Monday, July 23, 2012

1862 July 23-24 Camp on Farm at White House

                                                  Camp on Farm at White House
                                                     July 23d. 1862
I wrote you yesterday, my own darling wife, and although I have
no news of interest to disclose or any thought particularly bright
to communicate, yet because my heart is full of your dear image
and my memory constantly busy with tender recollections of you and
our sweet home, I am again gladly holding this, the only kind of commu-
nion I can have with you, dearest.  Yesterday I said to day was the an-
niversary of the day on which I last year met you and we rode together to Oak Hill.
Delightful beyond expressions, are the thrilling memories of that day that
stir my soul. It was the first time we had been together after I entered
the Army.  Although I have since that hour been with you three times
at home and once in Richmond, and although each time my heart has
drunk delicious draughts of happiness so that I cannot say one meeting
was more blessed and blissful than another, yet I shall delight to
keep these anniversaries, and as this the first one comes around
I dwell with joy on the particular incidents that marked it, and
recall with ecstacy your every tone and gesture and look.  I see
you now, darling, as you looked when I arrived, and we stood
folded in each others arms.  I enter the carriage with you and
the children, and I gaze into your dear eyes and kiss your sweet
lips, as you lean your head upon my shoulder and I encircle
your waist with my arm.  I remember the love that was so
full, so abundant, so overflowing it would refuse me nothing.
I am with you again at Oak Hill: we walk together through the
house that is very dear to me, and occupy the room that you and
I may call our bridal chamber.  We are together by the bedside
of our noble, generous, affectionate Christian brother.  May
not you and I darling so live and so die, that we may meet
him again "on that blessed shore, Where adieus and farewells
are sounds unknown"?  We stroll arm in arm beneath the
shade of the old oaks I have loved so long, and over the
lawn that was the scene of my boyish sports.   We
ride together through the farms and as we talk of

[page 2]
the dangers to which I shall be exposed the tears are streaming
from your gentle eyes.  Our Heavenly Father has in mercy and com=-
-passion sheilded you and I to this hour.  Shall we not, darling, with
holy faith, trust him in the future?-Yea, even "though he slay
us, let us trust in him." - If no other motive should impel us to
be true worshippers of the Almighty God, save gratitude for the
blessings he has showered on us, that is surely sufficient.
He, "out of the abundance of His tender mercies", has poured the
oil of joy and gladness on our heads, and we should praise
Him with our hearts and our tongues.  And we returned from
Oak Hill to our own loved home, to that home to which my soul
travels each weary day that I am seperated from you, dear wife of
my youth.  When two days more have passed over it will be
five months since I stood on the threshold of that home.
How many long days must pass,--how many suns must
rise and set before I again, if ever, shall press with
my feet that loved spot, neither you nor I can tell.
But let us look forward & upward, darling, with con-
fidence that our God, if it be best, will bring us together
again under the roof that has sheltered us for so many
happy years.--- This is not an interesting letter to send
you, darling, but it is the best I can do.  You will
wonder where the paper on which it is written (and very good
paper it is) comes from.  Know then it is a leaf from
a blank book in which Robert Tyler had pasted many
of his political essays.   The Yankees took it from
Dr. Tyler's (Roberts brother's) residence, & carried it to a hospital
about three miles from our camps.  We captured the Yankees,
107 in number, and thus the book fell into our hands.  My
love for Josie Y Mrs Riddle. Kiss the children for me.  A thousand tender
[ink stain]inging kisses for you, darling.  I take you close to my heart-& pray God to bless
& preserve & protect you & our dear children.  Yr. affec. husband, John T. Thornton

[in right hand margin of page one]
Thursday Morning, July 24th 1862.  I greet you this morning, my dear wife, with a long, long kiss of love.
Would that I could bend over you, as you lie asleep, and touch your eyelids with my lips, and as you wake and
open your arms to receive me I would fall into them and receive with joy the tender, gentle, loving caresses
you would bestow upon me. God bless you & watch over you & reunite you soon to your fond husband. J. T. Thornton

Lt. Col. John Thruston Thornton, 3rd Va. Cavalry, University of Virginia alumnus and father of future University of Virginia professor of engineering William Mynn Thornton

MSS 4021











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