Letter from Colonel David Weisiger, 12th Virginia Volunteer Infantry, to his wife after the Battle of Seven Pines.
Camp near Richmond, Va.
June 2, 1862
My Darling Wife:
I’ve no doubt, from what I have heard of the rumors in Petersburg, that you are in agony about me. Yesterday I requested Ben Harrison to telegraph you from Richmond that I was safe. Oh! my dearest I have had a very hard time, but the sufferings in the way of hardship is nothing to what I have suffered in mind at seeing some of my best men and brave boys shot down before my face, to say nothing of thinking about your misery on my account. My darling, even upon the battlefield in the thickest part of the action I thought of you and what pain you would suffer if you only knew my position, but my dear one, I’ve faith in your prayers on my behalf and cannot doubt that I shall pass through unscathed. The prayers of the righteous avail much.
We were in action about half an hour and lost ten men killed, twenty-seven wounded, and seventy-five missing. You just ought to see me, muddy and dirty up to my knees, without a change of clothing as my horse after being shot ran off.
Rest assured that I will always either write or telegraph you if anything should happen. As soon as times get a little quiet I will try and pay you a visit. I must close. Give my love to all the girls.
Your ever devoted husband,
D.A. Weisiger
Source
Tapert, Annette (ed.), The Brothers’ War: Civil War Letters to Their Loved Ones from the Blue and Gray (New York: First Vintage Books Edition, 1998).