1862 September 11 New Market Frederick County

                                                                Cavalry Camp near
                                   New Market, Frederick County, Md.
                                              September 11th 1862

I have another opportunity, my darling, to send you a note
by a servant who leaves the Regiment this morning for
Richmond. Since I wrote last Saturday nothing of much
moment had occurred.  Tuesday & Wednesday we
were on a scout in the direction of Barnes-
-ville & HyattsTown.  the enemy advanced
at these points.  We drove him back and
about dark last night were ordered to
return to our camp, which we reached
about 11 o'clock at night.  The inhabitants
of New market & its vicinity, especially
the families of M. Willis & Dr Mobberley, have
been very kind to me. This is a good coun-
-try, not very fertile but divided into small
farms & well cultivated.  There are but
few slaves, & the farm houses are
constructed very much as the plans
represent that you & I used to look
over in Downing before we built our
house.  The living room & the kitchen are
seen every where.  One thing you notice

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at every table, good loaf bread.  I
have not seen a piece of bad bread
since we reached Maryland.
    I can give you no information,
my dearest, as to the movements of
our Army.  The cavalry is kept between
our forces & the Yankees so as to
mark their movements.  But even
if I knew I would not like to
trust any important intelligence
to this mode of transmission.
     I am most anxious my dear,
to hear from you.  When a letter from
you will reach me I cant conjecture.
It is hard to bear this separation &
inability to hear any thing from
you.  But I must bear all these
trials with patience.
    The Servant is waiting to start & I must
close.  Goodbye darling.  I kiss you & pray God
to watch over & protect you & F & our children
& bring us together again.  Kiss the children for me. Love
to Mrs. Riddle. Remember me to the servants.
                                Yr affec husband
                                     John T. Thornton

[in left hand margin of page one in a different hand]

My last letter. found directed & sealed in a little trunk
that was brought
back to me from
Maryland.

John Thruston Thornton, 1829-1862, University of Virginia alumnus, lawyer and Colonel of the 3rd Virginia Cavalry, was killed September 14 in the Antietam campaign.  His oldest son William Mynn Thornton, 1851-1935, followed his father to the University of Virginia. He later returned to his alma mater to revive its engineering program, staying for 50 years and serving as Dean of Engineering from 1905-1925.  Thornton Hall is named in his honor.

MSS 2782