Dr. Robert Peel Links to A. L. Peel Diary |
Dr. Robert Hunter Peel Civil War Letter Surgeon, 19th. Mississippi Regiment Letter From Robert to Alice [Letter from Robert Peel to Alice Maud Matthews] Field Hospital, Harris?s Brig
My Dear Alice, I have written you so often since receiving your last, that I feel some dellicacy in troubling you again; how would I do so now, but that I fear most of my letters may have failed to reach you. If you have received them, however, you will understand why I wrote you the letter you complained of so much, and you will, I know, accept my applogies, as good and Sufficient ones. Untill I hear from you again I do not know what to say in regard to the affair nearest my heart, for since you choose to consider yourself rejected, you may determine to return the favor by discarding me. Be this as it may, my dear Alice, there can never be any change in my feelings for you. I have cherished the passion too long, and have learned to regard you as the only being on earth I can ever love again. I have been too generous, to seek my own happiness at the sacrifice of yours, and dearly as I love you, I would give you up this hour, if you think you would not be happy, perfectly as my wife. I believe I can and do love you with a stronger and purer devotion than another could feel, for the simple reason that I know you perfectly, and can see and appreciate the traits of your character, as well as the many virtues of your pure young heart. This, however, is for you to decide; and I hope e?re now, you have written me a letter, which will fire my destiny and secure my happiness as well as your own.How ofter, in my utter loneliness, have I wished you were here; And how sincerely have I tried to make myself worthy of your love; Alice! Some on earth will even know what it cost me to write that unfortunate letter, which made you free, and destroyed my last hope of enjoyment in this world; I do not know what has been your decision in regard to matter, after receiving my explanations, but from what I may infer from your subsiquent letters I am inclined to believer that all will yet be well. I wrote you about ten days ago, saying that I would come home upon certain specified conditions, but if you did not see proper ti comply with those conditions, I thought my presence in Mississippi, would only be uhnpleasant and embarrassing to both. Have you decided that I shall come or am I to stay away forever. This is a simple decision, and easily made, but upon it depends the fate of one who loves you Alice, and you must act deliberately. I know you are tired of such boyish-love-letters, as I write you but untill we understand each other perfectly I can write in no other syple. I do hope I shall get a long, good letter from you in a few days, by some one who is coming to this Army, for the suspense I have suffered for many months is intolerable. There is no news of interest here. Constant skirmishing still going on, but no general engagement. I have heard nothing from Add since the 15th of July. He was not well at that time, and I fear his health will suffer if he is confined in prison all the winter. There will be an exchange of prisoners in Richmond to day and tomorrow, and Add may possibly be amongst the fortunate number. I received a letter from Volney dated Montgomery, Ala? Sept 11th. He was in hospital, with a slight wound of the head, but was getting well, he said, and would soon be again on duty. I am looking for Hunter Peel to arrive here about the 25th. I understood he would leave home on the 15th, and I have made arrangements to send him to school. I believe your acquaintances here are all well. Write me by every opportunity, and believe me dear Alice, [Robert was courting Alice after the death of his first wife, Virginia. Alice was Robert's Sister-in-law and younger sister of Virginia.] |
