1st Wisconsin Cavalry POW - Bloomfield, MO

Item LTR-266

Description

4 page original Civil War soldier's letter, written in period ink and war dated.

Ripon [ Wisconsin]
October 15th 1861

My own Dear Hessian,

I take this opportunity to address a few lines to you. I have been thinking of you for the last two weeks all the time. You can’t think how sorrowful I feel when I call at your house one week ago last Sunday evening and learned that you was gone away for a short time. It seemed as though I had lost my only friend. But my better judgment teaches me that I have got a friend in a home I can trust and confide all my sorrows as well as joys. And one that I have laid down my life for either to live within a free country or to die in the attempt to maintain its rights. And meet my true love in the world which is to come as the time draws nigh. When we must part, perhaps never to meet again on earth. You cannot imagine the feelings that fill my seemingly hard heart. But Hessian you know that those that have the roughest exterior always have the truest hearts. Oh! I know that you cannot doubt my love for you. Instead others can talk as much as they like. But I think we know each other’s hearts and minds as well. As others can tell us no matter what may happen, I can never doubt that you love me as well as one person can love another. But what is the use at my writing what our hearts know. I don’t think there is any do you?
Our tents are here and set up. We shall move into them today. We anticipate a good time. I asked the Captain this morning to give me a pass until Monday. He said that the Colonel had given him strict orders not to pass another man until he came back. I felt very much disappointed. But I am in camp now and have to abide by the rules and regulations at the camp. I don’t know when I can get away again to go out and see you. Perhaps not before we leave here. There is talk of our going to Milwaukee when we leave here. But we don’t know when it is. But I cannot leave without seeing you. Perhaps you could come down some day next week and make plans to stay all night. Somewhere in town, if you can. Come up on the grounds and let me know and I will get a pass for a few hours and go down and see you. Perhaps for the last time. But we will hope for the best. Be sure and come if you can and stay all night. There is a great deal more that I would be glad to write but I can tell you all when I see you. And the boys are all coming in and I must close. I will not mail this until Monday for it will not go out before Tuesday morning. If you cannot come down please write and send the letter to Ripon and I will get it the same day. No more believe me as ever your truer love and ever faithful friend,
John Augustine Conant

October 18th I thought I would open this letter and write a little more and send it on this morning. The report is that we shall leave here on Friday. But I guess we shall not leave as soon as the there is going to be here tomorrow. You must be sure and come down. I made plans to get a pass on Monday and went down to your house in the morning and again but you did not come. I cannot write any more. Be sure and come down. JAC