Dr. Robert Peel Links to A. L. Peel Diary |
Dr. Robert Hunter Peel Civil War Letter Surgeon, 19th. Mississippi Regiment Letter From Robert to "Sister" Surgeons Office 19th Miss' Regt" March the 28th - 1864 My Dearest Sister, The days roll slowly by dear Alice, the snow lies on the grass again. After weaks of the most delightful weather, we seem to be once more plunged into the very depths of winter. A snow storm came on the eavening of the 23rd and continued until sometime after I had retired in the night. On peeking out of my little tent the next morning, I found it covering the earth to the depth of fourteen inches. My Asst" Surgeon - Dr. Sharpe - had the cruelty to set a dead-fall for the hungry little birds I had fed with crumbs at my door, and before I was aware of it, had bagged two of them. His excuse for this boyish barbarity was that rations were scarce and he wanted a pie for dinner, and he insisted that I will agree with him when the dish is on the table, notwithstanding my pathetic appeal in behalf of the poor little things. I am not sure that he is not right, for the Dr. is quite a philosophir in all things pertaining to gastronomy, and loves good things dearly. I found your little Maud looking quite cold and uncomfortable this morning, but now that the snow has been swept out of her stable and she has had her breakfast and a part of mine she appears more comfortable. I made her all right before dark last eavening wrapping her cover well about her, but the scamp kicked it off before day, and I found her in complete dishabille when I carried her some biscuit for breakfast. I have been in the habit of taking a morning gallop over the mountains frequently since my return, but now I shall have to wait for sunshine and better weather. How often I have wished you were beside me, mounted on my handsome pony, when I have reached the highest peak and cast my longing eyes toward my far-off home. How deeply I regret at such a moment, that I did not urge you to come with me to Virginia, for you cannot know how much I miss you now that you have promised to be mine, mine only & forever. I should have begged you most earnestly to come, dear Sister, but found you still entertained some doubts in regard to the propriety of your own action, and I wished you to be relieved of them before you were induced to take the final step. I met you in my dreams last night . I was seated at the breakfast table of the Hotel at Orange when the train from Richmond came in , bringing you to me, never to part again. Words cannot express the joy I felt in meeting you thus unexpectedly, and as with throbing heart I pressed you to my bosome in one long, sweet embrace, I awoke alas to find it but a dream. Still I was happy Sister, and drawing the cover o'er my head, I thought long and pleasantly of the many joys het in store for us. Am I right in thus anticipating a happy future in which you are to be the very soul of my existence, my life, my all in this world. Did your heart dictate the course you have taken; and does your cooler judgement sanction the vows you have [plijhted! ?] I hope so; from my very soul I hope so; and though I have not received a line from you since we parted, I am sure when those dear letters do come, you will have some thing sweet to tell your absent brother. I only live to love you now my sweet Sister, yet I am not selfish enough to claim you as my own unless your heart can fully reciprocate the deep devotion of my own. I had rather weep to see the face, thou win the to destroy, though I feel it would cost me a terrible struggle to give you up; more terrible than ever, now that I have learned to regard you as a part of my own being. You must not be offended when I write strong, passionate letters to you; I cannot be cold and formal without a painful effort, and I have never taught my pen to speak what my heart does not feel. Day after day I have expected the return of some of our furloughed soldiers, anxiously hoping for a letter from you, but now I have despaired of receiving one until Albert's return. We are daily looking for him, with a perfect load of letters. Oh: if you only knew how dearly we prize a letter from home, you would never fail to write by every opportunity. This is the fourth letter I have written you since I left, and though I have not received a word in reply to any of them, still I feel a pleasure in communication even at this great distance. Yesterday was a day of general rejoicing in the army here - Our Brigade was challenged to a snow fight with the Alabama Brigade and we met upon the pure, white field where the untrodden snow was deep. Drawing up our men in line of battle with our little flags flying and our bands playing, the order to charge was given . Long and fiercely the combat raged; Three times the Alabamians were driven from the field with the loss of two stand of colors and many prisoners, but at length reinforcement arrived, and they rushed upon us, two to one, Then came the tug of war, but the odds were two great aginst us and we were forced to fall back to a stronger position. Wars were fought until all were exhausted , when we left the field, determined to renew the engagement to day. But now the snow is too far melted, and we must defer the start for the present. Give my love to all, and remember me to any of my friends. Write soon & often to ["Sister" is a nickname Robert used for Alice Maud Matthews. Robert was courting Alice after the death of his first wife, Virginia. Alice was Robert's Sister-in-law.]
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