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Letter from Walter Reed to Emilie B. Lawrence, November 11, 1875

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Willet's Point,
N. Y. Harbor,
Novr 11th 1875.
My sweet, little E.;

    It is just [already]
3 o'clock P.M., & my letter is
just begun- Do you ask for
the cause of the delay? I know
the fact of my delaying will
only tend to confirm your be-
lief that I have grown wea-
ry of writing twice a week-
Now, really, my precious, you
were only joking when you
wrote that in your last
letter- I know you were, &
yet it gives me an op-

 
portunity of telling you from
the bottom of my heart that I
enjoy our correspondence as
much (& more) than [than] as I did
when it was first begun-
and I look for the arrival
of your darling letters much
more eagerly- Then, there were
many perplexing doubts that
sore troubled me; but now,
you r are my own, darling
little Emilie- the sweetest
woman, in my estimation, that
ever breathed! And don't think
that because you have given
your heart to me, that I, like
many, ah! too many! have
grown indifferent, Believe
me, my love, it is not so!
On the other hand, when I
come to see you & find
 
myself in the dear little par-
lor, awaiting your appear-
ance, there is a tumultu-
ous beating in my bosom
that is unmistak e able- and
it is [in] vain that I try to pre-
serve a calm exterior.

    Well, if all this be true, doubt-
less, you wonder why I
didn't write my letter, this
morning- It was simply be-
cause I had some matters
to attend to, at the Hospl that
could not be delayed- A
large invoice of Medical
Stores had arrived & I had
to superintend the unpack-
ing of the same, & see that
none were missing- This
work I have just finished,
& without a moment's de-

 
lay, I have taken up my pen.
Now, am I not a very dutiful
boy, after all? Do say yes,
my darling, or I shall be ev-
er so much downhearted!
I can't labor, with a light
heart, while you, my Queen,
art frowning- Just deign
to spare one smile (oh! that
I could see it!) while you
read, & I shall be happy!
Tell Miss Annie, that we can
never be friends till she re-
tracts her remark concerning you,
& acknowledges that you are
the greatest woman living;
& that you neither put on airs
nor toss your head! How
blind she must be, not
 
to see that you are an
Angel! To my mind, nothing
could be clearer, and I have
no doubt that she would
agree with me, only she does
not like to acknowledge it
to me! When I next see
her, we will discuss the
matter. Just as I finished
the above sentence, I heard
several loud reports, &
on going to the window, I
find that a salute of
13 Cannon are being fired
in honor of the arrival
of General Humphreys, who
is Chief of the Engineers
of the Army- The Point has
been in a quiver of ex-
pectation, since the report
that he was coming reached

 

    here, a few days ago- To-mor-
row, there will be a grand
parade & review, but I shan't
attend, as I must meet
Jimmie, in New York to-mor-
row morning- we have all
been invited by General Ab-
bott to his house, this evening
to meet the Chief & grasp his
powerful hand. Of course,
I shall shall go & make
my obeisance, for you must
know that an invitation from
the Commanding Officer is
equal to a command, & is not
to be overlooked- Tomorrow
evening, the officers' mess
will give the Chief a ban-
quet, & I expect to destroy
more than my usual amt.
of food- whether I shall

 

    MISSING PAGE

 

    silver locks & a pleasant
smile- After a conversation
of a few moments, the
large folding-doors were
thrown open, & we were
invited to join in an ele-
gant repast- This over, we
returned to the Parlor, & chatted
a few moments, & then bade
the old warrior good eve-
ning- As it is quite late,
I will terminate my epistle,
& retire, so that I may rise early
in the morning & go to the City-

Good-night, my darling,
and believe me, as ever,
your fond & devoted

Walter
.