Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey
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I have got back to H’d Qrs again. Col. Grant has recovered so as to take com mand
& relieved me. I was disappointed in not having a fight while I had the
reg’t yet I would not wish to deprive him of it. He is a good officer & man.
They wanted me to keep the command till after the battle very much & Genl.
Brooks did. I had a very pleasant time with the rg’t. We have had tremendous
rains for several days which have raised the river very much & made roads
nearly impassible. Had it not been for these I think we
should have
been in Richmond or the rebels in New York before now. That was a terrible &
splendid fight Sat. & Sunday. The N.H. 5th I hear was badly used. What a
battle the next must be if the rebels fight as well as before. I dont know
whether I shall be with the Genl or with the teg’t. If Col. Grant should give
out I shall have the 5th. It is singular that we should have such fearful rains,
such as we’ve scarcely ever known before. Did you receive a package of money
from me per Express? I sent it a week or two ago. How have you disposed of it?
Wish I could year fr you tonight. Darling when shall
I see you
again. It is cruel to be separated fr you so much. But if we succeed in crushing
the rebellion we shall be paid well. The very folly of the war makes peace the
more uncertain. These Southerners are so void of reason. They hate Yankees, yet
they cant tell why. Nothing but lead & steel can remove their prejudices
& they are getting enough of that. They cant even claim anything for western
prowess over us now. No N. England rg’t has yet disgraced itself, or since Bull
Run. & there N. Eng. was the best. No new reg’t is good for anything, but N.
Eng men learn fast. They have more or less intelligent & much pride &
that is what
makes men fight. It is said that more men were killed
with the bayonet in the last battle than was ever known before even in Europe. I
hope this war is near its end. It seems more & more horrible as one sees the
fearful slaughter of countryman in each battle. Yet how many rejoice at it. I
believe there is a class of abolitionists who, now the policy of the Government
is so unmistakable, rejoice at every defeat to us. Disunion to destroy or get
clear of slavery, has always been their text & they know now we cannot have
disunion without defeat. Union first, the end of slavery next is my strongest
national desire. But he who would put the destruction of slavery foremost,
regardless of consequences is an idiot or a traitor. I wish every one who
believes this would say so, & thus drive these worse than rebels into a body
together. That man
who by his act shall lengthen this war one single
day will have a fearful account to settle. One must see the horrors of war to
appreciate them. But pardon me for this. Good night my angel. Hope I shall write
fr R. next. I cant tell about our situation.
Yr. devoted husbandW. G. Veazey
I have just heard of the glorious news fr the South West whi you will hear before you get this.