1862 June 20 Camp near Richmond

                                                         Camp near Richmond
                                                                    June 20th 1862

I received your loving precious letter, my darling, through
the hands of John Flournoy-on his return to camp.
I was very much annoyed that the press  at the ticket of-
fice & the movement of the train onto the bridge prevented
me from pressing our lips and receiving one more of
your sweet kisses as we parted.  I came into camp shortly
after the train left and in the course of an hour
an order came for the Regiment to reconoitre[sic]  in the direction
of White Oak Swamp and Chapins Bluff and discover
the motions of the Enemy. I went in command and did
not get back to camp, having to push my investigations
down some twenty five miles below Richmond, until
about noon the next day.  since that time I have
been in camp resting.
I am very sorry we determined it was best for you to
return home Tuesday morning.  As you suggest the
company of Mrs Knight, for she is stopping at the
"Spotswood," would have enabled you to pass your
time comfortably while I was away on duty at
the camp or in the field. But I was much gladdened

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and comforted by your visit, my darling, and I thank
you most sincerely for it.  It is most delightful to me
to think over the time we were together and to dwell
on the conversations we held with each other.
Such a visit does much to cheer and sustain me
in this seperation[sic] from you.  It is now within
four days of a year, my darling, since I left you
and home to enter the army.  It has been a
year crowded with incidents of most momentous
importance to our State and Confederacy-- of
events that will be read with interest for generations
to come by the Student of History and the Statesman.
It will tell of a government directed by wise patriots
overthrown by mad ambition, sectional hate and
unreasoning fanaticism.  It will tell of a peaceful
people summoned to arms to resist invasion and
subjugation.  The nations of the earth have looked with
complacency upon the spectacle of a fierce and
strong democracy, in a spirit of direct hate and meanest
vengeance, striving in every way to crush and subjugate


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a feeble people who only ask to be let alone.  This
people, few in numbers compared with their adversaries, with
an inadequate supply of arms and munitions of war
shut out from intercourse with any portion of the
world. have kept their adversaries at bay for one
year and at the end of that time have forced them
to call for a large increase of their military
force.  It is true we, during the time, have sustained
greivous[sic] reverses. In the future we have sad
and severe trials before us that God, in his mercy
has borne us up and sustained us thus far in this
struggle for independence, and I have an abiding
faith that  He will crown us in the end with victory.
I acknowledge with gratitude His mercy to me in this
year of affliction.  While so many have fallen
around me from disease and the Enemy He has
graciously given me health and strength.  He has
mercifully protected you, my darling wife, and our
dear children, and our Servants, during these
twelve months of tribulation.  Let us praise His Holy

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name and give thanks, with grateful souls, for His
loving kindness and mercy.  He is a 'God of Comfort'
as St. Paul calls Him, to us.  I do sincerely pray that
all his tender care for me may excite lively emotions
of piety in my soul, and may constrain me to unite
in your prayers "that God will strengthen me and
enable me to persevere in the new life I am striving
to lead."-------
Mrs Knight sent me a cake this morning. I hear
she leaves town tomorrow, and if nothing occurs
I shall try to visit her this afternoon or tonight.-----
Afternoon 5 o'clock--Judge Marshall & Mr. Chamberlain
of Middleburg have been spending the day with us.
I am just going to ride over to the camp of the
18th Va Regiment with the Judge, and am finishing
this letter that I may send it to the Post
Office.  Farewell, my dear wife.   I kiss you
warmly and tenderly--Kiss the children for
me. What did Dickey say of the cup?  Love
to Mrs Riddle. she must have had a dirty job
in handling the books & papers in the Office.
Goodbye, my own true wife.  Yr affec husband
                                                John T. Thornton

John Thruston Thornton, University of Virginia alumnus, Captain, Co. K., 3rd Virginia Cavalry

MSS 4021