March 5th 1863
My own Dear
Will you grant me one request? Indeed I do not make it lightly, but in all earnestness and sincerity, hoping that you will grant it. Will you take back that resolution and say you will let me k now if you should get very sick? Darling, I ask this with tears in my eyes. Dot his Honey and then I will feel that you have forgiven me. Honey, I could not but fear that you were sick, ever since I heard that you had to walk through the rain.
Honey, if I had got your letter sooner, you should have had the black goods, but today is Thursday and Maj. Biscoe left Monday and is by the time, if nothing has happened to him, on the other side of the river. If I get all the things sent for, you and Pamela will be set up. I put her in for lots of things, supposing she would want them. Ham sent for Mary. I sent to Baltimore for a doz. prs. kid gloves and a doz. handkerchiefs. If they come and you do not need them all, it will be very easy to dispose of them. I sent for nos. 6 and 6 ½, unfortunately no 6 ¼.
My dear pet I sent you the medicine given me by Dr. Powell. Dr. Holt is not here and as Powell brought Mrs. Hill through so well, I thought I’d try him. Tell Father that his letter containing the invitation came today dated Jan. 29th.
Fanny, my dear child, do you know I felt very sorry when I got to the portion of your letter where you said that I had punished you severely enough. My dear wife, God knows that if there is one human being in this world that I desire to make happy and at the same time do my duty by, it is you. Believe me Fanny, when I say it, that I love you as a husband should love his wife. O child if you knew how hard I try to be worthy of my Angel wife, you would think better of me. Honey, if an evil thought gets in my mind I drive it away, feeling that I am doing you an injury. May our Blessed Father protect you and make me to be as I should.
I cannot help but think that Napolean III means to interfere in this war, but my wife I have about made up my mind to a year or two more of it. If it comes sooner, so much the better. But we cannot well have such another year as the last. They may get men, but they will never fight as they have. As to my promotion, I received a letter from cousin Robert today. He had an interview with the Sec. of War and seems to be pretty sure of my promotion, provided the Sec. has anything to do with it. I have heard since I came back that Jackson did recommend me, still I am prepared for either result.
I shall try to send this by hand as far as High Point so you will get it without delay. I am very glad to hear that the children are doing so well and I should like to see them very much. You mistake very much honey as to the pleasure of my visit to Richmond. As it is past 11 o’clock I must close. My love to all. I got a letter from brother Robert today, he writes that they are all well. They expected you to give them a call. I will write to them why you did not. May God bless us and forgive us to each other in this world and to our Saviour in the next. Kiss the children and tell Turner I will write him soon. Good night.
Your loving Husband
Darling, I send the pills for you in a small box which I hope will reach you in time to be of use.
Source: William Hassler, ed., One of Lee’s Best Men: The Civil War Letters of General William Dorsey Pender (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 1999).
