The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-16
ga Soldiers Gra,ituds ~

The mother to whom the following affec.
tionate letter was written encloeed 1t to a
gentleman of Richmond requesting him to
ascertain, if he could to whom she is ind ebt.
ed for the kindness Of which her SON so crate.
fully speaks; and with his permission we lay
1t before our readers, not only because it con-
tains handsome and well merited compli-
ment to one of Eirginia's most accom- plished
matrons, but also daguerreotypes an incident
which, alike in its occurrence and results,
reflects infinite honor upon human nature:
M0HTsRIY, Va, Aug. 10, 1851.
My Beloved Mother: Among other promises
which ] made you when upon the eve OF our
departure from home, you gave me your part
ing kiss and blessing, / we'll RENE IN Der to
have told you that 4 would, when our regi-
ment reached its destination, SIT down and
sketch you q history OF Whatever Incidents
of interest might tra ranspire upon our jour-
ney. Between home and Richmond, now.
ever, nothing occurred to break the general
monotOny OF duliness which generally reigns
along railroad routes. but wheA we were
about leaving Richmond an incident did oc-
cur which m ust forever still lingering. haunt
the greenest spot on my memory's waste
For several days previous TO the receipt of
marching orders by our regiment, / had been
quite in0isposed, and some OF the boys in our
mess attempted, even on the very morning
we struck our tents, to diesuads me from &C.
companyipg them but rallied my feeble
energies and resolved TO face the music but
before had marched q half mile towards the
depot, / found would be bound to fall in the
ranks if attempted to stay there; so got
leave to withdra " and proceed to. the depot
in q vehicle. Charley was allowed to attend
me, and as we We're proceeding slowly along
the street In search OF conveyance, we
passed by the gate Of one Of the m st splsn did
residences ever saw in my life, at the door
Of which a lady about your age, dear mother,
was standing. She was dressed in mourning,
and as soon as caught the glance Of her
dark, lustrous and intelligent eye, read in
heart III her beautiful face. Yes, mother,
she is very beautiful, illustrating the truth
recorded by the poet when he said, " The
autumn OF the beautiful is beautiful
Bending upon me look Of generous and
motherly sympathy, she exclaimed to Char
ley. on whose arm was leaning, in accents
soft and sweet as the tones of an ANGELS
harp, "Why, young man, is not your friend
him into my house and let me do somsthins
for him. or send for doctor.'' If an anrei
had come sailing down out of the akies and
lit before us, and offered to fan my fevered
brow with It's golden wings 1t could not have
struck Charley aud me more literally all up
in a heap than this beautiful woman did
We, however, after making a stagger or two,
at something polite to say, finally shook off
our embarrassment, and thanking her, told
her We were compelled to hurry forward
But do you think she was to be turned aside
after any such fashion as thaty Not bit
Of it. "Hurry forward indeed % said she --
"You are not able to go at ALL" and with
graceful and hOspitable wave of her hand.
and a smile that have seen, my dear moth
or, thous ind and one times since, and min.
gled its light with the light Of those fond
the rainboWs of hope the dark clouds that
lower over q soldiers tent, she bade us
"come in," and SC completely were we mes
merized, that we obeyed her as promptly as
II HhnH HO11 al
st. Peter inviting us into Heaven.
Well, we were soon seated In her spacious
dining room, gloriOusly refreshed with some
of the most delicious wine ever smacked a
then made us sit up to her breakfast table,
and found myself suddenly decidedly con-
vaiescent Our appetites were soon with us,
and it was precious little like q sick man
To tell you tn Q t. nth, moth er, I was at q loss
to decide with which was most infatuated,
the beautiful hostess, her delicious wine, OF
her superb breakfast.
It would be 4 reflection upon all the good
taste and sense among the educated gentle.
men Of Virginia, to suppose that any such
woman can be single. That is clear ont of
the question, or, II it is not, it amounts to an
Virginia gentlemen for worthiness But, let
her be married or single, want you, mother,
to pray that over her path, through this vale
Of tears, happy stars may shine, and in 1t the
l0lfe0t UOWeIb nay OloOms 1OT sac mas O00n
more than q good Samaritan to your poor sick
boy. When we rose to leave she pressed
Charley and me to remain few days, un til
should recover my health, and when we as.
sured her that could not be, she loaded as
down with wine and picbnacks, which were
as great q god.send to us, on our weary
marc b, as the mama which was rained on
the children Of Israel in the wilderness was
to them. And now, mother, after all, l
blush to tell you do not know her name -
Her house 10 covered with quaker colored
stucco. and stands on the corner of Grace
and Sixth or Seventh streets, and you must
not be surprised. my dear. mother, II tell
Won that, in those dreams Heaven sends to
bless the soldiers pallet Of straw In which he
flies
To those aslds trsvsrsed 50 Oft
In Bfss morning march, when his bosom was
young"
That on my way through drsamland, back
" to the homo of my fathers" also revert TO
that palatial residence where ] met such gen.
tie kindness; for never, NO, never, while I
breathe Heavens vital air, Will.I forget the
incidents Of that morning. With the dia-
mond pointed pen Of gratitude, they have
been recorded upon the tablets Of my memo
~, and there they will glow and slisten
until, with me, the "silver cord IL loosened,
and the golden bowl L. broken"
Your afkecttonate RoBEaT.