Camp near Richmond. Friday.
June 5th 1862 5 1/2 o'c. P.M.
At the same place I was yesterday, darling. I turn to
the most grateful occupation I can employ my-
self on, that of writing to you. I have no news
of interest to communicate. There has been some
firing of artillery on our left and we have
some rumors of a smart fight in that direction,
but with what truth I have not up to this
time been able to learn. We are lying
in camp resting except a small party sent
out to act as videttes. In default of
interesting information I must write dearest
of my love for you, of my desire to see you,
of my constant tender thoughts of you, of the
admiration, affection, warm, true and gratifying
that swells mt heart & elevates my soul
as I think of you. How often have I told
you this yet I dont tire of writing it, and
I know you will not tire of reading
it, as I never weary of reading again
and again the precious letters you
write me. Is there any reason why we should
[page 2]
hesitate to tell our love thus often to each
other? We need not the assurance for our
own satisfaction. Tis sweet to me, however
to hear or read if from you in every,
varied form of expression you can use.
I delight to go back over the whole
time I have known you: from the morning
I saw you first (standing in the parlor of the
house situated on the very lot where we have
found our home) with your hair in ring
-lets flowing over your neck & shoulders:
then when you returned from school & I came
to the village to live and we met first at one
place & then at another: and afterwards the day
before you were to leave for Petersburg and
I offered to take care of some flowers for
you---and your return the next summer to
Farmville and the long walks in the calm
summer evenings we took together, our con-
versation becoming fonder & fonder until one
memorable night as we stood side by side
by the open windows of your sitting room I told
my love & you confessed yours and our lips
[page 3]
first met in holy, blissful kisses--And there
rises in lovely vision before me those blessed
evenings in Farmville when we were forgetfull of
the lapse of time: and those hours in Petersburg
over which the passage of years can throw no
obscurity, so vivid are they. Then comes our
marriage day, and I see you as you stand
with me before the altar and we vowed to love
each other so long as we both should live.
The ride to Richmond and the journey to
Cumberland, our life in the Hotel and at
the mill, the birth of our children and the
ever increasing tenderness, love, desire, and
passion for you that has grown in my heart
for you, my own darling wife: all these
are themes that I dwell on with increasing
fondness every hour I live. And will
there be no tender memories for us
in this long, weary seperation if God
in His mercy shall spare us and reunites
us. Yes, darling, our hearts will be
full of them: and in coming years,
if we live, we will whisper to
[page 4]
each other many sweet tender thoughts
by each other that have nestled in our souls
& consoled them & lifted them above the
sad, distressing times that keep us apart
and joined our hearts over the distance
that lies between us.
I have written this my darling wife, in the
midst of interruptions; it is now after dark
and I am using a lantern to write by.
I wrote to you yesterday but the
person to whom I gave the letter forgot
to put it in the post office and I have
just now taken it back and shall
place this in the same envelope with
it.--The mail came in a few
moments ago & brought me your
dear letter of yesterday morning.
Thank you, dearest wife, ten thousand
times for it. It gives me joy to read all
you say, and no less joy to think of what
you do not say for the reasons why? And
bless you darling for the kind permission
you give me. I will try not to abuse
the kind privilege. Farewell, dearest.
May our Heavenly Father in His loving Kind
ness & Tender Mercy guard & protect us and
our children. Yr affec husband John T. Thornton
[in top margin of page 4]
Can you buy me a half dozen
hams in Pr Edwd & at what price?
John Thruston Thornton of the 3rd Virginia Cavalry
MSS 4021
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