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Cite as: L.D. Bradley
Pearce Civil War Collection
Navarro College, Corsicana, Texas
Mud Island. Nov. 26 h /64
Little Honey.
I received your letter of the 12 h a day or two since, and can assure
you that I never felt happier in my life. I have often grumbled and complained at what I now
know to have been absolutely nothing. There is an old adage to this effect that "we are
unable to appreciate happiness or enjoyment until we have experienced the contrary, or
misfortune" and I am satisfied of its truth. I know now that I have never been really
miserable and unhappy before; that my life has been comparatively smoth [smooth] and
happy, portions of it, I need not designate to you which, supremely so; but when I learned of
your continued bad health, and became apprehensive of sustaining that great loss, than
which there can be no greater, or ore afflicting, I became utterly downcast and miserable. I
feel now, in a great measure, relieved, although I judge from your letter than you are not yet
entirely recovered. My own Little Darling, how happy I am even at the prospect of your
soon being well. If you had died I don't see how it is possible for me to have come home;
the absolute necessity of seeing that our children were properly provided for, and taken care
of, is the only thing in the world which could induce me to do so. Now, I feel as if every
thing has been completely changed; as if some great and overwhelming misfortune had been
turned into some almost equally overwhelming blessing. No one can now looked forward
with more blissful anticipation to a visit home than I do. I had for some time past felt rather
gloomy about it; not that I did not have an intense desire to do so, but I dreaded to see my
sweet little wife ill and suffering. This has learnt me a lesson, Little Honey; whenever an
occurrence of this kind takes place, or is to take place, again, you may rest assured that I shall
make my arrangements so as to be at home exactly at the proper time. -
There is no news here of interest. We are still dragging out the long, slow, weary days at the
same place, but expect to be moved in a short time to Galveston. I can give you no definite
information as to the exact time I will start home until I get to Galveston, and look about me
somewhat. I shall want my horse sent to Navasota but will make my arrangements and let
you know in time; in the mean time, if it is convenient, I would like for you to send for him
and keep him at your father's until I send for him. I am rather afraid, that if the precaution is
not taken, he may be running out with father's horses, and may be hard to get exactly at the
time when I want him.
From the news we have received I judge that Lincoln has been re-elected by a very large
majority. I am glad of it. It was, and is, no doubt the intention of both the candidates to
carry on the war to the utmost length of their power. As it is, we have become somewhat
used to Lincoln, and know that we are able to fight him, whereas, I was afraid that if
McClelland was elected he would have been able to raise a much larger army than his
opponent can. But I will not trouble you with gloomy views about the future, Little Honey; I
am rather too happy in the prospect of you being in good health again, to feel much so
about any outside matter. Kiss the children for me, Little Darling, and continue to write
frequently. I will be certain to bring you some paper when I come home.
De.