Letter from Asbury Coward to his wife Elise, July 28, 1862
Title
Letter from Asbury Coward to his wife Elise, July 28, 1862
Subject
Description
Letter written by Asbury Coward to his wife Elise. He writes that he is anxious about sickness and that he has been promoted to Major. He tells her that he will not be getting a furlough and that they will soon be on the move again.
Creator
Source
A2009.6, Box 3 Folder 1
Publisher
The Citadel Archives and Museum
Date
Rights
Materials in The Citadel Archives & Museum Digital Collections are intended for educational and research use. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright. For more information contact The Citadel Archives & Museum, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, 29409.
Format
application/pdf
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/1586
Coverage
York (S. C.)
Text
[Page 1]
July 28th 1862
My dear wife
Your letter of the 23rd is received. You may be sure that the information it contained relieved me of a very great weight of anxiety on your and the baby’s account. I hope Charlotte will improve rapidly and that sickness will soon disappear from the yard. - I suppose Jenkins has reached home by this time, indeed he must have done so immediately after you wrote your letter, for he started a week ago, with all his honors thick upon him. By-the-by, on coming into my office yesterday afternoon, I found an official envelope lying on my desk in which I found a Major’s commission addressed to me. The General applied for my promotion after my the last battle. The commission bears date July 11th - the day the application was sent up; and henceforth , I rise truly, - and you must take due notice of my altered rank and govern yourself accordingly. - John is still improving
[Page 2]
in strength and looks, and will be fit for duty very soon. He has often told me of Burn’s kindness to him. - Seabrook is very much mistaken about my getting a furlough - the matter does not rest with General Longstreet - No one but Gen Lee can grant such a leave, and his orders are of the most positive nature. At present I see no alternative, but for you to pay me a visit when Jenkins returns, if he brings his wife with him. - The enemy is again giving signs of motion, and our whole Division has been moved down towards him. The General being still on court martial has not gone, but will probably do so tonight or tomorrow morning. In that case our mail communications will be again interrupted. I am truly sorry that you could not have Jennies likeness taken for me; but I commend your prudence. Kiss the little toad a thousand times.
Your devoted husband
A Coward
July 28th 1862
My dear wife
Your letter of the 23rd is received. You may be sure that the information it contained relieved me of a very great weight of anxiety on your and the baby’s account. I hope Charlotte will improve rapidly and that sickness will soon disappear from the yard. - I suppose Jenkins has reached home by this time, indeed he must have done so immediately after you wrote your letter, for he started a week ago, with all his honors thick upon him. By-the-by, on coming into my office yesterday afternoon, I found an official envelope lying on my desk in which I found a Major’s commission addressed to me. The General applied for my promotion after my the last battle. The commission bears date July 11th - the day the application was sent up; and henceforth , I rise truly, - and you must take due notice of my altered rank and govern yourself accordingly. - John is still improving
[Page 2]
in strength and looks, and will be fit for duty very soon. He has often told me of Burn’s kindness to him. - Seabrook is very much mistaken about my getting a furlough - the matter does not rest with General Longstreet - No one but Gen Lee can grant such a leave, and his orders are of the most positive nature. At present I see no alternative, but for you to pay me a visit when Jenkins returns, if he brings his wife with him. - The enemy is again giving signs of motion, and our whole Division has been moved down towards him. The General being still on court martial has not gone, but will probably do so tonight or tomorrow morning. In that case our mail communications will be again interrupted. I am truly sorry that you could not have Jennies likeness taken for me; but I commend your prudence. Kiss the little toad a thousand times.
Your devoted husband
A Coward
Collection
Citation
Coward, Asbury, 1835-1925, “Letter from Asbury Coward to his wife Elise, July 28, 1862,” The Citadel Archives Digital Collections, accessed April 23, 2024, https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/1586.