1862 May 15 Long Bridges, Va.

My darling wife

I saw Dr Maupin yesterday
and was very much surprised to hear
that you were in Richmond.  My curiosity
is very much excited to know what you
are doing at Richmond at this time.
I have written to you several times
within the last week and this yesterday morning
sent you a letter directed to Charlottesville by
Capt Horace Jones.  I cant imagine what
brought you to Richmond, unless it be that
you have not heard from me and are
consequently uneasy and anxious.  John
Davies left here (Long Bridges) for Richmond
and may be home several days ago being
somewhat sick have you seen & heard
anything of him?  Louthan[?] was with him
I shall send this by Dr Maupin who
goes up today, having come down or
a visit to his son.  I am extremely
anxious to hear from you. It seems like
a year since I received one of your
dear letters.  I have no doubt there are
several for me on the road somewhere
Capt. Jones who will come down probably
tomorrow from Richmond promised to bring the mail
Somebody comes down from Richmond
almost every day

[page 2]
My own precious darling wife I believe
I love you more and more every day
if such a thing be possible. You and
are all the time in my though and very
frequently in my dreams--I do love
you with all my heart and soul
and if I could only clasp you to my
bosom and kiss those dear sweet
precious lips I would give a month's
pay--and then I am so happy when
I think how much my precious wife
loves me--I am as sure that she
loves me as I am of my existence
or as I am that I love her--and yet
I feel sad sometimes at the anxiety
and solicitude you undergo on my
account and on account of my
absence.  Let us trust in a kind Prov
-idence to take care of us both and
bring us together again as I want to
tell you how sweet and adorable and
lovely and charming and agreeable and
a hundred other things you are
to me, but paper is scarce--I must
however tell you what you well know
that you have the undivided affection
of a very very loving husband
a thousand kisses for you and may God
bless the dearest thing on earth to me.

unsigned letter of Howe Peyton Cochran of the 1st Virginia Artillery


MSS 9380