Civil War Love Letters: January 15, 1862

13, January 2012

Disclaimer

There are words, phrases, and statements in these letters that may be offensive to the reader. At the time the letters were written, certain words and phrases were common and even acceptable. We wish it were otherwise. The words are those of the author, James Love, and the attitudes he expresses are those of the time period. We have retained the original language of the letters because we believe that, in spite of their faults, the letters provide an exceptional first-hand account of the attitudes and actions during this horrific period in our nation’s history.

At the beginning of 1862, the future of James Love’s unattached company remained uncertain. He and the other soldiers traveled to camp near Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and waited to hear if they would join a Kansas regiment or go to New Mexico.

Camp Hunter
Fort Leavenworth
Jany 15th 1862

My Dear Molly

I arrived here last night all safe after a long & wearisome journey in good company however including some officers of the regular Army. One a South Carolinian & a very good fellow, some Ladies, a Kansas representative, fresh from Washington, & full of politics a la Jim Lane - &c &c. So the time passed amid wars & rumors of wars, & we got some glimpses of secesh on horseback too. We passed on the Pioneer train over the new bridges - had to wait at Mexico half an hour until the large bridge there was finished for us, & in consequence did not make the connection at Hudson as we ought. After a while we got on a freight train which stopped at Brookfield, where there is a large hotel, nothing more - & here we had to stop over Sunday - inasmuch as the Hotel keeper conspired with the Engineers of two freight trains that started to go without us - and so the aforesaid company had to amuse one another on the wide prairie, nary church within 30 miles, which we did & got well acquainted had a sleigh ride as part of the bill of fare. On Monday we got on another freight train at Eight in the morning & at dark our company gained St. Joe. where at the Pattee House, we revenged ourselves for past hard times

On the way to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, James and his company stopped in St. Joseph, Missouri. "View of St. Joe, Missouri, from the Kansas side." Illustrated London News, November 16, 1861. Missouri History Museum.

It snowed most the day & was intensely cold both Sunday & Monday

On Tuesday we again started in a snowstorm & arrived only at dark at the Camp - thus taking over four days, to travel four hundred miles, which ought to have been done in 36 hours. I took it very easy, thinking I might probably be as well on the cars as in Camp, under the circumstances, & I rather think so, now that I see it.

Well here I am at last & just got into harness - I write this tonight because I will be officer of the day tomorrow.

And now as to news of the future, it is all too dim as yet to mention, but there is still some hopes of New Mexico being our destination

The Colonel has had a proposition much to his & perhaps our advantage if we would join Jim Lane but he has for the present refused - & in consequence there is already a great many obstacles being thrown in our way. Meanwhile my dear girl, I am in good health, & with care, which I can & will take, I expect to continue so, if Providence wills it. And now my dear Eliza, pray take care of yourself, & with Love & Patience I hope all will come right yet.

Yours,
Love

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