Richmond, Oct. 1, 1862
My own dear Ella,
After
I left you last Monday, I remained
at Bachelor’s Hall more than two
hours, awaiting the stage. The weather
was oppressively warm, and the place
dull; but I read some newspapers,
and then opened the sheet you
gave me. I thank you, my darling,
for the ring, symbol of our plighted
faith and love, and also for the
beautiful lines of valediction so
sweetly appropriate from Mrs. Brown-
ing. It is much that you can say,
“my beloved” and pray, God love
thee!” It will comfort me beyond
expression to know that your heart is
always lifted up in prayer for God’s
benediction on me. I spent the
[page 2]
night at Rev. F. Stanly’s. Our friend
Ware had been there the preceding week
and was exceedingly curious to know what
could have taken me to Capt. Estes’. At
length, he cried out, “O! Miss Ella Wins-
ton.” So br. Stanly looked me in the eye
and asked, “How is Miss Ella?” I told
him that all the Ellas with whom I was
acquainted, were well so far as I had
information. On reaching here, I came
to Rev. A.G. Brown’s. The [?] had
somehow discovered that my Danville
trip was to see a fair refugee. I
was delighted to find Ned Massie
here to-day. He had a spell of remittent
fever, but he is entirely recovered now.
He wishes me to go with him to Lu-
nenburg, and baptize Jennie Granberry
Massie. You can imagine how much
pleasure it would give me to do so,
but I must deny myself the gratification
The name is full of the most sweetly
sad associations. Ned brought me a
[page 3]
buffalo robe from the West. So I will be ad-
mirably fixed for the winter, with my
robe, and Yankee-bought blankets and
shawl, and Yankee-captured oil-cloth
and overcoat. I have got transportation
to Staunton, but have to go from that
place to Winchester, a distance of ninety
two miles, is the problem. Rev. Lemuel
Reed, one of our best men and preachers,
came here yesterday to see a sick son
in the hospital. He will have him sent
home. But he learns that another son
was severely wounded in one of the late
battles, and wishes to go after him. so
he and I will probably go Friday to Albe-
marle, and try to get from a Methodist
brother a horse, and spring-wagon. If we
can effect this arrangement, I will go
to Winchester far more pleasantly than
I can hope by any other means. The
post-office of the army is Winchester. Please
direct thus: Rev. J. C. Granberry, Chaplain
11th Va. Reg., Winchester, Va.” So you will
[page 4]
be saved the trouble of sending letters to the
care of Rev. A. G. Brown, and I will ex-
pect you to write “all the time,” to borrow
your own phrase. You can not write too
often, my precious girl. Your letters will
be my desire and delight–The charm
of my camp-life. I am sorry that I
must disappoint you about the likeness. I
tried to have a photograph taken for you, but
the daguerreotypists lack the requisite materials.
So for the present you must be contented with
the image of me you have in your heart.
I write hurriedly, in the presence of others. Of
course, you will have written me before you
will receive this, and Mr. Brown will send your
letter to me. Perhaps it will be in Winchester
as soon as I. Remember me affectionately to you
mother, and very kindly to Capt. Estes and family.
You are always in my mind and heart, my dar-
ling and my prize. Rest assured of my devoted
affection, and do not cease to love me and to
ask God’s blessing on me. Yours with a full heart,
J. C. Granberry.
The widowed John Cowper Granberry, 1829-1907, had been an itinerant preacher, and chaplain at the University of Virginia in 1861. He eventually became a bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church South and a trustee of Vanderbilt University.
MSS 4942