Letter from Luther Bruen, Nokesville, VA to Augusta Bruen, 1864-03-12
Nokesville Va March 12th 64 My Dear Augusta: Your good long letter of the 5th reached me last night. One end of it was open, the mail having got on its way here from Division Head Quarters. It however fared better than some of the others, the envelopes coming entirely off and the superscription being rendered illegible. I have set down to answer it so soon because it was such a good long one, and because I have already written a long letter to Sella, not because I have any thing to write about. We have had another dismal rainy day, that has kept us all at home with very little to do, -- few books to read, but all the New York newspapers. The latter are mainly filled with account of Kilpatrick's raid, which has proved a most signal, expensive and unhappy failure. I am tired and sick of reading about it and shall be very glad when the newspapers are done with it -- they have exhausted it already. I see that Chase has withdrawn from the presidential canvass, this I think very good policy for him as he did not appear to have the slightest chance of a nomination. I do not think it so well for the country, as I believe he would make a much safer and better President, for the troublous times that are to follow the putting down of the rebellion, than Mr. Lincoln or any other of our public men. It is his last chance too I think, as the successor of Mr. Lincoln will probably be a military man. That is to say if he is re-elected for I am afraid that a general want of success, or a disastrous defeat in the midst of the canvass might possibly defeat Mr. Lincoln. I think it highly probable that Mr. Chase will be the successor of Chief Justice Taney on the Supreme Bench, a position, as things go in these days, more honorable, if worthily and ably filled than the Presidency. You can give Mary as much of the map border as you choose, with my love, as I shall never put it on the map again. The map has not arrived yet, nor the Journal with the account of the mob. Tell Mary I threw her basket away after I had emptied it -- if she looks right sharp she might find it somewhere in Washington. When she finds it, I will fill it with nice fresh eggs laid by our own hens if she will bring it here -- she must bring it tho! So Mrs. R.N.S. is dead; poor woman, she can not have enjoyed life much of late years. And he, -- I wonder which one of the sisters he will begin to cast sheeps' eyes at, -- I could name some who will begin to praise him immoderately, and fix themselves up to attract his attention. Wonder if he'll try another Smith! Don't you think I'm sin-incal? You mustn't let the*Peirce's know I have written such outrageousness. I have plenty of P.O. stamps now, having got Mimmack to buy me some, so there is no danger of ceasing to write because I have no stamps to put on my letters. The re-organization of this army still waits for something, where the hitch is I do not know, nor can I guess how we are to be affected by that #which is to be determined on.# #I should like to see Tom Corwin after he is "converted" -- and I should very much like to have him converted if he would turn preacher and I have the opportunity of hearing him preach every Sunday. I'll promise him the Chaplaincy if that will have any effect in securing his conversion -- it is the best I can do. Would I could offer greater inducements for so laudable an object. I am very much afraid I shall never enjoy the stated preaching of the Gospel under his ministration, although he is a minister.# #I have just the corner to say Good bye Darling one. Thine L.B.B.#
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March 12, 1864
Bruen, Luther Barnett
Nokesville, VA
4 pages
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Bruen, Luther Barnett -- Correspondence
Catharine Mitchill '31 Collection of Family Letters, Wellesley College Library, Special Collections
MSS.6.287
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http://repository.wellesley.edu/mitchill/287
