Letter from Mark B. Hardin to Susan L. Hardin

Creator:

Hardin, Mark B. (Mark Bernard), 1838-1916

Scope and content:

Written from "Battery 8, Richmond," Virgnia. Letter regards Civil War service and family news.

Language:

English .

Biographical / historical:

At the time of this letter, Mark B. Hardin was serving in the Confederate Army as a Major in command of the Heavy Artillery Battalion, 18th Virginia, assigned to the defenses at Richmond, Virginia.

Other descriptive data:

Battery 8, Richmond
Jan'y 3rd 1864

Dear Sue
I received your letter yesterday & was truly glad to hear from you. I should have written before, but your last letter was in some way misplaced and I did not know where to address. You say that if I do not pay you a visit soon that you will never forgive me. If you won't forgive, you'll never forget me, so I am almost determined never to go to see you. But I am sure that such a course will be unnecessary to keep me in your memory, and whenever I can make it conveniently, I shall certainly pay you the visit. Just now it will not be possible to do so.

It is true that I am allowing my soldiers to go on furlough, but I do not feel disposed to ask a leave of absence for myself. This is not my dear sister because I am not truly anxious to see you, but because I am now, & will be for some time, quite busy in settling up my official transactions & accounts for the last quarter of the old year. I have not had, Sue, a leave of absence for a single day since I have been in service, and it has become a sort of matter of pride to be able to know that I have never asked for such an indulgence. I determined when I entered the service that I would not apply for a leave unless it was upon a matter of absolute necessity, and I am sure you would not have me break through this resolution. Some of these days when I can convince myself that it is necessary to take a short respite from the duties & troubles of the camp, I will make it a duty, as it will always be my greatest pleasure, to run down & visit you.

Do not think my dear sister, that I am forgetful, or that my affection for you is in the least diminished. I constantly think of you, and am more & more solicitous about you as you grow older. I look forward to the time when this direful war will cease, and anticipate the most delightful seasons of companionship with you. God grant in His Mercy & Providence that these anticipations may be realized.

I hope you had a pleasant Christmas & that your New Year promises to be a happy one. My Christmas was very dull. No Santa Claus, no merry faces, no big bowl of egg-nog, no family gathering, no luxurious table, nothing, in such, to remind me of the Christmas of the good old times. The New Year has passed upon us, as the old one passed away. Such is the fate of the soldiers. But what else should we expect. We are not in the service to make merry and have fun. Many, very many unpleasant things have to be submitted to. These we must bear as patiently and cheerfully as possible, and recollect the cause in which we are engaged and the mighty interests, which are at stake.

An under regard for self-enjoyment has probably caused some of our reverses; our motto for the New Year should be "Duty".

You write in such excellent spirits that I am sure you have been enjoying yourself much. This fully compensates for my dull Christmas.

By the way, Sue, you said something in one of your letters about a very dear friend of yours who was going to pay a visit to Richmond this winter. You stated that she intended staying at Capt Miles Selden's, but did not tell me the name of the young lady. You must let me know who she is, so that I may call on her.

You must look around too, and try & find me a nice little sweet-heart by the time I pay you the visit. I can not find anyone to suit me up this way, and I understand that there are some very sweet girls in N.C.

Cousin Jimmy(?) has, I see, been giving you quite an account of my younger days - days before your were born, Sue. I have changed much since then and I daresay Jimmy would not recollect the little curly headed boy who could neither ride nor climb. I should like very much to see him & you must give my love to him. Tell him his instructions were profited by and that the pupil will almost be willing to hazard a trial of powers with his master.

I met a gentleman not long ago who told me that a cousin of mine was stationed in Raleigh. He was on duty in the Provost Marshal's Office. I did not learn his first name but suffice it must be either Jimmy(?) or his brother. If you know what cousin it is, you must tell me in your next letter.

Phil is out in east Tennessee. I heard from him a few days ago. He was very well. Have not heard from Washington lately. Give my love to Johnny & tell him not to grow so fast that I will not know him when I see him. Remember me to your Grandma, Uncle Walter, and all other members of the family. Always send love to Cousins Julia & Eliza. I feel toward them much as if they were near relatives, and never shall forget the pleasant associations with Julia or the sweet little face & manners of Eliza. It seems strange to think that Eliza is now a "?". I can scarcely realize it, for it seems but yesterday when she used to play about our house as a mere child. Girls grow so much more rapidly than boys that I expect to find you almost a woman when I pay that visit.

Write soon, Sue, and tell me what you & Johnny are doing.
Your affectionate brother
Bunny

Who directed the last two letters you sent me? I am not familiar with the handwriting. It is very pretty.

Subjects:

Soldiers -- Confederate States of America -- Correspondence

Names:

Hardin, Mark B. (Mark Bernard), 1838-1916

Access and use