Letter from Sydenham Moore in Montgomery, Alabama, to his wife, Amanda.
During the Civil War, Moore served as a colonel of the 11th Alabama Infantry Regiment. In the letter he explains that he will not be able to visit his family while in Alabama; though he had hoped to spend two weeks at home, he now plans to return to his regiment because of news that the Union forces...
| Format: | Electronic |
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| Published: |
Alabama Department of Archives and History
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| Online Access: | http://cdm17217.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/voices/id/3132 |
| Summary: | During the Civil War, Moore served as a colonel of the 11th Alabama Infantry Regiment. In the letter he explains that he will not be able to visit his family while in Alabama; though he had hoped to spend two weeks at home, he now plans to return to his regiment because of news that the Union forces are planning an attack on Confederate troops in Virginia: "Oh to be so near & yet to feel compelled to forego the pleasure of seeing her is to me torturing painfully so - My coming or starting on a trip of 1000 miles (& 1000 back) to spend a week or 2 weeks with you whom I parted from just 3 weeks ago shows you how my heart yearns to see you & be with you again - Gladly w'd I walk barefooted from here to Greensboro & back just to spend a week by yr side - But...My reputation that I want to preserve for yr sake & that of my children might & would suffer greatly if I were not to go back & a fight sh'd come off in my absence - You know how much disposed the world is to find fault & to censure - You know too I have enemies (a few at least) who w'd rejoice at this...They w'd always insinuate...that I had left knowing there w'd be a fight...I fear that you will hardly appreciate my motives in this - I know it will be a disappointment to you, but oh! How much greater to me! - My very soul grieves at the sacrifice I make of inclination at the shrines of duty." |
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