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Dr. Robert Hunter Peel Civil War Letter Surgeon, 19th. Mississippi Regiment Letter From Robert to "Sister" [Letter from Robert Hunter Peel to Alice Maud Matthews, Holly Springs, Mississippi] Field Hospital - Posey's Brigade
My dear Sister, Imagine my delight on the reception of your dear, kind letter, situated as I am at this moment - in a field hospital - temporarily erected for the accomodation of the wounded whom we are hourly expecting. The enemy have crossed to our side of the Rappahannoc and our army is now drawn up in line of battle to meet them. We feel no aprehension for the result, for we always whip them, and our soldiers here, go in with no other calculation than to win. I am sitting on a sack of corn from which I have just fed my handsome pony (Alice Maud) and am writing on a book with my lead pencil- the only substitute I have for a pen at present. Thus romantically situated my dear Sister, you will of course expect nothing particularly interesting from your affectionate Bud, but my anxiety to communicate with you, and the uncertainty of my future movements induces me to make use of this opportunity bad as it is. I did not consult you about naming my pony, but am sure if you were to see her you would not wish it changed. I called it after you because it is a little beauty, because it is kind and gentle, and because I love it. It is my pet and follows me about camp and begs for biscuit and ginger bread of which it is very fond, thus resembling my dear little Sister in another point. I had some lady friends in town last winter, who used to ride the pony sometimes and frequently called on me at my little tent in the green wood near by, to drink egg-nog and eat peanuts with me. One black eyed beauty (Susie) was so much pleased with the pony, that she even agreed to take the owner to get possession of it and had she not been a Pensylvania girl by birth I fear I should have given-up pony rides and all, for Susie was a sweet little flower from the valey of wyoming, and used to sing songs to me, and call me her dear Brother. She favored you some and for that reason I called her Sister, and became quite attached to her while I was near town and could visit her at home. I have one other lady friend in this state, in whom I feel deep interest because of her peculiar circumstances, and because she has ever shown such a disposition to confide in me though I have not met her since she left Manassas for school more than sixteen months ago. She was cut-off from home by the yankees and now refuses to return to her fathers house because he has taken the oath to the Lincoln Despotism. Knowing the regiment to which I was attached, she wrote to me last fall, telling me how she was situated and asking my advice. I told her to remain at school until her education was completed, and sent her means to pay her board and tuition, which she indignantly refused at first but finaly accepted as a loan until she can communicate with her unfortunate father. She writes to me frequently now and calls me her brother & protector, and I am quite fond of my little friend. You see Sister, I have friends everywhere and should I get sick again in Virginia these new sisters of mine have promised to nurse me until I am "all right" and ready for duty. Sister; do not imagine for a moment that any one can supplant you in my affections, for your every looks remind one of brighter days, and I love you more than others, because I am happier when you are near, and because I feel that no other being can ever influence me or control my destiny so much as yourself. Write me soon and often my dear Sister, and tell me all the news from Home for you & Sis Julia & Sis Martha, are my only correspondents in Miss" now , and I feel as much isolated while cut-off from home, as you do cut-off from the confederate army. Give my love to our dear Mother, to the Doctor, Aunt June, Sister Martha, Sis Julia, and all the rest. Do not fall in love with any of these rebels, until I tell you whom I have selected for you, and if you are not satisfied with him, then try your hand, and exercise your own taste & judgement in the selections, for I am persuaded you will make the best soldiers wife in the world, if you find a rebel with Sense & Soul enough to appreciate your good qualities. Excuse the pencil, and believe me my sweet Sister, you are more than all the world to me. ["Sister" is a nickname Robert used for Alice Maud Matthews. Robert was courting Alice after the death of his first wife, Virginia. Alice was Robert's Sister-in-law.]
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