Dwight Henry Cory Letters and Diary

Your kind letter has been in my possession for some time but owing to the fact that we have had to move our camp and build our quarters for winter, I have been too busy to answer a single letter and we shall have to move again soon so I conclude that this is the best time to answer your letter and I am reminded of it all the more by the receipt of a Chronicle and The Christian Press directed to me in your well known hand. They will be the means of passing part of the first of Dec. more pleasantly than it might otherwise have been. That apple was just the kind I like best and the cider too. Please do refill my glass and pass the apples. What do you think we had for a thanksgiving dinner. You can't help guessing part of it for we had everything that was good and our regular rations of hard tack besides but our dinner consisted of Roast turkeys, Chickens, pies, Cakes, apples, pickles, Oysters, butter, Cheese, and in fact every thing that heart could wish and what made it all the better was the letters which came in the boxes with the provisions from ladies and gentlemen both asking for letters from us. I have one from a Miss Thompson from Vt. that I am going to answer as soon as all my letters from my friends are answered. Hattie can you congratulate me on my good fortune. I have just been promoted to first lieutenant and Commissary of the regiment with the pay of 122 dollars per month but have to pay a servant and board myself. I care but little about it only it shows me that my services in the regt. have not been overlooked.

The weather is very warm and pleasant indeed. I never saw a more pleasant fall and winter. So far there has been no snow at all and rain but seldom. It seems odd to receive letters from home stating that they can almost or quite use their sleighs and here the ground is warm and dry. I wish you could see how nicely we are fixed for winter. Every man has a fireplace in his little house large enough to cook by and keep him warm and everything looks so nice and tidy, almost like a little village only the houses are all alike. Some of the men of the regt. are talking of sending for their wives to come and see them and the country so much the subject of discourse. Just now, I am sorry that you object to my sending your letters to My Sister Sylvia. I have sent one package and was thinking of sending all the rest soon for safe keeping. Be assured that they will be just as safe there as with me. She is my confident and the only one I have and any thing that interests me is the same to her therefore please forgive my liberty which I took in sending them to her

Your Friend as ever

Dwight

Please direct to

D. H. Cory
1st Lieut G.A.C.S. 6th O.V.C. 3rd Brig. 2nd Divis. C.C.

Yes I think you are a true friend if I have one on earth and you know as well as I do that a friend (so called) in many instances proves false when tried, but not having the least idea that you could be of that number (false) and I think I may safely say knowing you to be "A Friend" in the true sense of the word. I will own that which I would not to another. I have harbored thoughts that you never have any reason to think; thoughts deeper than "Friendship" and by your request they shall be harbored no more. They come (God only knows how) but I will cast them aside if I was wrong I am sorry. I have written many times freely, more freely than I had any right to do and yet I find myself leaning in that direction again. Your letter came about three hours ago. It was rather unexpected but none the less welcome. Milton Irwin and his wife were here, then maybe you would like to know who his wife is. Yes it is our old friend Sue. would you have thought it? They were married one week ago yesterday in Gustavus. I was with them and saw the deed done. How soon he will have to go back I do not know. Milt is a copperhead, I am sorry to know.

I do not know what you meant by asking me if Melissa showed me, or read to me, rather, any of your letters. I did not know that you and Melissa had ever corresponded or didn't I read your letters right.

You see Dwight, you were mistaken in thinking of Lib and myself as you did. And I, as an honest person always ought to do, told him his mistake and he was offended. But I could not avoid it as I know. I do not think he has any hard feelings toward you, only he looks upon you as standing where he expressed or desired to do and said he thought were it not for you that I would not object to going with him, not that you tried to prejudice me against him but to speak plainly that I thought more of you than him and was it my fault that it was true?

I may say, as you did, that those who are foolish enough to love me (if existence ever was given to such a being) are few but it is half past ten o'clock and I must stop for tonight for I will have to be awake in the morning as my father and mother are in Orwell and I am alone except my two brothers and sister younger.

Tuesday 10 1/2 o'clock A.M.

I have just finished my morning duties and as I am all alone, the children having gone to school, I will see what I can do toward entertaining an absent friend a little while although he knows already that it is poor company for him. But you know that poor company is sometimes better than no company at all. Do you ever build air castles? I do sometimes only for the pleasure of seeing the airy mansion tumble and I have been at that very thing this morning but I don't think I will tell you what nonsensical trash ran through my mind. This morning I fear you would take me to be very heartless. I have got a good big heart and it is in my own possession too and will be safer if I can manage to keep it there don't you think so too! You are a very naughty boy but I like you after all. You don't want me too, but I don't care. I will and you can't help yourself either, there now, don't you think I am very self-willed. No I was not at church the day your letter was written, but was at the brides father's. I never saw any one married before. Cap. Barnes had the honor of marrying them. I think they were very foolish to go to a Justice but you know every one to their own notion. I hear Sue has come and I must talk to her you know.

Wednesday. You ask me if you do wrong in writing as you do to me, but Dwight, I do not think I would be a proper judge. You know your own mind far better than I do. If I thought you intended it for flattery I should say "it is wrong" but I would not like to class Dwight a month that number. No, no, I cannot believe as good a friend as you would intend to use flattery.

Yes, indeed, it is a difficult question sometimes, to decide how far friendship may be allowed to go. But I guess we are all right yet, are we not? Did you really want a mitten on the tree? If I had one I would want it to be large like Mrs. Mifkin's so that it would be of some use. I could then use it for a flour sack or various other things as cotton is so high now one might consider such a one to be quite a gift. Yes we did think of the absent ones and do very often. You need not imagine you are forgotten so easily, our memories are very good.

The people would not like to spare Mrs. Wakefield I don't believe, but I think we ought to sacrifice almost anything for the good of our soldiers. Kee is just the man you need, he is always so lively and cheerful and I believe if ever there lived a good Christian man, he is one. He has been holding meetings near Cleveland and has now gone to another place but I do not know where. Mr. Chapman our Methodist minister is holding meetings at the center this week. I was down Sunday evening but have not been since. It is so far. We need a revival in this town for the people (myself included) seem to be asleep on the subject of religion. I have felt Mr. Artemus Ward had better look out what he says. I wouldn't wonder much if his heart was a little depraved too. Wonder if his being named after that celebrated writer wasn't rather more that his weak mind could stand. I guess his mind is a little shattered already, don't you? Dwight, please don't sent this letter to Sis - you won't will you, and I'll be the best friend you ever had. Your letters are always welcome any time, don't forget your old Friend Hattie

[In margin] Mrs. Jane Braden had another daughter and Mrs. Tryphena Borden another son. Sis commenced her school one week ago this morning. I am glad she has got a good one as I thought the one last winter was good didn't you? Of course there are some scholars that don't care whether they learn or not in every school. Sis has one extra good girl and that is Mary Vanwie. It does a teacher so much good to have such a scholar as she is and was last winter. I always knew just were to find her. She takes pride in trying to be the best scholar in every respect. Melissa is at her school. It is beautiful sleighing now and has been for some time. Every thing is very quiet here. Nothing exciting at all.

It is with much embarrassment that I take up the pen to attempt to interest one who has risen from the rank of a common soldier to the high position that you now occupy in the U. S. Army, and it is only in compliance with your enigmatical invitation that I presume to address you. I see by your enigma that you possess a mind stored with both Ancient and Modern History. You first think of the wise and philosophical Socrates and of his scolding wife Xanthippe. May you be relieved from the frowns of such a woman. Your mind then reverts to our own pleasant Ohio, where in the midst of war we persue our peaceful employment as usual. You then think of your situation in contrast with ours and you thank (in your heart) your own Gen. Gregg that he wants you to enjoy so much as he does. Then away you go to Vienna the pride of the Austrians. Something there perhaps in their museums reminds you of the Ancient goddess "Great is Diana & etc." But while you see our own country engaged in such a fearful conflict you cannot remain in a Foreign land, even to search unto its hidden mysteries, and you return to march through the Shenandoah Valley with Gen. Sheridan. Your mind, by something, is brought from these to our own "Queen City" = Cincinnati: perhaps you see a few carloads of pork that you think came from the greatest pork market in the U.S. I see that you are able to contemplate both things Celestial and things terrestrial. You gaze upward and Ohio meets your view. You look downward and oysters and cider cause your mouth to become moist. That you are a young man of the greatest vivacity I think no person of ordinary perceptive powers can for a moment doubt.

I have not been teaching today; have attended the funeral of Uncle Naters Clark. Perhaps you have not heard of the very sad accident that occurred last week Wednesday. Eben. Kee was moving a building. A stake that had been driven into the ground gave way and knocked down three men: Naters Clark, James Manis, and Levi Wakefield. The last member was but little injured. James Manis jaw was cracked and he is not able to be about yet. Uncle Clark's skull was broken in laying the main brace. He died Monday morning. It was a sad accident.

Emily was here over last Saturday and Sunday. All of your people came up here and made us a visit last Friday evening. We had a very good visit indeed. Emily did not go home but stayed and made out her visit. Her little Ilda is just as pretty as can be and does credit to her Uncles and aunts, especially to her Aunt Melissa. I think you and I have just as good a sister as any one in this world has. Not many women are as good as Emily.

My school is passing off very pleasantly indeed. I have forty-nine scholars in all. I think I have the prettiest set of large girls in the County! I expect Daniel Mayfield was married this morning to Miss Amelia Clisbee, a sister of Charlotte Harris' husband. They say she is several years older than he is - but you know her father is sick and money will buy rouge, teeth, and hair. I think Daniel is a good boy.

I suppose Sylvia keeps you posted in the town news. There is nothing going on to break the monotony. There are but one or two young men in town and I think they are spoken for, so you may imagine the forlorn situation of us old girls - Emily and I were going to write together but she has gone home and I don't know when I shall see her again, so I thought I would not wait for her. We are having a good deal of sleighing this winter, and a good deal of very cold weather. I have to be pretty busy to keep my fifty children warm.

I would like to write a very much longer letter but I don't seem to have anything of interest to write. You may sent me Enigma or any other kind of letter just as often as you choose, and they well be gladly received.

Your friend

Melissa

Page:  Intro   1    2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19 

Questions or comments welcome.
Mail to: lovelxxx@iredell.net