Letters between Louisa Nicholes and Nate Brown before they were married on March 12, 1861:
(Notes added by EBS). This letter was probably written early 1861 due to the reference to 'war beginning'. Georgia seceded from the Union on January 19, 1861. The war did not actually start until the Confederate Army attacked Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina on April 12, 1861
Misspelled words in the text were present in the typed letters, and transcribed as such.
# 1
Sunday night.
My own, my dearest,
You cannot imagine how my heart yearns to see you Now in this quiet hour, when a holy hush has fallen on all nature and twilight wraps its soft, purple veil around her.
I am seated in my own little room, all alone, musing on the changes time bears on its swift chariot.
Ah! how carefully memory gathers up the golden links of childhood, and weaves the chain that binds our hearts to the olden time. But the past, as it can never be recalled, can only become usefull by being rendered tributary to the future.
The gorgeous dreamings of my girlhood have faded like the winter clouds above me, to the sombre hue of reality. In my sky, even the star of hope is shrouded. For I have recently heard of War beginning in our noble little State, and know not at what time honor will prompt the dearest objects of my heart (my precious Lover and my Brother [1]) to fly to her rescue. And then if they ever do, when will they return to warm hearts that will always beat true to theirs? God grant that all may end in peace, and we may yet spend a long and happy married life. I hope the noon of happiness has not yet brightened upon you. I will try not to count sorrow my indulging forebodings. But somehow this evening I feel like some lonely mariner, tempest tossed on some pathless ocean, without chart or compass. Had we more faith in the invisible world, our souls would not be without anchor when the storms of life are passing over us.
I pray all may yet be right, and that I, whom you have (I hope fortunately) chosen as your best companion through life, may prove worthy of the pure love of your manly heart. May you always bask in the sunshine of happiness, and I trust that I will ever have it in my power to strew your path with bright, fresh flowers. And as this world is only the dim vestibule of a great and glorious temple, a frail bridge over the river of time, God grant that I may be the instrument in his His hand of guiding you safely over the tottering planks to the beautiful shores of the promised land, --- that land whose celestial beauties my eyes have been opened to behold.
I could write much more but Morpheus is waiting for his night's embrace and as he is too gallant to receive it while I have pen in hand, I suppose I'll have to lay it aside to gratify 'that much admired chap'? but not until I entreat my darling to visit me as soon, and as often, as he can, for while you are away a cloud seems to rest on the landscape.
Please before you come, go over to Sis Ginnie's [2] and get Maggie Miller [3], Henry left it in his room.
And whatever you do, do not forget to bring your dear, no, I mean my dearest face out of your trunk to
Your own true,
Loulie
P.S. My cousin and lover have just arrive [4]; I mean Bush Williams and Jimmie Roberts. I have not seen them yet. But their coming will not put you out of my mind. No, never.
Henry, if he knew I was writing would say please beg Nate to come while the boys are with me, they will remain but a few days. Will have to go back to fight.
[1] my Brother - Louisa's brother Henry Johnathan Nicholes (1838-1879). He married Josephine (Josie) Isabelle Morton (1844-1877) and they had two daughters, Mamie Lou born in 1867 and Josephine Isabelle born in 1870. Henry is buried in Sunset Hill Cemetery, Valdosta, Ga.
[2] Sis Ginnie - this was a sister of Nate's, Virginia Brown (1833-1900), 3 years older than Nate. She later married Tom Harrison, and these are the Harrison relations mentioned in Nate's son's letter about a childhood visit with his mother, Loulie and his two sisters Eula and Lillie to White Oak in the 1870's.(Addendum III) She is buried in Homeward Cemetery, along with Nate and their parents, in Camden County, Ga.
[3] 'Maggie Miller: The story of Old Hagar's Secret' by Mary J. Holmes was 'An intense romance tale of valor, justice, and good old fashioned love. Very inspirational and suspenseful tale of love and romance.' It was a popular 19th century novel. According to Wikipedia: 'Mary Jane Holmes (April 5, 1825 – October 6, 1907) was a bestselling and prolific American author who published 39 popular novels, as well as short stories. Portraying domestic life in small town and rural settings, she examined gender relationships, as well as those of class and race. She also dealt with slavery and the American Civil War, with a strong sense of moral justice. 'Maggie Miller' is currently available as an e-book.
[4] arrive - despite her schooling, Loulie's grammar is not that great - particularly in the use of present tense verbs where past tense would be indicated.