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Yours of date 11 Aug. has just reached me, and it has lifted a load of anxiety from my mind

Joseph Culver Letter, August 22, 1864, Page 1Hd. Quarters Battery “M” Ist Ill. Artillery.
Near Atlanta Ga. 22 Aug. 1864.
Dear Sister Mollie:

Yours of date 11 Aug. has just reached me, and it has lifted a load of anxiety from my mind. Untill today I have not heard a word from Sammy since the 26th of last month. He may have written to me. Our mail of late, has been troubled considerably by the rebel cavalry, and I hope all the letters that have been mailed to me have not reached me – or more plainly speaking, I hope that more letters have been mailed me, than I have yet received. I had a letter today from William S. Murphy. It is quite an affectionate and patriotic missive. He did not say anything about his father’s family. I know but little of them. How are they doing? Your letter is full of news and gratifies me more than it would to “go home and get married.” I do not write to the “girls” any more. You see I am out of note paper, have nothing but this large foolscap – and do not expect to have anything better for one or two years to come – and of course I would not shock their propriety by sending them a letter written on this vulgar sort of paper.

I think it is no pleasure to Jennie Guthrie to have you speak of me to her, therefore I would recommend that you avoid it in future. We used to correspond, but we don’t now. I don’t think I ever saw Robert Kelly, and yet the name sounds wonderfully familiar. Success to him in all his matrimonial enterprises. I guess I had better say something like that and let it go, hadn’t I? or shall I get a leave of absence and go home and call him out. There would be a taste of romance in this latter course! and I think it would please the girls beyond measure, to have us poor deluded swains shootings one an other’s heads off for their sakes. Yes, it wood please them too well – guess I shant do it. And it would detract from the dignity of us ‘Lords of Creation to fight about women. How does Jennie look now? What sort of a girl is she? I do not know her. As much as I have seen her and as much as I have been in her company, I am not well acquainted with her. I was not aware that Thomas did not take a share that boat, as he contemplated doing. I have not heard from him in some time – in a long time. I will write to him and see how he is getting along. I have not seen Frank for three weeks, but heard from him a few days ago. He was well.

With love, Mollie, Goodbye. Write me often.

Affectionately Johnie.
Lieut Battery “M” 1st Ill. Artillery
4 Army Corps Dept. Cumberland