Letter to Lemuel Chenoweth

Scope and content:

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

Language:

English .

Other descriptive data:

V.M. Institute
Lexington Va
Nov 22nd 1857

Dear Father
You have, I have no doubt, been expecting a letter from me for some time, although if you recollect I wrote last. You requested me to write frequently -- whether I received anything from you or not -- as you would not have the time to spare from your business to write often, or even to answer my few letters. Could I have found time, I would willingly have acted in accordance with your desire, but you will readily excuse me from the most dreaded of punishments, your displeasure, for this seeming negligence when you read, what I am about to write.

My class has now arrived at the most critical period, in the existence of all V.M.I. "Second Classes," that is, we are about to graduate upon the most important, branch of the course; at "Jan. Examination" our standing upon Mathematics is irrevocably fixed, and you can well imagine, as I am "running" for first, that the most of my time is dedicated to this and that I have but few opportunities [of] writing, even to the dear ones at home. I have still the "first mark" upon "math," notwithstanding the many competitors with whom I have to contend for this high position in my class, and it is my opinion at present, that by hard study I will be enabled to keep it until the end of the hotly contested battle. I will stand first upon this branch of the courses, or come home, this is my chief ambition. You will I hope call it a laudable one, and I could not remain here and see my enemies smile at the keen disappointment that would be occasioned by my failing to realize it, neither could I bear the keener taunts of mock sympathy, that would be imposed on me by deceitful nominal friends.

My immediate studies, however, are not all that I have to offer as an excuse for not writing to you oftener. Just after I came off furlough I was elected "debater" for the 11th Nov, and of course I was compelled to write a "speech," which occupation required a considerable portion of my time -- the dreaded 11th has come and gone, and I will have a little more spare time now than heretofore. I suppose I had better tell you how this my first effort at speechmaking was received. Well I hope you will not call me egotistical, when I inform you that it was highly complimented chiefly by the ladies (of whom there was [missing word] a number present), and sufficiently [applauded by] the male auditors, in fact several [people] said that "it was the best speech made that evening" and four were delivered. The well educated community around and in Lexington was well represented, and you can judge how I trembled when I arose for the first time in my life, to declaim an original speech. I stood it better however than I had thought I could. I wrote twelve pages of foolscap and spoke it off without once referring to the manuscript. I spoke about twenty minutes.

I have the second "mark" on chemistry, with another man, that is I have the same mark that he has, and our mark is second. I have not been appointed assistant professor yet, I still hope however that I will get this office after Jan. I was appointed "sergeant" yesterday (21st Nov) and will not have to stand post any more in the cold -- I will have to wear a sword now, and sit in the "guardroom" instead of carrying a musket out in the sometimes chilly atmosphere. We are going to Richmond on 22nd Feb -- we have been ordered there, by government, Crawford's statue of Washington will be inaugurated then and the President will be there, beside many other distinguished personages. I am well at present -- I wish you would send me a few dollars of pocket money -- if you can spare it. I want it to pay one or two little debts, that [I have] contracted from time to time. I [have not] had any pocket money of any consequence. I will if I [live] pay you ten fold for all the mere money that you can send -- but oh! your kindness -- that I can never repay. Write soon -- give my love to (Mother, Mary, Harriet, Chris, Taylor, Ella May, & Blanche) and all my friends. Great God how my heart sickens when I leave John's name out of the above list - - - The stern tyrant -- Death-- has dealt harshly with us -- he has visited our house until now four of your sons, my brothers, sleep in the silent grave, it seems as if the number of your children can never remain long greater than seven. But I must hush these murmurings, against the [decrees?] of God -- Natures God I mean -- I hardly know whether to believe in the God of revelation or not, -- or rather I do not know whether I believe or not. Belief is not a voluntary act, we must understand partially at least everything that we would believe, or we can not reasonably believe. The faith of the great body of Christians is blind and scarcely deserves the name. Ask the most enthusiastic fanatic of our own day to explain an obscure passage of the Bible and two to one he will admit that he does not understand it -- while he holds out to the last, that he believes it. Write soon

Your affectionate Son
J. H. Chenoweth

Subjects:

Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1850-1859
Correspondence

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