Fort Delaware - April 27 1865 - My dearest darling Cornelia

Sep 4, 2026

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A heartfelt letter dated April 27, 1865 from Fort Delaware to Cornelia describes the writer’s confinement and longing to be reunited. It recounts capture on March 5, brief imprisonment, parole visits, a march with Genl. Sheridan, and witnessing destruction along the route. The writer also shares accounts of kind treatment by captors, fears for Cornelia’s family, and deep devotion, emphasizing faith in God’s mercy and hope for marriage.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Fort Delaware

April 27 1865

Capture and parole

Journey with Sheridan

Witnessed destruction

Prison life and separation

Fort Delaware April 27 1865 My dearest darling Cornelia With what longing desire I have sighed for this moment when I could write with even the slightest hopes of your receiving the letter, you can readily imagine. Iam confined as you will see at Fort Delaware. how long I may be here I cannot say. Oh! how I long to see my little darling once more, to tell her all my sorrows in the past, my hopes in the future. for however dark may be the clouds which overshadow us in the present, I can behold at least one field of happiness, immeasurable and eternal in the possession of your love-that to me is now the thought that lightens up the horizon of my future and renders my present life not only endurable, but pleasant. Oh! darling have we not reason to praise and adore our God for His infinite kindness and mercy in sparing us each to the other? And my precious love each day I live I more fully realize the great blessing bestowed upon me. I must now give you some account of my life since my capture which event occurred March 5th whilst in Albemarle on a short “leave of absence” lengthened indefinately [sic.] . I was confined in Ch’ville jail two days, but was paroled to visit my sister at the University & saw Rosalie. I was most kindly treated by my captors. I accompanied Genl Sheridan on his march to Nelson passing immediately by my old home, thence down the canal through Howardsville & Warren to Scottsville. Oh! how my heart sickened at the thought that you might be exposed to their brutality, and I thought immediately upon the spot almost, impotent [?] anything in your defence[sic.] . You can therefore readily imagine my relief and joy when I heard through [?] Rives who saw Mrs. Lewis that you were upon the opposite side of the river. I dread to hear what outrages were committed at your home. I sincerely hope your father and mother were not molested, though I can scarcely expect it, knowing so well what they did elsewhere on their route. With what feelings of humiliation and indignation did I pass the spot where the happiest days, Ah! how happy they were, of my life were spent, to see ruin and destruction meet the eye where so recently all was happiness and plenty-Oh! it makes the heart sick to dwell upon such scenes-God knowshow thankful I am that you, my all, my precious darling were there to witness their violence I stayed in Scottsville half of one night, being allowed in the morning to visit Major Hill, with whom I breakfasted-while there I learned the foul outrage committed on Mr. Scotts place and also his own untimely death-Can we ever efface the remembrance of such pictures from our minds? I would have sent you some message [sic.] by him (Maj. H.) but knew your extreme delicacy & did not do so-from S. I walked (my 2nd days walk, having rode to New Market Wilson) to Columbia, meeting on the way the same signs ofwanton and indiscriminate destruction-I must do Genl Sheridan the credit to say his orders against plundering were very stringent, and most ofit was committed by stragglers, whom the officers, as far as I could see, condemned as much as we did. I stayed in Columbia two days being paroled to visit in the town two or three different times. I was most hospitably entertained by a Mrs. Tomer and George Field’s daughter of whom I remembered having heard you speak. She is quite [?] young lady and quite pretty-but as you understand so well my views and opinions in such matters I will not waste time and paper in a further discourse upon her,“suffice it to say” she was extremely kind and polite telling me she“knew you”,” how much she liked you”“what a dear girl you were”etc, all of which expressions of kindness and affection, the half I have not mentioned I fear I seemed to relish too excessively for her to think me a mere friend. Do you know I cannot hear your name mentioned without feeling as if every one were cognizant of the dear blessed secret of my heart and oh! how I long for the time when I shall be able to tel

FAQs

Where was the writer on April 27, 1865, and why did they write?

The writer was confined at Fort Delaware and wrote to Cornelia with hope that she would receive the letter.

What sequence of events followed the writer’s capture?

After capture on March 5, they were confined in Ch’ville jail for two days, then paroled to visit a sister, before traveling with Genl. Sheridan and later entering prison life again.

How did the writer describe treatment by captors and their emotional focus?

The writer states they were mostly kindly treated and often received courtesy, yet they still feared outrages against Cornelia and expresses intense love, longing, and religious gratitude.

Sep 4, 2026

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