Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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I must apologise for not writing for a whole week. Did you think my darling angel
yr husband had almost forgotten you? Darling it seems to me I have thought of
you more than ever, and I have set several times to write to you, but have had
to do something at those times - & so the week has passed & I have been
engaged all the time. I was Field Officer of the Day one day when it was’nt my
turn, & the next day we turned out for a fight but the Enemy ran just before
we got there. We started to cut them
off, but we had a long march
& they had burned a bridge so they got back ahead of us. But it was a good
fair fight & they got beautifully used up. Our forces & the rebels
started to get the same forage. The rebels heard that Mc Call had a small force
guarding it & thought to cut them off. So they started out 4 crack regt’s
one fr La, one from Miss, one fr Ky, & one fr Va. with a battery & Genl.
formerly Col. Stewart’s Cavalry - black horse. They arrived first & occupied
or chose their position & had a few the most men, & two more pieces of
artillery, but their cavalry could’nt
quite stand it. Genl. Orde
used to be an artillery officer & aimed his guns the first time & they
took effect. It was the most fair & open fight of the war & if there was
any advantage in position or numbers they had it, yet the chivalry caved.
Their prisoners, or rather our prisoners say their officers always told them the
Yankees would not fight any, but they, the rebels, found resistance was sure
death! They thought the Yankees were devils for fighting. I scarcely ever saw
such disappointed men as ours were when they found they must come back without a
fight. We have been here so long without a good pitched
battle &
here was the next brigade to us having a splendid fight. It was hard to bear. We
have been moving our camp for two days into the woods. It was a job, but we have
a fine warm place now. We are having the first rain of a month or more. Suppose
we shall have it continually now for a mo. or two. I have been appointed on a
general Court Marshall which may set for some weeks, so I shall be relieved from
other duties. I do wish I had you in my arms my darling wife. I
must. It is too long for us to be apart. I do love you my sweet
angel, & I want so much to live with you. Who will you have for a beau next after
Mr. Ainsworth is gone! Did you always think of it, how you always had some particular one ever since I knew you, besides me? I
don’t know as is has done any
particular harm! for I think you have
loved me enough & been faithful, yet I should be so happy if you could &
would get along without any body now we are married. Tell Mollie I am greatly
obliged for her present to my wife & if she will
only have a boy baby I will give him a drum & a pop gun before he is a
week old. It is late & I must go to bed & dream of my beautiful &
splendid wife. I could only sleep with you my darling angel I should be
happy.
Good night darling. I wish you a merry Christmas, & would send a present if I could get one.
Yr fond husbandWheelock