1862 July 12th 1862 White House Farm

Camp on White House Farm
New Kent County
July 12th 1862

I wrote you a short note, my darling wife,
day before yesterday, and i send this today
only to let you know I am well and to
tell you once again how dearly & how
truly I love you.  shortly after my
last note was written an order came
from Genl Lee directing us to intercept
& attack some of the enemies cavalry
that were reported crossing the Mataponi
we marched that day to Piping Tree ferry
on the Pamunkey in Hanover County
and there learned that there was no
enemy crossing the Mataponi & we
returned to this camp yesterday.
    I am very mutch obliged to you
for your purchase of the Hams.
For the present you must keep them
So soon as we get near Richmond
again I will write you how & where
to send them.
    In reply to your question as to
whether our Regiment will be ordered

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away I can only say I have had no
information of any such orders.
If any such comes of course I will
advise you of it at once-------------
You speak of coming to Richmond
to see me.  I would that you could
come there and that I could meet
you I pine for your society, my own
darling wife.  If we go back to the
neighbourhood of the capital I
wish you would come down to see
me.  It is impossible for me to say when
I could obtain a leave of absence
to go home.  Certainly not now.  If God
spares my life I shall ask for such
a leave at the earliest day I think
it will be granted----
   Good bye, dearest,  I pray God in his
mercy to protect us both, to re-unite
us again, and to give peace to our
bleeding country--Kiss the children for me.
Love to Mrs Riddle.  Remember me to the
servants  Yr affec husband,
                         John T. Thornton

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


MSS 4021