Annapolis Md. Feb 13^th 1862

 

Dear Cousin Laura

                                    Your letter of the 9^th was received yesterday and perused by myself and brother with great pleasure I thought it the prettiest letter I ever received the beautiful religious sentiments it contained was so congenial with my own feelings, and accompanied with such a beautiful present that I cannot describe the emotion of pleasure which I felt. I thank you with all my heart for so agreeable a present and I promise you to study its sacred pages well and by the grace of God I will try to follow in the way it directs, until I shall be able to mount in the triumphal [?] of God's redeeming the mount of God and obtain a mansion in the skies God grant it may be a light to my path and a lamp to my feet / that I may safely tread the narrow way, and receive a crown of unfading glory in the peaceful home of the blessed. I prize it more than anything you could have sent me and once more I desire to thank you and will ever remember you when I read its blessed pages, and pray that you may at the close of your earthly mission become a member of the family above and increase the band of angels that surround the eternal [faded] what a blessed thought! that we may be angels and what a sweet and pleasing thought that we may have a home in Heaven, and oft my weary spirit longs to be freed from this earthly house of clay, and go to join the angel bands and shining seraphim that sing and praise forever happy, forever blessed.

 

Feb 15^th I was ordered off on duty just as I finished the last line, and to night having a little leisure time, I will try to finish my letter. I am often without a moments warning ordered / off on duty perhaps for two or three days or a week. tomorrow is the Sabbath day, but Sunday does not often reach the "tented field". I am detailed now to perform a certain duty by the Colonel, which if I can be successful in accomplishing, will be of immense benefit to me hereafter, but I must like other duties of a soldier, work on the Holy Sabbath. I am detailed to act as Recorder in a General Court Martial, instituted for the trial of some nine or ten prisoners, some of whom if found guilty of the charges preferred against them, will perhaps be shot by a file of soldiers. my duties are of a very difficult nature. The Court will be composed of one Colonel one Major and a number of other Officers of different rank. Military rules and law are so strict, I sometimes feel almost pained for those so unfortunate as to come under their censure. 

 

There is much excitement among the soldiers here, on account of news of the success of the Burnside Expedition, and the investment of Fort Donnelson in Tennessee by a Union Army of 50,000 men. The news was read to us on Dress Parade, and cheer after cheer burst from the Regiment, until the Colonel had to order them to cease. I must tell you also that the Officers of our Regt presented our Col. this evening with a most magnificent sword, on Dress Parade which cost 160 dollars. the Col. knew nothing of it until it was handed to him by the Chaplin. he stood for a moment so completely surprised, that he could not speak. it was no doubt an agreeable surprise to him. The health of the Regiment now is very good. I am completely restored to health since I left the hospital, and feel grateful to my kind heavenly Father for His goodness and mercy to me 

 

While penning these lines to you my dear cousin, my thoughts continually are of home and its pleasant associations, the images of my dear friends and acquaintances ever and anon come up before my mind, and the question arises, shall I ever see their kind faces, and clasp their friendly hands again? shall I ever roam the fields and groves of my dear old Penn^a home again? and then I think of the many pleasant hours I have spent in the society of those I love, sweet reminisciences of my childhood are presented before my memory, and home, sweet home seems doubly dear to me. The sunny South with its orange groves, and fields of rice and cotton is pleasant, but it has not the attractions of my Northern home. The glorious magnolia, the magnificent scenery, and beautiful foliage may deck those fair and sunny climes, where perpetual summer and crowns / the prospect with unfading beauty, yet my longing thoughts will still revert toward the hills and valleys of my own dear native State. But I have another home, a bright and glorious home, where eternal summer reigns, where not a wave of trouble rolls, where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest, where the Tree of Life forever blooms, and the River of Life forever flows, but best of all, where Jesus dwells, the Redeemer of the world, and I will see him face to face, and join with Angel bands in singing praises to God and the Lamb forever. And dear Cousin I know you will be there too, you have chosen the good better part which none can take away you have taken up the Cross of Christ, and entered the strait and narrow way, and ere long you too will close your eyes to waken up blooming in immortal youth. / May God give you grace for your every day trial is the fervent prayer of my heart. For the present I must close, the drum has beaten the Tattoo, which is the signal for roll call, and putting out the lights. Continue to pray for your soldier Cousin, give my brother's and my love and best wishes to Cousin Griers and your parents, brothers and sisters, and all my friends. Please write soon and address as before, and I bid you a kind good night,

                                                           

Your Affectionate Cousin

T S Taylor

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