2020-01 Putnal
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/18/2020
A great Southern wife's letter, 8pp. 8vo., written by "your loving, faithful Wifey'", Atlanta, [Ga.], August 4, 1861, to "my darling", a soldier in either the 7th or 8th Georgia, who fought at First Bull Run, reading, in part: "…I cannot tell you my Darling how much…your letters did me. I had been looking so anxiously for them…your own trust in our kind Heavenly Father increases mine and sustains me…since you are exposed to so much danger my faith often wavers and leaves me unhappy and most miserable…somebody's friend and acquaintances would suffer, would fall in battle, but I could not bring myself to believe that it would be mine. You can imagine then…what a shock I received the first news of the loss among our Atlanta companies. I feel so thankful that our loss is so much less than at first supposed. I dread to hear of the next battle, so many of our brave men must fall. Perhaps my Darling among them. Oh! God forbid…I pray so fervently that you may be spared…if God will but hear my feeble prayers you will go unhurt, untouched…my spirit too will hover round you in the battle field or in your tent. Each day, each night, each hour I pray for your safety, my own precious husband…surely the God of battle, our God, will bless and keep you from all harm…it makes my heart ache to think of your sleeping on the ground with only your blankets…I have not written as often as I did while you were are Tybee, because I did not know where you were…Bro Jesse has concluded not to remove his family from Maryville…has concluded to remain where he is. Mr. Bicknell and entire family moved to Nashville this week. Mr. Robinson will go with them. Father advised that I should not send for Florence, seemed indeed very much opposed to it…Bro Jesse says that the victory at Manassas has done a good deal to dampen the arbor of the Tories in E. Tenn. and that the masses are now crying for peace, say they are opposed to war, etc…he thought it very doubtful what course their leaders would pursue…I am trying to make arrangements with Mr. Chandler to hire a woman for several months. I think I will succeed. He called to see me…and was very kind and accommodating…poor Frank Coleman was buried today. I was so surprised to hear of his death…not having heard…that he was sick. He had typhoid fever. I feel so sorry for his poor wife…I have drawn from Mr. Hill 1/2 of Olin's hire…let mother have it…your loving, faithful Wifey." Minor toning, else VG
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