Caroline Co., Va., Dec. 22d, 1862.
Dear Colonel, —
I hope that ere this your son Randolph is out of danger. I regretted to hear of
his sickness.
Before this, you have, I presume, seen the details of the
recent battle near Fredericksburg.
I greatly desire to see peace, blessed peace, and I
am persuaded that if God's people throughout our Confederacy will earnestly and
perseveringly unite in imploring His interposition for peace, that we may
expect it. Let our Government acknowledge the God of the Bible as its God, and
we may expect soon to be a happy and independent people. It appears to me that
extremes are to be avoided, and it also appears to me that the old United
States occupied an extreme position in the means it took to prevent the union
of Church and State. We call ourselves a Christian people, and it seems to me
our Government may be of the same character, without committing itself with an
established Church. It does appear to me that as our President, our Congress,
and our people have thanked God for victories, and prayed to him for additional
ones, and He has answered such prayers, and gives us a government, that it is
gross ingratitude not to acknowledge Him in the gifts.
Let the framework of our government show that we are not
ungrateful to Him. If you think with me, I hope you will use the talent God has
given you of impressively presenting facts to others, in securing a government
which will gain God's blessing. Our Congressional Committee is in favor of
repealing the law which requires Sabbath mails. Can you not write to several
members of Congress for the purpose of securing their support of the
committee's report? I have only seen one member of the House, Mr. Boteler, who
warmly favors the repeal.
I am much obliged to you for your kind offer respecting
Albert, &c. Please hire him to any one with whom he desires to live: and
please ascertain whether Hetty has been hired, and if not, may I trouble you to
do it f or me? . . . I also wish you
would sell my lot the first opportunity. I do not desire to keep it any longer.
You need not consult me about the price, but take what you can get. Remember me
very kindly to Maggie and all the family. I sent her a note from her brother
John a few days since. He was on the recent battle field.
Very truly your friend,
T. J. Jackson.
SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and
Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 152-4
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