Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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It is a cold rainy night & yr husband is here all alone, & wants you very
much. What a fine time we would have if you were here. I would give anything to
see you. It is hard to be deprived of so great happiness. I have thought about
you so much lately. Nothing but the highest duty would keep me away fr you When
this is over I am yrs again. If I had no profession & no wife I think I
should make military a profession. The study & practice both, are very
interesting. but I would not follow a calling that would keep me fr you, nor
would I abandon my
first love in business. I have rec’d four
splendid letters fr you the past week notwithstanding you pronounce them all so
stupid. If you continue to call them so I may get to think so bye & bye.
What a glorious thing to have a faithful wife. It is worth all else on earth. My
angel I positively adore you. Have written you twice this week, did’nt you get
them? Was Field officer yesterday & out about all night. Who did you say
this Lt. Fayban was, & in what reg’t? I have not met him to my knowledge. I
have had two of those arrangements for a fire, mentioned in the Statesman, all
the Fall & better made than that paper told about. Shall get a
stove next week. Have wrapped Lute up in two blankets to night. Its rather hard
for her out these cold nights. Water froze here night before last. Am glad you
are going to make me a comforter of yr shawls, that with my shawl & overcoat
& army blanket, double, will keep me as warm as anything but my own angel’s
arms. I do ache to get into yr arms once more. I want the longest and warmest
coat. I dont seem to recollect your Father’s. I want to get a cape & some
infantry buttons on it, & then make it do without getting a new one. I want
to get out of debt as soon as possible. My pay amounts to nearly
two
hundred dollars per mo. but my expenses are quite heavy. My health is excellent
I have an enormous appetite & we live like princes. Major Seaver is sick
& is trying to get leave of absence. His wife is very well. Proctor’s wife
is near here yet but I have not seen her, should have gone this P.M. but it
rained. I have been kept in camp so I could not leave for an hour. Have had
com’d of the reg’t, drilled it twice a day, once in brigade, been on picquet as
Field officer of the Day, once or twice each week, been sent out on
reconnoitering tours &c &c, all of which has kept me moving, but I have
been so well I could have done twice as much had I the time What a blessing
health is. I can ride 12 or 15 hours without being much tired. I dont get time
enough to study with so many duties. Did I tell you that R. Leonard has
returned? He wrote me when he arrived in N.Y sent the letter to Exeter. Knew
nothing about where I was. Came home to serve the country in some capacity.
L. Leonard is a rank secesh so they will have to oppose each other,
hard case, as that of very others. Reeves says our patriotism would have no
bounds, did we know the interest that the German states take in our cause. That
letter yr Father found in his pocket that you sent was in reply to mine
containing my photograph. I thought strange you did not mention it before. I do
wish I had you with me to night my own sweet love, my beautiful wife, how
perfectly happy I should be. You should not set yr heart too much on anything
darling. The home you so much desire may be accompanied with many sorrows. Let
us take life as it comes & be satisfied. Our fortunes are blessed now far
more than that of many others.
Write me some real good letters this
week. I hope I shall be with you next summer my sweet angel, perhaps sooner.
Goodnight my own blessed beautiful darling bride I do wish I had you in my arms
& could feel your heart beat ag'nst mine.
Yr fond & faithful husbandW. G. Veazey