The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-11-19
Letter from . MAIN ed Union
soldier In Libby Prison 10 his
sweet Heart.

Sweet Heart.
The following letter purports to come to
Us from the family of the young lady to
whom it was addressed, in another State,
Pennsylvania, and we believe is genuine.
EDITOR HAwK-EYE.
GROUND CELL OF LIBBY PRISON,
RICHMOND, Va, Sept. 2 "a.
MY DEAR MATTIE-1t has been long
you think me dead. / have been confined
in this dark and gloomy cell for nearly
seven months, and this is the first oppor-
tunity have had to write to you. Your
friend kaie H has been with me all the
time. He wrote to his mother for some
paper, and be gave it all to the boys except
one sheet. OF course he gave me what
am writing on to you-she also sent him q
box Of provisions, and your good sister,
Mrs. Cornell R, put in some very nice
cake, cheese and bread, also a bottle Of
blackberry wine for me which was very
glad TO get. was happy to know I was
not forgotten by my friends.
Matte, there are four Of your fathers
clerks in prison. ! will give you their
Will c., and myself. o what jolly
set Of fellows we we're the day we enlisted.
presume you will wonder how came to
get with the other boys. When your cousin
George B, was removed, enlisted ~
sharpshoo;er, and the Ringgold boys Wlbs
sent out on scout, and was stationedAt
the Church beyond the Red Tavern in Har-
dy county. heard firing in the direction
OF the Tavern, and started for the boys and
who should see commanding the boys
but Cornell R, and went into the rebs
with them, could fight % much better by
the side of my old friends. We were over
powered ard all made prisoners except
four. Lawrence was wounded in the left
shoulder and Charley through the wrist
of his hair and one ear. He thought it close
nicking. He said they were welcome toit
provided they did MT take any more.
Matte, do you remember that you and /
were weighed the day enlisted and my
weight was l73 los. / think would weigh
between the two now. lam 80 weak can
hardly walk. will not tell you all my
su1ferings, for when you read all you can,
imagine for yourself what l have suffered.
Ii amt exchanged before cold weather,
think it and hunger will finish me. Matte,
have got your picture yet. have pre-
served It with jealous care. ! kept it hid
in the lining Of my coat for fear the rebs
would take it from me. But there is hard
ly any thing left to my coat any more, save
to be seen, but suppose must be salts
fed with just such place a. the rebs pro-
vide for me.
am completely discouraged. / feel as
if my race was nearly run and my life pref
" much a failure. ] have had ambitious
topes for myself and you, but they are now
blasted, and noao my only hope is that ]
may not make failure Of the next lfe-ail
l have TO live for now Is to prepare for an
inheritance hereafter. If these light attic
lions shall bring me near to God, It will
be all for the best, perhaps.
have told you how the other boys were
wounded, and now / will venture 70 tell
you OF mine, which is the worst Of any. i
haye lost my right limb and left eye. But
worst Of all, my Matte, can never lisp
your dear name again. A bullet passed
through my cheek and carried OF part Of
my tongue, and the bullet lodged in my
neck.
My love 70 all, particularly to you veneer
able father.
Matte, will break the engagement and
never come in your presence again. II
live to get away from here, win 60 back
to live and die in my fathers house.
Adieu, from your afectionate lover.
J. II. n.
P. S.-The sight Of your hand writing
would be like water in Il thirsty soul, re-
freshing alike TO the body and the mind.
T. H N