism marries one of her old
widows, that they will not prove an
inflammatoryable couple. I have never
answered Virginias kind letter--make
my excuses to her and tell her the
reason--Ask Pa if Mr Burnly
ever gave him the one hundred
dollars I sent and if he destroyed
my bond--Capt Southalls continued
absence at this time excites remarks.
Remember me to John Lewis, Maggie
Miltie[?] and the rest & Aunt Sarah.
And now, my precious darling, my
paper is almost out--but I cant
close without telling you how very
dear you are to the heart of
your devoted husband--You may
be well assured that you will always
retain your husband's best affections.
I am happy in the assurance of my
wife's love--Give my best love to Ma
and tell her how anxious I am to see her.

[address leaf]
Mrs H. P. Cochran
Charlottesville
Virginia

Howe Peyton Cochran, 1834-1892, Sgt, 1st Virginia Artillery

MSS 9380-a