Saturday, October 20, 2012

1862 October 21 Camp near Winchester

                                   Camp near Winchester
                                 Tuesday, Oct. 21, 1862
Your sweet letter, my own Ella, which was
mailed the 16th, reached our camp on rather bivouac
yesterday the 20th.  Wasn't that soon?  I am so
grateful for the impeded privilege of regular and
not very tardy correspondence between us.  Your favor
was not received by me, however, until this morn-
-ing--for what reason do you guess?  In remarkable
fulfilment of the cheerful imaginations you attempted
 to indulge that blue day, I was seated in a parlor
last evening by a cozy fire, and chatting with an
interesting young lady; and not until I had eaten
breakfast to-day, did I return to my tent.  But one letter
from my darling is worth a hundred conversations with Miss
Timberlake or any other young lady besides herself.
An apology is due you for letting a whole week pass
since I last wrote, and you will find it in the
unsettled sate in which we have been for some
days.  About sunset of Thursday came an order to be
ready to move at a moment's waring, in consequence
of the enemy crossing the river in force.  We were aroused

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at 2 A.M. of Friday by an order to be prepared for
marching at day-break. We spent a long and [?]
day in waiting for the command, Forward: but the Yan-
kees hasted back to Maryland, and we unpacked
and rested. Saturday I was highly gratified by a visit
from Jno Wheelwright, one of my favorites. Sunday I
preached twice to large and attentive congregations on
Ps 66: 13, 14 and Heb. 11: 25, 26.  These made seven
sermons, besides exhortations, in two weeks: so I have
not been idle.  Monday we moved our camp--Pick-
etts whole division--two miles farther from Winches-
ter. We are in an abundant piece of woods, near
a large spring, and no longer crowded as before.  Not
being able to get any food cooked in camp, Dr. Thorn-
hill and I sought dinner at a neighbor's, and
being kindly invited to spend the night I consented.
I borrowed Newton's Cardiphonia, an excellent book of
piety; and having just received a request from peters
burg to preach the Sabbath afternoon sermon at the
ordination of elders, and as that must be a special
discourse, I will not lack for employment. Will
it not help me in preparing for the occasion to
think that my precious Ella will be one of the congre-

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gation?  Jackson's now at Martinsbuarg.  The signs,
at present, form the idea of a permanent occupation
of this country by our troops.  Indeed, I would not be sur-
prised if Lee should again cross the Potomac.  Don't
be so anxious about the health and comfort of our sol-
diers.  They do lack blankets, but I hope that want will
be supplied soon as wagons have been sent to the
Rapidan after the baggage left there.  the health and
[?] of the army are very encouraging. Always  think
of me as well an happy, and that I miss my
darling, and long to be with her.
                                                        And you were
too much startled to be pleased wit the news that
you must go with me to Conference?   I am not dis-
pleased with you for that: I will give you time to
follow me in all the devotion I feel towards you. But
will you not learn to take pleasure in the anticipa-
tion and the event?  For my sake, surely you will.
You do not wish to be a "burden."  My pay is $80 a
month and rations.  $20 and rations will be an am-
ple allowance for my personal expenses.  The remain-
ing $60 will, I trust, be enough to provide tolerable
comfort for you, my love.  do you not know that I live

[page 4]
wholly for you, subordinately of course to my duty to God?
What pleasure will anything be to me save so far as it
may be a means of promoting the comforts of my dear Ella?
Spring Grove is so far from me in time that I have
some difficulty in arranging the details of our marriage
and I am obliged to call on you for aid.  I hope to
leave here Monday, Nov. 10; to be in Richmond Wednes-
day or Thursday.  I can then reach Danville Friday
in all probability; or if I stay a day in R. as may be
desirable, Saturday.  I could get a hack, I suppose,
in D. and go Monday morning to Spring Grove; be
married, and return with my charge and delight that day; and we can
together go to Petersburg Tuesday. Shall that be the
programme?  If so who will meet me in D., and when,
that we may see the clerk, and get the license?  You
kinfolks can arrange this for you, and "Uncle
Sam" would, I doubt not, sow his appreciation of
his niece cheerfully by carrying out the plan. Any
way you choose will be satisfactory to me, only so
that I may have you mine, only, wholly, forever mine!
In spite of the troubled times, in spite of the sadness of
our necessary separation so large a part of the year, I
long for the day of our union, and anticipate such rich

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and deep joy not only during the weeks we will be to-
gether, but ever afterwards, in our mutual love.
As our  ministers will probably desire to be with their
churches the last Sabbath of the Conference year, it will
be best, perhaps, to call on Mr Boggs to officiate; and
if this meet your approbation, will you not through
one of the family ask his presence at the appointed
time? He can go with us to Danville, and thence to
Petersburg.  do not mail any letter to Winchester
later than Nov 1 or 2, as it might not come in
time.  Write freely, fully, confidingly, up to that date
And send me a letter to Richmond, care of Rev. A.
G. Brown, so that I will find it the 11th or 12th.
I will continue to send you letters regularly until
I see you.  Had you not received mine written at
Winchester before  you wrote yours of the 14th? I will
expect another from you one day this week.  I look for
them eagerly, and they are read and re-read
with the greatest interest and gratification.
  With yours came a letter from Judkins.  He
is happy in the love of Ettie, but does no expect to be

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married so soon as we.  He says that he must
be sure to attend Conference, and shall have
a pleasant house there: he relies on you to secure
me a happy time.
                                     The dreary days of rain have
gone, and we are enjoying a delightful and beauti
ful Autumn season. You have heard too f our
victory under Bragg in Kentucky: to God be praise!
so I think of you as very cheerful and hopeful
now.  I must again make the plea, for my sake
to beg you never be downcast and sad, but always
bright and trusting.  Yet if you do feel lonely and sad
at any time, write according to the mood, I am ever
invoking the choicest blessings of our Heavenly Father
on you.  I am ever praying that our steps may be
guided by him, and we prove through may years
a support and help to one another.  I have great
consolation too in knowing that your heart is lifted
to God in my behalf.  Wit love to you mother
and to all who love you, I am yours devotedly
                                      J. C. Granberry.

John Cowper Granberry, Chaplain of the 11th Virginia

MSS 4942





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