Camp near the
Bower
Oct 26th 1862
My Darling One,
This is a rainy dreary Sunday, when the warmth of affection from the
loved ones afar reaches my frail shelter here and transports me miles
away to its scenes hallowed by their presence. How I would like
to walk in now where you are probably taking a Sunday’s nap and
wake you up.
My staff seems all to be much interested in you and our little ones,
& are always much gratified at your messages. Von Borcke is
one of the noblest fellows I ever met, and is devoted to me as also
FitzHugh & in fact all the rest. Price is such a ready &
correct writer. Hairston worried my life out with his wretched
spelling, I was afraid to trust any writing to him without close
criticism.
I am treated like a [faded] am in short a privileged chance too &
have my usual fun and [faded] live with the girls. I suppose you
know by this time how transient & fleeting these little
pleasantries are compared with the
one affection – the
undying
devotion cherished for you. Indeed I often ask myself in surprise
why it is that any one girl can absorb my soul’s affection as you
do but I find a ready answer. In the fresh remembrance of that
smile, that trusting look, that little finger’s potential crook,
that put Polk to flight and conquered me. Ah my sweet one I wish
every conquest was so sweet to the vanquished. And how about the
Vanquisher, you little, matter-of-fact [importune?] queen that gloried
in the conquest of Bvt 2nd Lieut of horse, and now in a lapse of a few
years lord it over a
Major General of Cavalry.
How do you bear the transition? In all meekness and humility I
trust, and prayerful hope that I will be sustained with help from
above. Poor Alick what a blow to us and him was his sad
affliction. I see my [faded] size, you perhaps remember what a
favorite she was of mine, and yet it has been years since I saw
her.
I was grieved to hear of Cousin Nannie’s (Price) sickness, it
must distress her mother very much. I send you your October
[faded] $200. [faded] I gave [faded] my noble grey that you first
liked. He had one horse to die at Hanover C.H. and had a
very fine one captured by the [faded]. I wish you were [faded]
now, I have a horse, Lily of the Valley, presented by Wat which would
suit you exactly. She is Alma over again or even prettier.
When we get into Winter Quarters you must pay me a visit and I hope we
will have some fine weather for horseback exercise.
Chiswell is improving [faded] young aid. You must send me La
Pet’s daguerreotype I mean the cold photograph. I want it
to look at. The Yankee papers make no mention of Bob, I augur
from [illegible] that the secessionists of Emmittsburg have him
safe. [illegible] it be. I am going to write to H.S. Turner
about Wilsons. W.H.F. Lee is Brigadier and I think Roper soon
will be. W.E. Jones has been appointed but I hope he will be
assigned to the Infantry, I don’t want him in the Cavalry, &
have made a formal statement to that effect. I have received a
long letter from Capt Stuart’s father – his death was a
blow to the family as he seemed to be idolized. I often think of
Randal & Kate Lizzie [Bowman?] and wonder if they are
contented. I will write to Lizzie to see if she will come.
God bless my Darling One
Ever thine
Stuart