Yorktown march 28th 1862

My darling wifey

Another one of your long
and sweet letters on yesterday evening.
I enjoyed it very much and am only
sorry that I have not generally the
facilities or the time to answer them
at more length, but I have been running
about so much lately that I have not
had time–all the letters that I have
written have been to you–I have
been very much relieved by your
accounts of Mother’s health–I am truly
glad that she is recovering so fast
and pray that she may be spared
to us many years–You have no doubt
found out yourself by this time and
I judge so from you letters, that
no children ever had such a loving
and self sacrificing mother–and if
you did not lover her it would be

[page 2]
because you have no heart and I know
that you have one large enough to contain
your country, your mother, my mother, you
husband and various other persons & tings
beside–I believe that I love my country
too, but I do wish that the service of
my country didn’t require me to be
absent so much from you–I could
get along very well were it not for that–
I cant help rebelling sometimes-
I last wrote to you from Grafton church
we did not go back to Harwood’s Mill
as we expected to but came here–last
night we were ordered to Winns Mill
but as we were about to start, the
order was countermanded–Yorktown
is very much excited expecting to be
attacked by a large force of the
enemy who are reported to be advan-
cing, but the last account was that
they had gone back below Bethel.
We are in position here and will

[page 3]
I hope give the enemy a warm
reception if he comes on. I would
like very much to drill Jimmy
s company, but I would’nt like to
have just now unless ordered,
for the same reason I am glad
you did not come down with
Major Maguder–besides it is im-
possible to get accommodations any
where about here as all the frame
houses in Yorktown have been pulled
down–you had better under the
circumstances accept of John Lewis’
offer. I would certainly give all
my pay to see you–I am glad
that Rachel Miller and Eugenia are
at our house house[sic]–give my best
love to them and tell Eugenia that
we approach nearer to er ideal of
husband and wife than any persons
she ever saw or will see–
Remember me affectionately to your

[page 4]
Mother and Virginia–Tell Virgnia that
I hope if she with the inflammatory
rheumatism marries one of her old
widows, that they will not prove an
inflammatoryable couple. I have never
answered Virginias kind letter–make
my excuses to her and tell her the
reason–Ask Pa if Mr Burnly
ever gave him the one hundred
dollars I sent and if he destroyed
my bond–Capt Southalls continued
absence at this time excites remarks.
Remember me to John Lewis, Maggie
Miltie[?] and the rest & Aunt Sarah.
And now, my precious darling, my
paper is almost out–but I cant
close without telling you how very
dear you are to the heart of
your devoted husband–You may
be well assured that you will always
retain your husband’s best affections.
I am happy in the assurance of my
wife’s love–Give my best love to Ma
and tell her how anxious I am to see her.

[address leaf]
Mrs H. P. Cochran
Charlottesville
Virginia

Howe Peyton Cochran, 1834-1892, Sgt, 1st Virginia Artillery

MSS 9380-a