My darling wifey,
I wrote you a note enclosed in a letter to
Mittie which I hope you have received as I wrote sev-
eral things which I want yo to read–I also wrote
to you on Christmas day; the letter preceeding that you
have received–It is so quiet and uninteresting down
here that I h ave nothing worth the dignity of being
written, but were I with you I could talk until twelve
I have scolded you once or twice about being harried
and allowing yourself to be interrupted when writing
to me. I am half inclined to think that you are
anxious to round off you periods, but see the
excuses, “Breakfast summons me”‘ “Dark, so good
night”‘ “cousin Louisa Blair calls me” &c–when I
write to you, I like to do so at night, when every
thing is quiet and I can think of you without
being disturbed.

I came across a piece in the Spectator which made
me think of you and which I will transcribe:
“I am married, and have no other concern but to
please the man I love; he is the end of every care
I have; if I dress, it is for him; if I read a poem,
or a play, it is to qualify myself for a conversation
agreeable to his taste; he almost the end of my

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devotion; half my prayers are for his happiness,
I love to talk of him, and never hear him
named but with pleasure and emotion.” Tell me
this in you next and I will give you ten dollars.
Recollect that , as it is with you so it is with me
a great pleasure to be assured, again and again

that you love me.

If you get any letters from the VMI professors,
send me copies of them–I feel so anxious about
the election–I will be so happy in being with you.
When you see Ma, thank her for the nice
things she sent me in the box which I received
this evening–Every thing was very acceptable and
very nice–such a compliment she will value
as they are very rare. I expected a letter from
you to-night and have been disappointed, but
have received a long and interesting one from
Ma–tell her that I have fared a great deal
better during the last five months than I ever
expected and as for wanting to leave the service
I never wanted to enter it–thank Mittie for the visor
and you can afford to give me that much
time–Love to all at both places
and believe me as ever
your devoted
Husband

Mrs. Nannie L. Cochran

from Howe Peyton Cochran, Sergeant, 1st Virginia Artillery,

MSS 9380