“Mrs. Dodge stepped forward and laid her hand on his arm. "John?" she called in a strident voice that made Arabella wince. "John, here's Arabella to see you." John rolled his head with a fitful movement, and the light from the lamp at the foot of his bed fell full across his face. Arabella stepped back with a gasp of shock.” RomanceLettersSoldierCivil WarLetterAmerican Civil WarLove LetterCivil War FictionWounded SoldierCivil War Romance Book:The Letter Source: The Letter
“Your grandfather must have been a wonderful man," Arabella said in an awed voice, looking about her at the beautiful house, well-proportioned barn, and the variety of shade and fruit trees so carefully and tastefully planted. "My family," John added wisely, "says I'm very like him.” HomeFamilySoldierCivil War19th CenturyAmerican Civil WarFarmBarn Book:The Letter Source: The Letter
“Would you like some laudanum?” she said directly. “No,” he answered through clenched teeth. “You make me feel very guilty for getting Mrs. Dodge to stop giving it to you,” Arabella confessed. “I’ve seen what can happen to a man who uses such things too freely,” John said resolutely. “There was a man in our town–” he broke off, stifling a groan. “It doesn’t matter - I don’t want the stuff, that’s all.” AddictionSoldierCivil WarWoundedNursingAmerican Civil WarOpioids Book:The Letter Source: The Letter
“How would he protect her, as weak and wounded as he was? If the two armies were about to shell the town again, he had to find a safe place for her to be. And if the Confederates gained Gettysburg itself, they would probably take him as a prisoner. He needed to make sure that Arabella had a place of safety...” WarFightingBattleSoldierCivil WarAmerican Civil WarGettysburgWounded SoldierBattle Of GettysburgUnion Soldier Book:The Letter Source: The Letter
“He tossed on the pillow, trying to dislodge the flies that tormented him every waking hour. Had there always been so many? He had never noticed them so keenly before; but now, tied to this bed, he began to think that had he been Pharaoh, he would have let the Hebrew children go anywhere they wanted, with whatever they wanted, at the beginning of the fourth plague, without any more argument.” SoldierHeatCivil WarWoundedAmerican Civil WarPharaohUnion ArmyFliesPlagues Book:The Letter Source: The Letter
“He had good, open features and a confident air; his blue eyes were wide and watchful, but something about them seemed to hint that in different days and different times they could twinkle and sparkle with fun and mischief. His clothing was tattered and threadbare, but there was an energy to him that did not admit of pity. Somehow, despite his ragged condition, he still looked like a man who had carried a weapon and commanded other men in the not-too-distant past.” WarSoldierPolishWwiiPolandWarriorsOfficerWwii Poland Book:Treasures of Darkness Source: Treasures of Darkness