Cottage Home, N.C.
Aug 1st 1863
Major Gen’l Stuart
My dear Sir,
I
received a very kind letter from you during my sad visit to Lexington,
& I hope you will accept my grateful thanks even at this late day
for it. Your kind words of sympathy for me, & your tribute of
admiration to my noble Husband were warmly appreciated. I need
not assure you of what you already know, that your friendship &
admiration were cordially reciprocated by him. I have frequently
heard him speak of Gen’l Stuart as one of his warm personal
friends, & also express admiration for your soldierly
qualities. His companions in arms must miss him, I know, &
his country mourns the loss of one of her truest & most devoted
sons, but the bereavement is infinitely greater to his wife & child. Nothing but the assurance that he is “an infinite gainer” – that it was our Heavenly father’s will to translate him, can at all reconcile us to it.
You
expressed a desire in your letter to hear some of the particulars of
his last moments. The newspapers gave a pretty accurate account
of those last mournful days, which you doubtless saw at the time.
Trusting
it may please God to shield you in all coming dangers & long spare
you to your dear family & our suffering country.
I remain, my dear Gen’l
Yours very truly,
Mrs. T.J. Jackson.