raleigh, March 14th, 1865.
My dear Wigfall:
I have
just received yours of February 27th. I have been for two weeks looking for an
opportunity other than by mail, to send you a letter. But all are reported to
me too late.
What you write me of Lee gratifies me beyond measure. In
youth and early manhood I loved and admired him more than any man in the world.
Since then we have had little intercourse and have become formal in our
personal intercourse. A good deal, I think, from change of taste and habits, in
one or the other. When we are together former feelings always return. I have
long thought that he had forgotten our early friendship: to be convinced that I
was mistaken in so thinking would give me inexpressible pleasure. Be assured,
however, that Knight of old never fought under his King more loyally than I'll
serve under Gen. Lee.1 I have suggested to him what seems to be the
only course for us, should Sherman endeavor to join Grant. . . .
As ever yours,
j. e. johnston.
_______________
1 In another letter he speaks of serving under
Gen. Lee “as loyally as my father served under his in the first revolution.”
SOURCE: Louise Wigfall Wright, A Southern Girl in
’61, p. 240-1
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