Monday, November 5, 2012

1862 November 6 Camp near Culpeper C.H.

                                                                Camp near Culpeper C.H.
                                                                 Thursday, Nov. 6, 1862.

My own dear Ella,
                                                    I have been disappointed thus far
in my hopes of getting a letter from you here.  the mail from Win-
chester has been forwarded to this office, and it may be ready for dis=
tribution to-morrow.  Not having heard from my application for a furlough
up to yesterday, I became uneasy, fearing that it had been mislaid
in the movement of the army.  so I visited Gen. Longstreet who promptly
issued the order I requested. So I will leave next Monday with cer-
tainty, Providence favoring; and spending Tuesday in Richmond, go to Dan
ville Wednesday.  If thee is still a daily stage, you may confidently
look for me Thursday.  Will you not be happy, my darling, when I am once
more seated by your side? I persuade myself that you will, judging by
the delight I myself feel in the anticipation.  I have felt lonesome all
day, partly because it is a raw day and I have taken a slight cold, but
perhaps chiefly because I have that furlough in my pocket and am impatient
to be off.  I could go at once, but am unwilling to shorten the two brief period during
which I may remain with you when we twain shall become one.  Besides
I like to spend as many sabbaths as possible with the regiment.  L. tom Houston
returned to us a few days ago.  He is in excellent health, but has not wholly
recovered the use of his wounded arm.  Cannon-firing has been heard yesterday
and to-day, but I do not know what it means.  Our [?] and baggage which
were left behind in the advance of our army against Pope have been sent to us
to-day: it is probable, therefore, that our troops will remain in the neighborhood
some time.

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with this scrawl I close, if our affairs shall prosper as I hope, our corre-
spondence as lovers bound together by plighted faith. The time of our engagement
has been short, and yet long enough to make me, at least, realize fully the
relation between us in all its sacredness and tenderness.  I trust that our mutual
devotion and confidence, our union and fellowship of soul, are so perfectly developed
as to warrant us without doubt or reluctance in binding ourselves by the yet more solemn
and sacred vows of husband and wife.  I have endeavoured to excite in your heart
the deepest and liveliest confidence in my complete devotedness to you welfare--in
the thought and care with which I will ever watch over your happiness.  I have also
assured you how entirely satisfied and delighted I am in you as the choice of my
head and heart to be the partner of all my joys and sorrows, my comforter, my earthly
all--in a word, my own dear, precious wife.  I do thank God daily for your love.
I look ahead with prayer and hope to many days of happiness and usefulness by
your aid. Does not your heart respond to all I write, my darling?  I will in a
few days be with you, telling into your ear all my love to you, hearing from your lips all your
love to me. And now, my own dear girl, I have a request to make: it is that
you will think of our marriage and go through the scenes so near with only cheerful
feelings, with such a confiding spirit in my sympathy and love, with such an absorbing
affection, as will  keep you tranquil and satisfied and happy.  Isn't that a small
and reasonable request?  I will certainly do everything in my power by the
most tender and considerate love to produce this state of mind in my darling,
and afterwards everything in my power  by the same, or if possible, an increasing
tenderness and consideration to promote your happiness all our days.  Good-bye, my
love, The blessing of our Father ever be with thee!
                                                      Yours with all my heart
                                                                     J. C. Granberry

John Cowper Granberry, 1829-1907, formerly an itinerant preacher and chaplain at the University of Virginia, later a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and a trustee of Vanderbilt University.


MSS 4942










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