Letter from Ellison Capers to his wife Lottie, November 12, 1864

Title

Letter from Ellison Capers to his wife Lottie, November 12, 1864

Description

Capers begins his letter by telling Lottie he has received some of her letters including one which notifies him of the death of a Mr. Graves. He greatly admired this man and is sad to hear of his passing. He apologizes for sending Lottie a letter in which he complains about the inefficiency of the army but hopes that they will be able to cross the Tennessee River tomorrow. His servant, Ben, asks to be remembered to the family and then Capers discusses money with her. He closes the letter by telling her how much he loves her and their children.

Source

A1961.1, Box 3, Folder 46

Publisher

The Citadel Archives & 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.

Relation

Ellison Capers Collection

Format

application/pdf

Language

English

Type

Text

Identifier

https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/516

Date Valid

Text

[Page 1]
South Bank Tennessee River
Near Tuscumbia Ala.
Nov. 12th 1864

My own, precious Lottie

We got a mail this morning, and in it was a letter from my own wife to her Ellie. It was your letter, in pencil, written on the 31st of October, and acknowledging my letters from Gadsden, (one by Steinmeyer’s boy) and on the back, the money from Rev. B. by whom I suppose you mean Brother Branham. You also tell me of your going to C.G. on the 8th inst. and of Miss Betty [Illegible] visit, with the information of the departure of that sweet old gentleman, Mr. Iverson Graves. Peace & joy to his rest! I shall never forget the urbanity of his manner, and the genuineness of his spirit. His voice faltered as he kissed little Frank and said, “God bless you, my little son.” I felt that I was bidding him farewell, indeed, and that we would never meet again. I have never met anyone, who on so short an acquaintance, I was so much impressed with.

I wrote you by a mail opportunity on day before yesterday, & I am sorry I sent the letter. I fear you will not understand it. I get so discouraged sometimes with the inefficiency of our army in all of its departments, that I lose all my confidence in it. We were delayed here the first 8 or 10 days getting up supplies, the weather all the time bad, & rain falling every day. For the past four days our Engineers (?) with their lazy, slow and undisciplined Corps, have been keeping us waiting, while they are piecing out the pontoon bridge, the boats we have not being sufficient to spare the broad, noble Tenn. I think we will certainly cross tomorrow morning

[Page 2]
Ben begs to be remembered to all. He sends his love to his wife. I have promised him a visit to her Christmas, whether I go or not. Don’t give yourself any uneasiness, my dear angel, on my account. I am very comfortable, & have a plenty to eat. By the time the money, which I wrote Stradley to send you, reaches you, I hope you will have enough to do you until the 1st of Jan. by which time I will be able D.V. to send you more. In your letter of the 14th of Oct. you told me that you would have $100 after buying some supper, paying Dr. Coffin, etc. (I don’t want you to pay Sage.) I told Stradley to give [illegible] $20 & send the rest of my October pay, viz: $175, to you by mail. This, with the remittance from Oxford, will give you, with what you had before, enough to make $300, I hope. I wrote Aunt [illegible] a letter thanking her for her affectionate attention to you. I think of you daily, no, hourly, my dear, precious wife. Poor, and unworthy as they are, my prayers are for you and our cherished children. May God, our merciful Father, bless you & keep you. While I am reminded of it, let me ask you particularly, if you have received the [illegible] forms sent Frank, showing my losses, etc.? Don’t forget to answer this question. Continue to write me, and direct as before. I will get your letters, eventually, and when I do they rejoice my heart. My own lamb, give much love to Mamma, & remember me to the family. Take Frank & May in your arms, and hold them to your dear heart for your Ellie. Tell Frank Pa thinks all the while of him, & longs to kiss his dear little lips. I rejoice to know by your letter of the 17th (that by Randal) that May is improving. May God grant our children length of days & good health, my dear angel, and may they always be a blessing to you. Good bye, my own, loved, cherished wife.

Ellison

Citation

Capers, Ellison, 1837-1908, “Letter from Ellison Capers to his wife Lottie, November 12, 1864,” The Citadel Archives Digital Collections, accessed March 28, 2024, https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/516.