Dwight Henry Cory Letters and Diary

Home April 9, 1864

Well Dwight

Your welcome letter was received but not so soon as expected for it had a long road to travel, longer than intended it would have, for I had made preparations to be in Oberlin but Providence had ordered otherwise and as you may know, I was somewhat disappointed.

My health was not very good so our folks thought best for me to stay at home this spring and get rested.

I intend to go nothing preventing in about five weeks from next Monday and stop two weeks at an Uncle's in Clev. The summers term commences the first of June. A picture could not look more like the original than yours does. I am sorry that I have not one to send in return but never mind this time. You shall have one the next time. May be you think I don't intend to keep my promise but it is not my way of doing business to make a promise only for the sport of breaking it.

It has been the worst kind of going so that it is or has been most impossible to go

anywhere. That is my reason but it is just getting passably good roads now. It seems quite

spring like already. Sugar making is done to all appearances and sure enough it is time to be.

I went to church last eve. Your father and Mary were there. What meeting do you say! It is the Wesleyan's Quarterly meeting. It commenced Thursday evening and continues until Sunday evening. Very likely you have been informed of John Pillson's death, ere this he was sick only about two weeks. he died of the Typhoid Pneumonia. It was so very stormy when he was buried that the relatives thought best to defer the sermon until some other time and Edwin Wakefield is to preach it one week from tomorrow. A strong healthy looking man he was, cut down so soon, it seems almost impossible, but nevertheless it is so.

If I had once thought of your not going to Burton the next day and wanting to start early, you should not have gone one step towards Nelson's that dark and stormy night for you could have stayed just as well as not. I was just a little provoked when I heard you had not gone, to think I did not have you stay any way. I guess you thought you would as soon stand guard. The next time you come home you must stay here nights enough to cancel that muddy walk.

Mrs. Raymond just came here to get some cheese to send to Charles. He has been home and is now in Maryland and his mother said, "he camps in a cornfield where the mud is nearly up to their eyes." A hard life is a soldier.

Merie was up here last Thursday. He looks as though he has had a pretty hard fit of sickness and so he has. Sharon has been home but has gone back. He looks as well as I ever saw him. I just saw him long enough to say "How do you do" and that was all. I received a letter from Liberty last night. In one of his he told what he asked you to do for him and said he wondered if you did so. I told him "of course you did." Did I tell a fib. Please forgive me if I did.

Mr. Ross and family have moved into Mr. Kelly's house just east of here and Sue and I keep the road between here and there pretty well traveled, I can tell you. Now Dwight, I must tell you what a time I had getting your letter. I told Melissa if one should come to Oberlin for Harriet Rice, to remail it and one came directed to Harriet Rice and of course she thought it must be me so she sent it. When I opened it, it commenced "Dear Aunt Harriet" - Well, well thought I, this is news to me indeed and upon further examination I found that it was not mine, so I had nothing to do but to return it. Then you see I was in trouble again for fear that Harriet Rice would get your letter and not I, then you see I should have scolded her just a little if I could but just have caught a sight of her. So then I told Melissa to open the letter if she could not tell without whether it was mine or not but she had remailed yours before she received any answer, and it reached its destined home in safety, and I shouldn't wonder much if you were quite tired and fatigued with your long journey, so I thought I would just give you a home in my "Photograph Album" where you might rest and not be disturbed. You will of course write again so that I shall get it before I leave home as it will be five weeks only and that will soon pass.

I cannot come in this letter but you may expect me the next time for I shall surely come but I guess I have written as much as you will care about reading this time. Sue sends her best wishes.

Write soon and believe me to be "thy friend"

Hattie M. Rice

Greene May 13th, 1864

Friend Dwight

A stormy day this is to "The Soldiers." I think I should scold some if I were put on guard such a day as this. We have had nothing except rain for the last two weeks. I am afraid the soldiers and people too will have to go hungry unless the rain stops long enough to let the farmers put in their crops. We must have consolage and hope for the best I suppose.

As you know, I intended to go to Oberlin, but am disappointed in that my health is not good enough to study, so you see I have concluded to be milk-maid this summer. The Dr. says I must not study, sew, read, or work over the stove, but that I might milk, make garden, hoe potatoes, and walk as much as I like. It is rather provoking to have one's mind all fixed for going to school and then be disappointed. O well, I can work in the hay field and that will do just as well I suppose. I was down to Loll's last Wednesday. The folks were all well and seemed to enjoy themselves finely. There is quite an excitement about the draft. It is to be tomorrow for this section. If I were a man I expect I should tremble too, but I should not like to have anyone know it. There is to be 10 taken from this town. I guess the girls will have to be farmers this summer. Libbie Braden was here yesterday and she is a good girl too. I thinks so, don't you. Charlotte and Jane Harrison have gone to Kingsville to teach. I have not seen them for some time. I have fulfilled my promise this time you see. Now I expect you and Lib will compare pictures and you had better not make fun of my face either. I suppose you and Lib made all sorts of fun over my scribbling. Sue has been very sick with the Diphtheria but is better now. We had a real snowstorm last week and just a little snow this week. I guess we are going to have winter all summer. It is reported that the 6th are not allowed to answer letters for 60 days. I think that is a queer performance and it doesn't just suit me. I suppose I shall have to write letters and answer them too. We are having a singing school among ourselves and Nell is chorister. We meet at the Disciple House after Sabbath school and sing about an hour and a half. You ought to be here to sing too. Now do not wait as long before you write as I have if you have not been forbidden to write. May be I shall write again before I get an answer when I have waited sufficient length of time for an answer. From an old friend Hattie M. Rice to D. H. C.

Near Milford Station Va
May 26th 1864

I certify on honor that D. H. Cory Com. Sergt. 6th OH Cavalry Reenlisted at Warrenton, Va. on the first day of January 1864 to serve for three years or during the war and is credited to the township of Greene, Trumbull Co. Ohio.

D. Rhonchway

Capt. & Recruiting Officer 6th OH Cavalry

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