ENPages
your wife as soon as possible satisfy yourself as to prospects and that you may return to her who cannot be happy until you do return and that God may bless and preserve you is the fervent prayer of your affectionate wife - Lucy M. Battle
P. S. Do not parse my letter. It was written as I generally write, in a hurry; therefore will not admit of it. L. M. B.
Return Address: Warrenton, North Carolina 1 May 1832 } 25
Addressee: William H. Battle, Esquire La Grange Fayette County West Tennessee
La Grange May 30th 1832
My Dearest Wife -
There are some few bright moments snatched from the usual flow of human existence, which like the green spots in the desert, redeem it from the character of utter loneliness and sterility. Such was that moment which gave me, on my arrival at this place, the perusal of your truly interesting and most highly valued letter of the 8th inst. Besides the pleasure derived from hearing of your and the children's health, the apparence of your continued deep and fond affection has awakened in my bosom - in their fullest glow, all those warm and tender feelings which did more to [] you from all the world as my partner through all the changes and vicisitudes of life - you have, I doubt not, sometimes thought when the inevitability of a [] not always the most patient has displayed the weakness of my nature, that the ardour of first love had given place to a less strong passion; but, if you have ever so thought, you have done not injustice. I feel, at this moment, that I could fold you to my bosom with an embrace as ardent
and as deeply felt, as when I first received you from the hands of the priest as my "lovely" and "truly amiable" bride.
We reached this place the day before yesterday to dinner. We found all your relations in good health exchept Arthur's wife, who had the night before given birth to another son. She is, to use the common phrase, as well as might be expected. Arthur seems to regret that his child was not a daughter, as he had a name for a girl, but is at a loss what to call his son - Arthur is adding additional buildings to his tavern [], and has a prospect of doing good business. The [?] Andersons have moved from their former residence to a very pretty situation [?]. They are now building and preparing for a permanent residence. All the family including the females seem very well satisfied with the country - your Aunt Gloster (?) sends all manners of love to you and your cousins Betsey and Mary would do the same if they knew that I was writing to you. Your Mama and all her family are great favorites here so that we are made to feel quite at home. I'm coming down through Madison County, was called to see Mr. John Burton and your cousin Susan. They are keeping a boarding house and house of entertainment near Mr. Dickens' - They and the children were quite well. Your cousin Susan seemed in very good spirits and is well pleased with the country
though I think Mr. Burton is not so much so. Mr. Burton has not fixed upon a place for a permanent settlement and therefore, I presume, feels somewhat restless and uneasy. Mrs. Dickens is wonderfully pleased with the country, and says she wants not to return to North Carolina upon any terms whatsoever. We stayed a day and a half with your cousin and then went on to Jackson where we stopped days. At that place we found a daughter of your uncle William Plummer, married to a Mr. Patterson, by whom and by several other old North Carolinians were kindly received, and among whom we spent our time very agreeably. After leaving Jackson we went down into Hardimann County and visited Mr. Williams, who married my cousin Susan Battle. Afterward Lucinda and her husband Mr. Scruggs had arrived the same day and when aunt and cousin Susan learnt who I was, they had well then caressed me as you would have done. Mr. Williams was very clever and polite and pressed us to remain several days with them, but we only stayed one day. Aunt Lucinda is a fine looking hearty and lively old lady, and although she is upwards of forty years of age, and weighs nearly two hundred, she rode three or four days on horseback to visit her daughter. She started in a jig, the first day she turned it
over and frightened the horse, so that he ran off and broke it all to pieces. Mr. Scruggs there procured a saddle and bridle and aunt rode the remainder of the way on horse back. Cousin Susan, I was very much pleased with. She is a little above the [?] size but is firmly formed and handsome. She has one child, a boy about 12 months old. My paper admonishes me to stop, though I have much more to say - I must see more of the District before I make up an opinion of it. I expect we shall remain 10 or 12 days and in the District before we leave, after which we shall proceed homeward. I do not know that I can write again - I was much surprised to learn from your letter that you had received none from me. I wrote from Wythe Courthouse on the 29th April and the letter ought to have reached you before the date of yours. I also wrote at Knoxville and Nashville. Farewell, my Dear wife - May the Almighty protect you and the children and permit me again to meet you in health and peace.
Your affectionate husband, Will H. Battle
Return Address: Lagrange 3rd June
Addressee: Mrs. Lucy M. Battle, Louisburg, N. Carolina