1862 December 15 Fredericksburg, Va.

              Wagon-yard near Fredricksburg,
                Monday night, Dec. 15, 1862
I sent you a letter by the mail to-day,
Ella darling; but as a friend goes to Rich-
mond to-morrow, and this is probably a more
certain method of securing you the message
of safety and love which I know you will
highly prize, I will add another sheet
this early.  Indeed, I am not afraid of trying
you at anytime by frequent communications,
especially not during these anxious days.
I had many little or nothings to write you
about my trip here; but they would seem too tri-
fling now that our minds are filled in the
thoughts of the momentous chances of an im-
pending battle.  I h ope to hear from you to-
morrows mail.  I can not tell you how happy
I will be to learn that you are well and cheer-
ful.  I pray God fervently every day--rather
every hour--that you may be kept in health
and happiness.  The last letter you directed to
Winchester was handed me Saturday morning

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when our regiment was drawn up in line of
battle, and read while the Yankee troops
were in full view and their artillery thun-
dering in my ears.  I was specially pleased
with your earnest request that I would not
indulge your wishes, if wrong or unreasonable.
Can't you feel like asking something unreason-
able, so that, I may have the pleasure of refusing
you?  Indeed, my precious wife, I have all
confidence in your heart and head that you
will desire nothing you ought not, and
also that you will be very ready to weigh
any objection I may offer against your pleas.
This confidence was strong before our marriage,
but it is greatly confirmed since--perhaps
I might say it is now perfect.  I read
daily a few pages of you journal with great
interest and delight.  It reveals to me your
history, character and love to me, in all of
which I am deeply interested.  I love too to
gaze upon the faithful ambrotype I have of you,
I often wonder what you are doing, and still
more how you are feeling in body and mind.

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I am anxious to know about your cold, and
whether the vaccination took effect.  My oar
is sore, though not enough to inconvenience me.
  We have all been surprised by the quiet
to day.  A few big guns and very slight de-
sultory musketry have broken the calm.  I spent
the larger part of the day with my regiment.
One sad accident occurred.  A soldier, named
Tate, of company I, shot himself, and his arm
was amputated below the elbow.  I conversed
and prayed with him this evening. Andrew Hous
ton is now in the tent with me, but slightly
hurt.  I wrote you that I had an excellent
view of part of the battle on Saturday, that of
our right wing.  Many Yankee guns were belch
ing out flame and smoke: I could see their shells
burst, and some of our caissons exploded by
them.  Across the open plain the lines of the foe
would advance in perfect order, until they came
within range of A.P. Hill's men in the edge of
the woods: then they would stagger, and hurry
back, stragglers doting the whole field until ar-
rested.  Reinforcements would come up, but break

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before reaching those they came to retire, some of our
shells bursting among or near them.   At length , another
advance would be attempted on our position.
They came more obliquely, instead of their former
direct march.  They are lost to our sight, con-
cealed by a point of woods, and for a time, as
we hear the terrible volleys of musketry, we fear
that our troops are forced back.  But yonder
go the Yankees back in confusion.  So they were re-
pulsed with heavy loss at every point.  As our
part of the line was not engaged, we could from
the hills get a clear and satisfactory sight of
the affair. It was very thrilling.  Our army is as
large as ever before, and probably in better condi-
tion, physical and moral.  God in mercy grant
us a glorious victory!
  My darling, my heart is full and overflows
with love to you and delight in you.  I commend
you this night to the care of our Father in heaven.
I wish soon to arrange with you that a portion, at
least, of our daily scriptural reading may be of the
same chapters.  I wish us connected together by every
sweet and hallowed association.  You have my whole
heart, my lovely wife.  Yours only, wholly and always
                                  J. C. Granberry

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I would be so glad to hear the word "Husband" from
my darlings lips, in her very sweet and loving tones, as I have
heard it

MSS 4942