1862 October 10 Camp near Winchester

                                                             Camp near Winchester
                                                               Friday, Oct. 10, 1862
     O joy and praise!  rain descends at length.  The whole Valley
is parched and withered with the long drought, and we have been
increasingly annoyed by the deep dust under foot, the thick dust
in all the air, the clouds of dust on every thing about and upon us
The prospect of breathing pure air and keeping some degree of cleanliness is
cheering, though the clouds in the heavens are light and the rain has
just begun to fall.  I can not resist the temptation to spend this wet
morning in writing to my darling.  Does she take equal delight in writing to
me?  I have not yet received a line from you; but though I must be sorry,
I need not wonder at this, as letters are very slow in reaching our army.
I do hope that you have got mine promptly, and will continue to do so, be
cause I believe they will be a pleasure to you.  But if at any time you hap
-pen to be a long time without hearing from me, you may be sure that I have
not failed to write, and attribute it to the irregularity of the mail. Every
day and every night I am thinking of you with great delight, and com-
mending you to the God of grace.  And now, my own Ella, let me write to
you freely about our marriage. You remember the eagerness and vehemence
with which I insisted that it should not be postponed beyond Conference,
if I have an opportunity to attend it; and I shall never cease to love
you for the sweet devotion with which you consented, because I might
be wounded, and you would wish to soothe me with the gentle min
istries of a wife. Need I assure you that there is no event to which I
look forward with so much delight as to our union?  You fully under
stand how perfectly devoted I am to you.  But I used to look at this

[page 2]
matter more selfishly than I do now.  I thought more, perhaps, of my own hap-
piness: now my chief concern is for yours.  Painful as any delay of our union
must be to me (and it would be a great sacrifice, my precious girl), I
would unhesitatingly and freely make it, if it would conduce to your  hap-
piness.  Perhaps, your anxiety for me and the pain of absence will be
more distressing after marriage.  And then life is very uncertain, and my
death would be to you a very, very heavy blow.  Now, my child, I do not
mean to say that these considerations are sufficient to prove the wisdom
of deferring the day so longed for by me; but I wish you to think calmly a-
bout the subject, and let me know your views.  If I should be wounded, our
engagement and the peculiar exigency of these trying times would render it
altogether becoming in you to tend and comfort me; and however beautiful
and winning you noble desire to give yourself up to my succor in such
an event, it is not necessary for you to sacrifice yourself on the account.
Be absolutely convinced beyond the possibility of a doubt, my darling, that my
heart is set on you and your welfare, and my life will be devoted to
you. So write me with perfect frankness and confidence.  It is felt by me
as a sore trial that I can not be with you; and yet your love and the
thoughts I have of you are a source of inexpressible comfort to me.  How
happy I will be each time I get a fond letter from my sweetheart!  And
each one will but sharpen my desire for another and another.
                                                                                                     I rode out
in a wagon Tuesday evening, and am sharing the tent of Drs. Thornhill and
Ward, and eating in their mess.  The whole of Longstreet's corps are crowded
into a very small space.  The pleasures of solitude are unknown here.
But in the thickest crowd and amid the most busy moments, we can re-
tire into ourselves, and have our own private meditations.  The army is largely
increased above its size in Maryland, and is in excellent spirits.  Clothing

[page 3]
and shoes are daily being furnished, but the demand continues great.  Gen Mc
Clellan is said to be fortifying at Harper's Ferry.  Perhaps, after securing a safe
place for retreat, he may advance and attack us.  If so, I have all confi-
dence, and so have all our men, that he will be again disastrously defeated
We are entirely quiet at present, and with scarce a conjecture concerning our
future.  A great deal of religious interest prevails in many regiments, though
the number of chaplains is very small.  Every night songs of praise rise to God
from many encampments, and their meetings continue for hours  A consid
erable number have professed peace through faith in Christ.  In addition to
the services I conduct in my own regiment, I have many calls to preach
elsewhere. Yesterday morning I preached to a large congregation in Wilcox's[?]
brigade. To-night I have an appointment in the 12th Va Reg., Monday night
in the 56th Va.  SO I will not be idle.  I gladly accept every opportunity
to labor for Christ in this way.  O that God may use me as an humble in-
strument of building up the church and saving souls!  Pray for me, dearest,
pray for me always, that I many be holy and useful.  I intend to try to
be more faithful in conversing privately with the men of my own charge es-
pecially: but you know not what a difficult duty this is to me.   I
have seen your cousins Andrew Houston and Dr. Estis.  Both are well.
I will henceforth feel a deep interest in every on who is dear to you.
   Yesterday Gen. Longstreet reviewed our division, and for the first time
chaplains were required to take their place with the other staff officers in
the parade.  After all our losses, our division still makes a very respecta-
ble appearance, and will prove a formidable foe.
                                                                                        Dear Ella, I pray
for you fervently and constantly, not only that our Father will shield
you from all harm, but also that his Spirit will dwell in you and adorn
you with the pure and precious ornaments of grace.  I pray too that we may

[page 4]
be directed in all things, and prove a mutual blessing to each other; that we
may together glorify him.  I am persuaded that on bended knees and in
the depths of your secret communings you are offering the same entreaties to
He who heareth prayer, will answer these our common supplications.
    give my love to your mother, darling,and do not doubt that all my
heart is yours.  I will leave a blank to be filled, if I shall be so fortu-
nate as to get a letter from you to-night.  Our letters are carried to town
early in the day, and the mail brought to us late in the evening.  God
be with you!
                                       Yours with perfect affection,
                                                            J. C. Granberry.
P.S. Direct your letters thus, that they may be forwarded wherever we go,
in case we move at ant time.
                                          Rev. J. C. Granbery
                                          11th  Va. Reg. Kemper's Brigade, Lonstreet's Corps
                                                                Winchester, Va.

MSS 4942