Goldsboro, N.C. April 9^th/65.

 

Dearest Etta,

                        As we have orders to be ready to move to morrow morning at five oclock I thought I would favor you with one more letter. When I shall have another opportunity I cannot tell, it may not be for several weeks, but I do not anticipate a long campaign. Our orders are to move in light marching orders without trains and I think we are going to give Mr Johnson a call. rumor says he is entrenched out here about fourty five miles. if that is so he had better be getting away. I do not think we will have any hard fighting for if Johnson does attempt to make a stand his men will not fight. they are discouraged and cant fight. They are deserting and comming in here by hundreds to give themselves up. one whole Brigade came in the othe day, turned over their arms and equipments and acknowledged themselves prisoners of war, so you see there is not much / prospect of a heavy battle. There was quite a jubilee here last night over the good news from Grant, cannon was fired and small arms discharged with the cheers of the troops the whole length of the line 20 miles. it sounded almost like a salute. I think there is more news to night for the train has just arrived and I heard cheering and a cannon firing in town. we are camped about three miles out.

 

            Dear Etta, it is now a year past since I wrote you the letter, the answer of which made me one of the happiest of men, and I can say that I am no less happy to night in consequence of it. not for a single second have I ever regretted that act, but have oft times rejoiced to think that I was blessed with the pure affections of one so gentle, so meek, and so lovely. do not call me a flatterer Dear Etta for I am in earnest and hate flattery as much as any one, but I have studied your caracter and could not help admiring it, even if I did not love you. / Dear Etta it was not under the impulse of a mere boyish passion that which would last for a time and then vanish, that I ventured to write as I did, but it was the promptings of a deep and lasting affection which had grown almost from childhood and ripened to a fervent love which time cannot change. I had reflected well on the step I was taking for I deemed it one of great importance, one which too many have taken blindly, and spent the remainder of their lives in misery in consequence of it. Therefore I was sure I knew my own hart thouroughly before attempting to find out what your feelings were, or make known to you my love, and as far as you are concerned Dear Etta I could not make myself believe you did not love me, even if you gave me a reason to doubt your fidelity. A single glance at your picture would reasure me if a doubt ever crossed my mind. In one of your letters Dear "Etta" you said perhaps you did wrong to write your thoughts and / feelings just as they wer to me. I hope you will never think so, confide to me what you may see fit and rest asured your confidence will never be betrayed. if you are sad, let me know it, and perhaps I can dispel the gloom and make you cheerful. you did not hurt my feelings by writing as you did, not at all, it was rather a source of happiness to me to know that you place so much confidence in me. I must close now Dearest love for it is late and my candle is nearly out. you will have a hard time reading this for I have a very poor pen and my ink is too thick. I supose you are home by this time write and tell me all about your Jersey trip. Good night, Dear Etta (how I would love to be standing at your door with you speaking these words) good night Dearest for a little while longer.                         

 

I remain yours forever, Henry

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