Before Atlanta, Ga.
August 21st 1864
Sunday night, 9 P.M.
Dear Ella:
Perhaps my letter would be more valuable to you if I did not
write so often, but when night comes, I get lonesome and can find no enjoyment
except in writing to my wife — even if I have not much to say. You are my only
comfort and joy, and I like to talk to you as I am denied the pleasure of
seeing and talking vis-a-vis. My long letter sent today is not the style I
always intend to write, but I felt that I would like to talk to you just as I
wrote. Consequently the letter was such.
This is a dark, rainy night and is inclined to produce a
blue feeling, but I am not blue, but confess to feeling a little sad. I feel
that my Ella is not as happy as I would wish her to be for I would have her
perfectly joyous and full of hope. You must believe, my dear, that I am safe
all the time and will return at the earliest possible moment. Just think how
very happy we will be when I can again imprint a greeting kiss upon your lips.
Our last meeting is not to be compared with the one to come for we were not so
dear to each other then as now. Our lives are as one now — each cares not to
live without the other. But I trust both will live many years a joy to each
other’s heart. We will have a home which shall never know aught but the
brightest sunshine. I know Ella will be my teacher, learning me how to be good,
telling me my faults and how to correct them. All this selfishness of heart she
shall drive away and make me a man worthy of being loved by her. I believed I
could make you happy when I wedded you and still believe so. I know that you
love me as I have never been loved before. Why then should I not be the
proudest man in the world! I am.
I think after I get home where I will be under your
influence all the time, and not have my mind wholly occupied by the one thought
of returning to my Ella, that my energy will return and my old ambition spring
into life again. As it is now, I do not care for promotion. I would not stay in
the service a month after my time was out to secure it without it was with your
consent. I presume were I to devote my attention to that one object, I could
soon secure an elevation to a higher rank; but lately I have not given it one
single thought for should I be favored with advancement in grade, I would be
expected to remain in the service another three years, if I did not receive
some injury totally unfitting me for duty.
I can not write a long letter tonight. A Sabbath night’s
sweet kiss for you, sweet Ella. Good night.
Truly your own,
Edward
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| Click on photo to enlarge. |
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| Click on photo to enlarge. |
SOURCE: This letter was listed for sale on Ebay, accessed July 12, 2017
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