1862 July 8 White House Farm, Va/.

White House Farm
July 8th 1862

The Regment came here day before yesterday
my darling.  This is the Farm on which Col
Lee, son of Genl Lee, lived. You will remem
ber it as the residence of the lovely
widow who became the wife of General
Washington. Here it is that while on
his way to Williamsburg he, contrary
to his custom, delayed his  journey from
hour to hour fascinated by the fair
owner.  Here he courted her,and here
they were married.  The Enemy made
it a depot of company stores--
clothing, arms, provender &c.
When they retreated they burned
a very large amount of these stores,
the value of them to be estimated
by millions.  They also burned the
White House itself, another act
of disgraceful vandalism committed
by our "Christian and humane enemy"
as Mr Seward says they are.
I am told that by deceit they enticed
Col. Lee's slaves, the morning they left
on one of their boats & carried

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them away.  We are here now
acting as a guard for the property
taken from the Enemy until it can
be moved away, and also watching
their movements below.--This
place is situated on the Pamunkey
River about twenty five miles
from Richmond--
  I wish dearest, I had time and
opportunity to write you a
long letter, but I am here, lying
on a hill side, without paper
& with no conveniences for writing
of any sort. I can only say how
dearly I love you, how much
I wish to hear your voice and to
look into your tender eyes.  I
can only say how sincerely I
pray that God will preserve
our lives in these troublous days,
will restore peace to our country
and will reunite us & enable us
to live together as his faithful servants
loving & obeying him.  Yr affec husband
John T. Thornton

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

MSS 4021