The Civil War Letters of Pelatiah Bond & Cornelia Edwards

These letters were written before Pelatiah & Cornelia were married.
[53]
"Carolina Ind. April 19 1862"
Ahem! ___________________________________________
I know what I want in the above blank but you can fill it out to suit yourself. I fear I was asking too much when I asked you to write to me whether I wrote or not. If I could not afford to write I can't see how you could.
Well I commenced school on monday as anticipated. My school was not large this week but promises to be much larger in future.
And! Oh! don't you think I had the [?] privilege of accompanying a lady home from church last sunday. We came right past home and did not come home that night. I tell you that did considuable towards setting things right. And then again I regret the mud being so deep that I cannot visit my love. The Idea prevails that I have such a creature out south somewhere. Thats all right.
I bear the "absence" thus far as well as I expected to. It would be pleasant to meet you however; although I cannot flatter myself that I have laid up any great store of knowledge to import.
"They say > Tis said that absence conquers love." If it will, let it. But I fear that for my part it would take a great deal of it.
My _______________ O I must not say that But Cornelia the grass looks so green and the peach buds look so sweet. I was just thinking how I should enjoy a walk in your company this evening. I an quite lonesome for I have not had a letter yet from anywhere, and Melissa and Edward still persist in their absence.
Melissa sent word that she had not yet come because she could not. Having started several times and been defeated by the rain.
But it cannot allways be thus the monotony must break sometime. Roana had a letter from Simpson dated the sixth. They were with in six miles of the battle but had not been ordered forward at the date. This you remember was [?] of the battle. Dr. Jones was home night before last and succeeded in bringing the people down upon him doubly as hard as they were before. And after he started back and got as far as Indianapolis we are happy to [?] that he got [knocked] down for using disrespectful language about the ladies who are employed to nurse the secessionists in the hospital there.
Amen!
But Cornelia how do you enjoy yourself in school? How many teachers and how many pupils have you? What do you study? Do you find any chance to fall in love? Are, there any pretty school Ma'ams there? &c. Just read this "pome" attached and lay it by for future reference when ever you "observe" anybody falling in love
I think it almost equal to the widow Bedot to Elder sniffles or Mrs. Slimmens to her Boston lover. You may read it and laugh as much as you please but pray donıt show it to any body else.

Two drops of rain fell on to the earth
And as they fell embraced each other:
When down the stream in joyous mirth
They traveled on together

Two little springs upon the hill
Each poured a sparkling fountain
They soon unite and form a rill
That twirls and ripples down the mountain

Two roses blooming side by side,
Made many a wooing motion
Their mingled fragrance far and wide
Was borne over land and ocean.

Two little birds have built a nest
Within a leafy bower
Where lesser birds may safely rest
Through many a pelting shower

Two creatures met in human form
They talked and chatted gaily
Professing naught but friendly warm
They grew more loving daily.

Two loving eyes now met two eyes
Enraptured on them gazing
And thus intent refuse to rise
Till Cupid set them blazing.

Two hands then clasped two smaller hands
Two rosy cheeks were blushing
To give the matter as it stands
Two hearts in love were rushing.

Two rosebud lips now met two lips
Oh! could you then have seen them
Loverıs sweetest nectar now they sip
With loves sweet cup between them

Two eyes look love to loving eyes
Two souls vibrate in time
And sigh do now respond to sighs
Two hearts now beat as one.

Two years have passed since first they met
Two score will soon be with them;
And may they never bring regret
Their sins Oh! God forgave them.

P.S. I am going to get a pretty picture out of the trunk directly and kiss it a time or two.
I have white envelopes but I shall use a yellow one because it excites less suspicion.
Sunday 20th fine morning no meeting to go to tell night when I think I shall go to Fortville to hear the Rev. Mr. Mcormic of Kentucky.
I forgot to tell you at the proper time and place that we are about to succeed in getting up the singing school for Mr. Wales.
Do you have a singing school to attend? Well I believe this is all this time except that I think of calling our Home guard together on next saturday to drill. Please write to me answering all the question I have asked and also those that I failed to ask. P. B.

Melissa is Ty's Cousin Melissa Garrett.
Edward is Ty'syoungest brother.
Roane & Simpson are Cornelia's brother & sister-in-law.
[49]
Carolina May fifth, 62
Dearest Cornelia;
Pardon me for this early epistle for I have thought of you several times during each recitation to day as well as almost constantly after I left you yesterday.
Had I had a competent horse for the trip I should have offered to accompany you to town, But Will said he would see you safe there and I thought that would be better under the circumstances.
What makes me so uneasy is the condition which I left "our ankle." I do not like living so far from you for I cannot know whether you are sick or well short of several days after waking injury. I fear your anticepatited happy sleep was not so pleasant as mine was. And to day are you able to be at school atall? I fear you are confined to you room. Do write me the [?] hour giving the facts as they are.
Oh! this is such a pleasant day if I only knew you were well I should be so happy.
Brother E. has come over to work for Mr. Karter.
Melissa was waiting for me when I got back home. She commencing her school this morning I suppose
We hear this morning that Yorktown is evacuated. Oh! I do hope they will succeed in giving up now without many more lives being lost. Dare we hope for the restoration of pease, the return of our dear brothers and friends and a happy ³Union with the one we love all in one year?
What pen could do justice to such a condumation?
Ah! or what heart could propperly appreciate it? It is time for school I will write another line after school,
Well school closed firm at half past 2
I do not know whether I will write to you again this week or not as my week is becoming [?] magnified in my eyes.
Time rushes by at a quickened pace except when checked by thought of absence and your sufferings. But let us be patient and content with our lot leaving every thing like philosophers for the discipline will be good for us in case we should be of those who once loved but now think themselves abused. Sweet Nellie: What more can I say to you now?
Be good to yourself and thus you may bless me and mankind.
Jane is blowing for supper. I must run. Good night! love. sweet sleep and pleasant dreams attend you.
Your own Pelatiah.
Will is Cornelia's brother.
Brother E is Ty's brother Edward.
Melissa is Ty's cousin Melissa Garrett.
Letter from Cornelia Edwards to Pelatiah Bond.
[48]
Noblesville Indiana
May. 1862
Thursday Morning
Dear Dear Ty
Your letter [#49:5 May 62] was brought in to me last night after I had retired and was almost asleep. oh I was so glad to get, I cant tell you how often I pressed it to my lips, before I dared to open it nor how often I pressed it after I did open it. I fear I did wrong in not writing you on Monday I might have known you would be uneasy about "your Cornelia" but my only excuse is want of time, you know I told you Ty I wanted to over=take the [?] Algebra class this week and in order to do this it became necessary for me to study tolerably late, the young lady who was in my class became discouraged yesterday and droped it altogether; As I an alone, and you are aware that it is not so interesting to me in a class by ones self but then I suppose this not what you are so anxious to hear about. Well after you left me last Sunday at Will's my (our's) ankle took to paining me very bad so much that they did not want me to undertake the ride to Noblesville, but I wanted to have a little more romance while I was about it. I think I never suffered more in two hours than did at that time. I smothered a good many groans and tryed to think it didnıt hurt much but then, if I remember it did. I applyed cold water constantly during the night and by morning I was able to walk over to the Seminary but not without very [?] pain. I did not intend to tell you about it but you said to give you the facts as they were and I thought as it was about over I would tell you the truth about the mater. [?] you will pardon me for not telling you sooner do not give your=self any uneasiness about me I am well now and just as happy as can be. Oh Ty this is such a sweet morning just like the one we last spent together. like you, I do not like this way of living so far apart but we can manage to be content and a short time it wont be very long untill we will be happy together, that is if we can keep from laughing long enough. You wish to know when our school would close, there will be five weeks after this. I think I will go home in a week or two, though I donıt feel so homesick now as I did in the first of the week. the news you sent me about the boys was so cheering. I had felt as anxious to hear from this week, yet fearing to hear least,the news would be bad. I think dear Ty we have great reason to rejoice in the hope. that treason will soon be [?]. that our brothers and friends will return safe to witness that happy "Union" you spoke of. ah blissful thought! Ty I donıt believe we will ever become cold and unloving as some do. God forbid that we should. I went a party the other night but did not enjoy it so very well. I didnıt intend to go and had went to my room to study. but two or three of the school girls came after me and I went but did not stay long, perhaps I would have enjoyed it well enough but most of the folks were strange.
Oh Ty yesterday I received a letter from another of the school boys. I wish you could read it I know you would laugh, it is so funny I'll tell you all about it when I see you. The school bell is ringing I must go I'll finish at noon. Noon. Oh I have had just the best time at school this morning but no better than we always have except in the parsing class I thought we had a more interesting time than usual. You say you do not know as you will write to me again this week or not. I know dear Ty that your time is almost constantly occupied and you perhaps cannot write as often as you like. I know I cannot write just as often as you can conveniently. write me a long letter on Sunday if you do not go ³courting² but suit yourself as to time you are aware that your letters are hailed with much pleasure Iıll have to quit writing, oh oh I wish I could see you today. Iıll let you know when I go home. Thank you darling for your kindness in wanting to come with to town I got here safe, but would have enjoyed the ride with you donıt forget to write to your Nellie Excuse all mistakes I know they are numerous but maybe you can read it I wish I could send my love to Ned and Melissa
Letter from Cornelia Edwards to Pelatiah Bond.
[50]
Noblesville Indiana
May 15th 1862
Dear Ty
I trust you will pardon me for not writing you a few days sooner it has now been over a week since I last wrote and something like three days since I relieved your last kind affectionate letter. I did seemingly neglect you, but it was not all, neglect. I think you would consider my excuse all sufficient, and would say it was all right Nellie. Every evening this week I thought I would write, but each time something prevented and last evening I came to the conclusion that I would spend the evening in writing, but just as I was getting ready to have an interview with you, one of my school mates called to see me so I had to lay down the pen and try to entertain him. a very poor entertainment however, I enjoyed his company very much, but think I would have enjoyed writing to you some letter, it was almost dark when he left and after that I had to prepare my lessons for today. but here I have got one page filled with nothing but an appology, when I know it would have been all the same, if I had made none at all. Now if I could just write an interesting letter to you I would feel much better over it. I have nothing to write about only the school for I donıt go out much and there fore do not know what is going on. Now I can hear you thinking "why do you not write your own thoughts it is them I love to hear, and not the thoughts of others". but my dear have I not writen them a number of times untill I fear it will get to be an old song to you. do you think there is any danger Ty? Oh this is such a lonely morning. I wonder what you are doing. I expect you are having a good time walking around over that sweet spot. You say it would be pleasant to take a walk together. Well I think so too, but never mind, perhaps we will enjoy a good many pleasant walks together there. I hope so at least. Oh I am almost affraid to think of it. I must go I hear the bell ringing - good bye and a kiss
Evening.
I again resume the pleasant task of writing you. To day that we had a pleasant time at school today would only be [?] words. that would not express it half. I think I never enjoyed school so well in my life. Yes, once I did when I went to Ben, but that is all past, and I will say no more about it. The honorable Prof. Zerwilliger visited our school today, and oh you better think we had fun. He sent us word this morning that he was coming this after noon, and as Mr Gissel had never seen or heard of the fellow of course we represented him to be something more than ordinary. well he pretended to be very much excited over it, and gave us a great many instructions as to how we should perform before the honı gentleman. but then this is not so funny to you as so Iıll not "bore" you with any more. friend Marda is just now passing to window and says to give her love to the one I am writing to, You must accept it and send some in return for she is such a good girl. You say to tell you when I intend to go home I want to go next saturday week but an not sure that I will, have an opportunity. I will go if possible but I will write you again next week as let you know. I want to go so bad it is now almost five weeks since I left home. I received a letter [#42] from dear coz Milt Yesterday, his only little girl has taken very sick the night before, and he was very uneasy about her. oh it would make you cry to read the letter it is so sad I fear, he will never again be the merry light=hearted man he once was. I also received a letter from Sallie Howe but I will send it to you. then you can better judge of her grief
Ty the advice you gave me was all so good. I know I will profit by it I enjoy such good health that I seen sometimes very careless about retaining it. My dear, without any joking about it have you realy any notion of joining the army now. I donıt think it is necessary for any one to enlist at present but I am no judge. Have you heard from brother Dan since I saw you , when you write to him tell him some good things for [?] I must quit writing. Mattie Swain in coming after me to go and stay all night with her, we want to get our Algebra lessons together, we are now working in Simple Equations
Letter from Pelatiah Bond to Cornelia Edwards.
[54]
"Carolina" Ind. June 4th 62
Dear Cornelia;
Mr. Virgin this morning brought me your letter, which was mailed yesterday Oh! Cornelia I was so glad to get it that it was difficult for me to conceal my emotion from the school. But I thought I did.
You think mine was in a hurried restless manner and I do not wonder for I am a hurrying restless being at times when Things are pulling at me in several directions as they were about that time. But Dearest I am sorry to have allowed my letter to partake of that restlessness, thereby disturbing your quiet thoughts. Oh! Cornelia for the world do not think that I am in anywise [?] with my [? [?] world or that I will neglect you more than cannot posibly help. After I had mailed my letter I thought I had failed to say write but I even hoped you would not notice it as that is so well understood between us. But I know you are a close observers and I hope by your aid to become more careful in many things. I am aware of making many omisions and many insertions in my use of language that renders it ambiguous. Now for that little item of which you speak. The little nap of sleep you took with your head pillowed near my heart (when we were last together) while I gazed enraptured on your sweet comtenance; that short period still stands out in bold relief on memories brighest page. It rests me when Iım weary consoles when I an sad; cheers me when I am [?], and adds to every thought and idea of happiness. But just now I think of something else. My last letter was written in greater hurry and greater confusion than the other. I remember a remark or two in that, that unless you fil up the [?] propperly may cause some strange thoughts. For instance I said "if you should have a chance to come and should not get to see me do not mind it &c". Now I hope you will not understand by this that I would not wish to see you if it were a little more than possible.
I said in addition to the above that "four weeks would soon roll away" If time pases as swiftly with you as it does with me (and no doubt it does) you will hardly have time to write me the necessary letters before it will be gone. True the next three and a half weeks look as though they would be inter[ ?], But the last one and a half weeks seem to have been but a day or two.
One thing I told you Roane had a letter - Capt. I read it next morning but had not time to insert any of the contents in mine.
He was not well but had been on duty the day and night previous to the time of writing was engaged in a picket fight all day.
I do not know when I can finish this.
It is now half past nine oclock the good people of the house have been asleep an hour.
But Oh! my sweet loving Cornelia to think of turning into that bed for a nights sleep without a kiss from you is indeed serious. I would not do it if there was any other chance.
But perhaps I can stand it. I will take your image from my trunk and press it t my lips and say "good night - my sweetest, dearest- earthly friend. Sweet be thy dreams of heavenly liless;
The next worlds sweets mayst thou taste in this."
Good night!
Tuesday noon I am overjoyed today. The news from Corinth is so cheering that I hope Our Dear brother Simpson's labor as a solier will soon be over and he can come home and regain his health.
It is raining now but I hope you are happy. So many things croud upon my mind for utterence that I must ask our pardon if I fail as usual to say much of anything.
I learn that Charley Thomas is "blowing us" for corresponding so often. What shall we do with him?
Now anint this too bad: the school girls are here watching me thinking I am writing a loveletter.
Evening. Some boys came in and I had to lay by my writing.
Cornelia I must say that this is the first time I have taken up a pen since I saw you and felt as though I had time to write.
The bushes are two wet to [?] and so I will try to finish my letter although it will most likely be badly done.
Oh! if I only had your letter here to see what ought to be responded to. But it is over at the house.
There are several arguments in favor of postponing our wedding and some in favor of closing it soon. I shall, as I have told you ende[?] to submit [?] matter to you as far as possible. Or in other words as far as you will assume the responsibility.
But Dear Cornelia if I should at any time propose any thing that does not suit you as well as you could be suited do not, Oh: do not just let it go so because I proposed it. But submit at once your objections and amendments. Of course we had both rather be at this time living together, sipping from lifes sweetest cup, (Which you know is that same mattimonial confidence) that to be as we are.
But of course it will be wise to postpone that "happy time" till we "get a good ready."
So, Love we will go just let time roll on and we will keep up if we can. Meen time I trust there is no damage of our growing cold. So far as I am concerned my affections have been becoming more and more engrossed every day since we became one in parpose and in feeling.
Cornelia I am naturally a proud man in some ways and I always wanted a wife that I could be proud of. My hopes and wishes will be more than realized when we are married.
Oh! Almighty God! Let me not be vain, but feel my dependence upon thee. Let my head low i humility and my heart overflow with gratitude.
I sometimes fear my letters seem cold to you. If they do God knows they are not true to the heart that promps them.
My sheet is full, and my time up and I have not half done but as you say I will say something to day some other time.
[29] [some damage to letter]
" Carolina" Ind. June 8th 1862
My Dear Cornelia;
Again I will attempt to write to you I was looking for a letter yesterday but did not receive it. I wrote you on Thursday. Last night I went down to see (?) M. and this morning went to see Sebe. I did not know but you (?) be at home, but of course I did not intend to look at you. I asked Kate if they had heard from you since you left. She said not. I then asked if you knew Sebe was at home she expected not, or you would have been at home before now. I did not tell her I had heard from you. Well I came home and did not feel very well, having taken a little cold last night. I felt very lonesome but did not wish to go to church. I wished to talk a little with you but as you were not present I looked at your miniature, then took all the letters I have received from you, and went out into the orchard under the (?) shade of a fine apple tree and Oh! Cornelia did I have a feast? I read them all over. They seemed perfectly fresh from your loved hand. I wondered how you were spending this beautiful day; If you were well, if you were lonesome; if you were writing to me, and a thousand other thoughts, all about you Cornelia. Well I thought I would commence writing to you today lest when I get yours I shall not have time. I feel perfectly happy and much more at ease than I have been when writing to you at any time since I saw you. There came some folks now I suppose I should be altogether disconcerted. I have to tell them I am writing "love letters" to excuse myself. And it is now the hour for singing. I will postpone. There singing is over and I resumed. It is impossible to have a pleasant singing here (?) loafers. Our (?) is private and yet dozens persist in coming to the door at least and keeping up a noise to disturb us. "Oh! would some Power the gifty give us, To see our sels as others see us, Twand fra money blunders free us
And foolish notion." Would you believe Cornelia that there are, on such occasions, many "ladies" at the door giving "aid and comfort" to the rabble? Oh! Cornelia how I do love a good woman!
Perhaps I appreciate a good and noble one none the less from having seen those whom I could not admire. As we can (?) only by contrast you know. Well at our singing there were several ladies whom I did really wish I could go have with and kiss, for their good conduct. But I suppressed my desires and laid aside all my gallantry in order that I might write a few more lines to you.
Here now Jane has just given me a large piece of maple sugar. How I would like to divide it with you. I hope soon to so divide all good things that fall into [my] hands. Well I see I have three pages full. I do not know when I shall mail this but hope to have the inexpressible pleasure of answering your next in this. I shall expect to hear from you as soon as tomorrow or next day and I will then finish mine. I feel reluctant to close but guess I must. So permit me to say softly good night love good night.
Tuesday evening 10th
Dear Cornelia I postponed my letter hoping to hear from you but vain has been my eager anxious watching thus far. I have said that time passes off swiftly! Is does when I know you are happy but somehow I have felt an inexpressible and irrepressible anxiety for several days to hear from you. The time seems long since I heard from you. But I suppose it has only been a week since the last that I have received was written. Oh! Dear one! I have so much to tell you. But when I sit down to write I cannot think of half of it; and then I cannot tell it all in this way as well as I can when I see you. I hear that the friends have given up my marrying any body but you; and we corresponded every day last winter (by mail.) Charley Thomas denies having ever told any one that we were corresponding. This is a beautiful warm evening. I wish I could enjoy it with you. This morning while I was at work I could but think how pleasant it would be if Cornelia was at the house, to go in and rest a few minutes. I fancee that I could work with more ease and greater effect afterwards For to tell the truth I have been quite lonesome for two days past, despite of my determination to be otherwise. And Oh! Cornelia I wonder if you are not lonesome too. But do not give away to loneliness for time is swiftly rolling his mighty, car; and will soon bring us together again if no unforeseen accident occurs to prevent our meeting. School is quite pleasant now but I believe there is nothing going on with relating. I think of mailing this letter in the morning Whether I get yours or not. I have not had a letter from any source except from you since I saw you. Is not that too bad! I think it is. And more; Brother D's[Daniels] regiment was deeply into that fight at Richmond the other day. How glad we would be to hear that he came out unscathed! But what is the use of talking; things must have their times. He may be dead, and he may be as thousands surely are; wounded and helpless. I hope to hear from him soon. I must soon close this for the present, but perhaps I will write a line when I get to the office in the morning.
Well Cornelia I should enjoy a kiss exceedingly just now but I suppose you will not let me have it so I must rest till I get nearer to you; Then I hope there will "be not so great a barrier." But I must go and work a little while
Good night loved one
Fortville Wednesday morning.
I get no letters this morning but I trust it will all be right after a while. I will be content as possible
. Good morning love
Pelatiah
[51]
Noblesville Indiana
June 13 1862
Dear Kind Ty
How I wish we could spend this day together for I feel a little lonesome, everything looks dark a gloomy out-doors. I don't feel very well and am a little homesick to see you. Now Ty do not think there is anything serious the matter or there in not not only what I have told you and I am sure it would only take one look and word from you to set all thinhs right. It would drive away every gloomy feeling and make me feel just as happy as I did when we were last together. pardon me dear Ty for coming in such a strain and I'll do my best to write a cheerfull letter. Yesterday Afternoon while I was very busily engaged performing some domestic labor, a sweet little girl came in and handed me two letters, one from you, and of cource I read it first I was expecting it and would have been sadly disappointed if I had not got it. oh it was do good and kind I read it over a number of times, but while reading I was impressed with the idea, that you did not feel well. that you were either sick or had something on your mind that troubled you, perhaps this is all imagination with me. I hope so but your letter seemed to be writen in a huried restless manner and you did not even say, 'write to me soon Cornelia", but I knew you had forgoten it , and therefore did not delay on that account, as perhaps some "ladies" would would have done , thinking their letter would not be acceptable. I feel as sure that you will be anxiously waiting a reply from me, and will send it with the same kind feeling in which it was writen. There was one thing in you letter that I did nt understand. What did you mean by saying,' the short [?] I took is the sweetest thing and the page of memory"? I must be something important,and I think it strange that it has sliped my memory. don't forget to tell me when you write again what it means. School passed off very pleasantly last week only it seems to one I did not get as much accomplished as usual, and half as much as I wished to. My dear in regard to our wedding, I can say that it will suit me better to postpone a while, although I would have said nothing about it had you not mentioned it first. I will have a great deal of work to do after school is out and if you think best we will postpone that happy time, untill we get a good [?] what think you? Monday evening. I suppose you think I am a little negligent or I could have finished writing sooner, but I felt do bad yesterday, that I thought I would not write untill this morning. And when that time came I was not able to go to school and of course did not feel like writing. I went this afternoon, but did not study much and only wrote the lessons, the (Algebra and Arithmetic Our society met after school and I begged for an excuse (as this was the week for my company to perform) but Mr Grissle said it would not do for the [?] to ask for an excuse so I had to go right out and perform, a very poor performance by the way. I came near getting a little spunky at Grissle. he excused several other young ladies but not me. but I'll moch him for it yet. he belongs to my company and I just now remember, he did not perform so I'll keep him in some night this week and make him declaim, don't you think it will be a good way to get revenge? Our society does not seem to proper so well now as time goes, but I trust it will improve as we have a new president and one that will make things move. You would have thought so if you could have heard the speech he gave us that evening but enough of this, and least you might be a little anxious about my health I will say that I feel quite well this evening so much better both in body and mind than I had yesterday. oh Ty I am affraid the next four weeks will be so long but I guess we can live over it. Mat and Melisia knew nothing about how early we returned that night. Mat did not at least for I pumped her good next day, and she seemed perfectly ignorant. She asked me today if I had heard from you since. I told her"of course I had she sends much love and everything good to you. Now dear Ty what good thing shall I say in conclusion. I cant just now think of anything half good enough but if I could see you, I know I could say something that would please you. Then you would kiss me for it and oh wouldn't we be happy, pardon me for indulging in such reveries but I can't very well help it . I'll promise to quit if you will. If I had time and felt like it I would burn this and write another letter for I have very serious doubts as to whether you can read this all, but I have some work to do tonight and can't write any more, I have so much to tell you when I see you Good night My dear write me a long letter soon and I know how good it will be think of your own Nellie for she is ever thinking of you
[52]
envelope: Windfall L July 29 Miss Cornelia Edwards, Fall Creek, Ind.
Tipton July 27th 62
Dearest Loved One
I wrote you on tuesday evening last I am today differently situated. Then I was lonesome and almost sad I was among strangers in a wet swampy wood. The weather was rainy and [?]lad . Today I am with old friends found unsought. The woods are dry and musical with the songs of birds. The air and the light sun shine are cheerful. The wild bees are humming all through the forest and the deep cool refreshing shade all combine and pour their unwonted melodies and sweetness into my would be happy heart. I am happier today than it would seem possible I could be taking into consideration the fact that I have not heard from Daniel yet, our country is in war, and that Cornelia is not with me to enjoy the sweetness of this solitude. All of these are taxes upon my happiness of which I hope soon to be relieved. I have had a hard struggle the past week to stick to business, and but for the fact that the will looses its force as the physical powers are exhausted I should have gone to recruiting a company. There was a great war meeting here yesterday. a company was enrolled and its officers elected. My special desire is, while I live to do my duty as a man, making personal matters a secondary consideration. i [ line marked out] I will try therefore to maintain a balance of mind and act cooly and judiciously, rather than yield to the powerful impulse of my nature. Perhaps I can do more somewhere else in this army. Bought enough on that.I have just had an invitation to spend the evening with a neighbor here who is a widower and whose daughter is and has been his only housekeeper for several years. Ain't you afraid you will loose my heart. Bind it close to you tonight love! and keep it all thy [?] I have not forgotten the thousand and one sweet kisses, looks and expressions; the numberless heart thrills of bliss that no presence but you could ever awake. It is almost a week and a half since I saw you how much longer it will be I know not. It may be that I shall come down soon. I may not come for near a month. Until I come be as happy and cheerful as you can. I am very sorry that I cannot see you all to day I know you are all more or less sad as tomorrow Sebe. must leave you. I forgot when I was there that I was going away and hardly bade him a respectful adier. I have felt much ashamed and very sorry everytime I have thought of it since. And poor Kate I pity her so. How sad will be the hours to her this week. You must cheer her kindly. I know that he cannot forget her as some soldiers have forgotten those they left behind them. I cannot think what to write that will interest you. This may not be mailed at Tipton as we are nearer another office now. But yours should be directed to Tipton. Tell Sarah that Sam is very busy writing and I don't know but he is writing to her. If he is she will receive a devoted letter as he is most intent upon it. Well I do not know whether I have written enough or not. I hope sometimes this week to have the pleasure of reading a letter from Cornelia. (I can't think of any other name that sounds half so nice) This is near the last of july. One month more at least of "single blessedness" as [?] says and then. Well what then! War or matrimony! Get us prepare for the latter; accepting the former only as a necessity. My respects to all.I am with unabated love and affection
Your Unworthy Lover Pelatiah.
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Fall Creek Indiana
July 27th /62
Dear Dear Ty
your sweet little m[ ] of love reached me this
afternoon. I need not tell you that i was glad to get it and that I perused it over again and again and that each time it seemed to grow in interest untill I almost imagined myself talking to you. you know all this so I will proceed to tell you something else if possible. I was expecting either you or a letter this evening and oh how sad I would have felt if I had not heard from you. I am sick have just got up and think perhaps I can remain long enough to write a letter but I trust you will not feel bad about me though I know you will. I have not been well since the day you were here ,but was so very busy all week working for "us" that I tryed to not be sick. I had to give up today and go to bed my head aches awfull this evening oh I want to lay it on the old resting place so much I am sure I would feel almost well. Kate has been sick all week but seems to be better this eve. Sebe has just returned from Fortville. Rosie Dobens is dead. Leunt Akerman has not resigned but is only home on sick furlough and will return to the reg. soon. I believe is all the special news he brought. Sebe starts back on monday oh! it seems so hard for them to part when Kate is not well. Ma just now came up to see how I am and was surprised to see me writing. I asked her in regard to our wedding. she said she would tell me tomorrow then dear Ty Iıll tell you all about it. Oh Ty we had such a long sweet conversation about you the other day I am sure Ty the knowledge of your engagement was quit a surprise to them all especially to Ma and of course she thought it was new arrangement since I returned from school. She commences by saying she was affraid the attachment was not strong enough. That I did not love you as I should to become your wife. Ty I tryed so hard to tell her how much and how well I love you but I know I failed in the attempt. however she seemed satisfied with what I told her. My dear it is so dark I will be under the painfull necessity of laying aside my writing utensils for the present. There is nothing I enjoy so will in your absence as writing to you
Sunday Morning
Dearest one I feel some better this
morning though not altogether well I wish I was for then i could write you such a cheerful letter and one that would make you feel so. I know you are spending a lonesome day away out there among strangers. I am glad Sam is with you for you would be so very lonely with out him. Oh Ty I received such a sweet long letter from Cos Milt' yesterday, he talks of joining the army sometime this summer. If he does he will not visit us, as he intended to. I do not think cos ought to leave his children now that their Mother is gone. Cos Milt says he has two very serious objections to my manner of writing. one is that I blarmy
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[?] excuse me this time for writing such a messed up kind of a letter I don't believe you can read it at all, and remember I will be almost imashent to hear from you
The sick folks all seem to be better this morning Good bye I can't write any more now I kiss my hand to you my dear