Camp at White House, New Kent,
July 19th 1862
Last evening, about dark, I received your long,
interesting & precious letter of the 15th. I thank you
most warmly for it, my own, my darling wife.
I did not think you crazy when you wrote of coming
to Richmond to see me. If that was evidence of
lunacy, if the desire, the burning wish for you
to visit me when I cannot visit you, was proof
of derangement I would be at any time a fit
subject for an asylum for the insane. If I
am again in camp near Richmond I trust, dearest,
you will come to the city that we may be blessed
in each other’s dear society. Even in these hard times
I think we cannot spend money more profitably to
ourselves than when its outlay will bring us
in each others presence. As I read your letters
my heart pants to be with you in our dear home,
to watch you as you glide noiselessly from room
to room, to hold you in my embrace, to have
our dear children us, to feast our
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souls on each others looks, words & kisses. But
this dearest, cannot be, and if God, in His mercy,
spares me and you can come to Richmond
you must do so. Where would you prefer
staying, at a Hotel or Boarding House? If at
a Hotel, which of them? These occasional meet-
ings, my darling, are all that we can have of
each others society, I fear, for months to come.
How long will the war continue? is the question
you ask me, & is the question that now
interests all the people of our Confederacy.
My speculations on this question are worth
but little, but such as they are I give
them to you. I did think the war would
last during Mr Lincoln’s administration,
because I could not see how the terms
of peace could be agreed on, or how the
men in control of the Federal Government
could negotiate a treaty with safety to
themselves. I thought however the war
would be fought by the armies in the
field, the ranks only to be filled by
ordinary recruiting. But now new and
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large armies are to be created. How long
can the sections without exhaustion stand this
draught on their resources? I hope & think
that this large increase of military force
will bring the war to a speedier ter-
-mination. The North, in its madness, seems
bent on our subjugation and destruction.
How many lives must be lost, how many
homes made desolate, how much treasure
wasted, before it wakes from its dream
of folly and madness, we cannot say.
The South must fight to the last. If some
of her citizens are unwilling to do battle
in her cause they must be forced to
perform their duty. I can fix no time
for the end; but I look now with more
confidence to negotiations for peace
some time next year than I have
ever done before. But, dearest, let us
trust in God knowing he doeth all
things well, and that in His own
way and in His own good time
he will bring peace to our homes.
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Would I could have dined on the Pig
with you, darling, since I have been here
we have had some vegetables & fruit &
an abundance of ice. Col. Lee had filled
his ice house and we are camped
near it. Your picture of Dick Kissing
you [?] and begging for the apple is
charming to me. God bless my own dear boys; I do
pray sincerely that our Heavenly Father will
spare us both to train them, by His aid and
assistance, for usefulness in this world and
eternal happiness in the next. I dont envy
any parents their daughters. For us, if we
are permitted to live, there may come some
gentle girls to bless and comfort our old
age. I am sorry to hear of the ill
health of Dr. & Mrs. Lyle. Remember
me most affectionately to them.
If Josie is still with you, give my
love to her & Kiss her pretty daughters
for me. I do not doubt she is a woman
who deserves all the words of praise you
bestow on her. Give my love to Mrs Riddle
Kiss the boys for me. And now, dearest wife,
I embrace you tenderly. I kiss you warmly, and say
that love for you animates my heart always. I pray
God to bless & protect you. Yr affec. husband
John T. Thornton
John Thruston Thornton, University of Virginia alumnus and Captain Co K, 3rd Virginia Cavalry
MSS 4021