March 12, 1865 pg 4

Cottage with Lue crying good
bye to you and me and mother
and Aunt Harriet and Eliza
and the Major and the rest
blessing us thro' their tears
and bidding us "God speed"
as we were about starting
on the voyage of life and
hope together -- never more
to be separated on Earth.

But I think I could willingly
dispense with the Port of Entry
and the steamer and even the
touching farewell of loved ones
if that "day of jubilo" had come.
With you for my darling wife
the measure of my contentment
and happiness would be filled.
Hail blessed day! May Heaven
hasten and bless our union.

I love to write to you
after this fashion. For I believe
you trust my earnestness now;
and to repeat these thoughts at
even so great a distance is