Letter from William Hardy to his wife, Sallie Hardy; 10 April 1862

              Culpeper Court House, Virginia 
April 10th, 1862

My Dear Devoted Sallie,

While at Orange Court House day before yesterday, I was made happy by the reception of your affectionate letter of the 25th March directed to Gordonsville, Virginia. So you see, I get them anyhow whether sent to Gordonsville, Manassas or where. 

You cannot imagine the pleasure, my dear, which your communications inspire me with. They are like the timely visitations of administering angels from heaven, who quell the sorrows and soothe the agonies of the heart and bring back the bright, sunny, halcyon days that once blessed me in the presence and association of my dearly loved and loving wife. Would that they came every day; for there is not a day, nay, an hour but what I think of my dear Sallie and sweet little Mattie. I say "sweet little Mattie" because you call her Mattie. If you have determined on that as her name, allow me to suggest that you do not give her any middle name, but plain, simple Mattie, and then if she ever gets married, she can put in Hardy as her middle name.

I was indeed glad to learn that Sister Mary had arrived and that you were getting along very well, and I was glad to learn from Mr. Guthrie's letter (written in pencil - I hope you'll furnish him pen and ink next time he writes) that Sister Mary was well satisfied. This she may be, but I doubt if she is contented, having been driven from her home by the merciless