The following letter was written by Shatteen Claude Mitchell, Jr. (1839-1864), the son of Shatteen C. Mitchell (1802-1866) and Mahala Jane Burdett (1805-1852) who had an estate in Griffin, Spalding county, Georgia, called Double Cabins Plantation. Shatten wrote the letter to his wife, Chloe Bartlett (1844-1905) with whom he married in May 1861. Chloe was the daughter of Dr. Myron Bartlett who founded the Macon Telegraph newspaper in the 1820s.

Shatteen enlisted in Co. I (the “Stark Volunteers”), 13th Georgia Infantry and was commissioned Jr. 2nd Lieutenant on 8 July 1861. We learn from the letter that he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant of his company on February 1863, and was elevated to captain a year later. Sadly, he was killed in action at the Battle of Third Winchester in September 1864. His cenotaph in Griffin, Georgia, claims that “his remains rest in the consecrated mound of the Unknown” somewhere near Winchester, Virginia.

I note that Shatteen signed his letter, “Chlovis Claude” which I assume was intended to shelter the couple’s identity should the love letter end up in the wrong hands.

See also—1861: Shatteen Claude Mitchell to Chloe (Bartlett) Mitchell

[Note: The following letter is from the private collection of Greg Herr and was offered for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Transcription

Camp near Port Royal
Monday, February 9th 1863

My own darling,

I have no news since mine of yesterday. I have just learned Dr. Townsend would start for Griffin tomorrow and concluded I had as well write you a short letter by him. I never let an opportunity to write to my wife escape. I love you so much that my inclination prompts me to write every day—and if I had nothing to prevent, I would. It is such a pleasure for me to get your letters and I judge you by yourself, It is a good rule—ain’t it? When I measure your love by mine, I know it is all absorbing in its nature—endless in its duration—giving your own heart pleasure and happiness as well as infusing into mine a degree of happiness which it seems to me no other man ever felt. I love you my dear wife above all the things of this world, and am never satisfied unless I am with you. I dreamed about little darling all last night, and when I kissed you, I was so happy.

I frequently think if I could only kiss you, I would be satisfied—a pleasure that I indulged very freely, you know, and that I miss so much. I feel our separation much more keenly now, darling, than ever. Just as we were fixed in our little home and beginning to be perfectly happy, my duties called me away, and both hearts had again to be made only and desolate. I try to think I did my duty in coming back, but still right or wrong, I had rather be with my dear darling wife.

My love for you seems to overreach and surpass everything else and my mind is loath to acknowledge that the best course demands a separation. Still I know the war is obliged to be fought, and the country demands sacrifices from me as well as others, and if I should be so fortunate as to survive this contest, we will have an easy time the balance of our lives. You are the only inducement to tempt me to remain in inglorious ease at home, and but for you, life would have not half its charms for me. I desire to live on your account, because I know both of us would be the happier.

You will be as much surprised as I was at my promotion to 1st Lieutenant. It is rumored in the regiment that if I had been present, I would have been promoted to Captain. [Frederick D.] Dismuke is a great deal more unpopular than ever and the company have no hesitation in telling him that they want me for Captain. Of course whatever I write you in regard to this matter is strictly confidential, except I have no objection to your telling anyone that I was promoted to 1st Lieutenant as this is obliged to be made public at home. Burrell ought never to have gone before the Board and then it would not have looked so badly. He has taken off one bar from his collar. James A. Head was elected 3rd Lieutenant and will make a fine officer.

I have written to Richmond for a cook and Laurence & Heind will pay their pro ratio share. My wages now will be ninety dollars per month and I thought I could afford to pay one third towards hiring a cook. I wish I could send you some money, my darling, but I can’t just yet.

I guess I will get some letters from you tonight—two at least, as it has been nearly a week since I had one. I hope there is nothing the matter with my darling wife though I am uneasy. I am glad you are so much in love with our little home. I feel so much more satisfied since we have a home of our own—all to ourselves. And I know if I should get another furlough, we would be so much happier than if we were boarding. Several officers wives are here. Among them Col. Evans, our Acting Brig. General. I had rather not have mine in this country just now. If I should be badly wounded, I would want you to come on but not without, though I know I want to see you bad enough. If I shoiuld get killed, it would be best for you not to come yourself if you wanted my body (as I know you would). You could send someone for it. If this should be so, I would want our baby buried with us and you must have it removed from Macon to Griffin, or either have me buried in Macon—depending upon the question where you want to be buried. I want us all together. You can do as you please with my will. If you had rather not have it made, burn it. I don’t care a cent about it.

I want to see my dear wife so much although it has not been three weeks since I left you. I miss you so much darling, my sweet wife, and look forward with so much pleasure to the time when I will go home—and we can spend my furlough in our little home with no one to find fault with us for the way we act and to have any claims upon our time or attention.

I am doing very well in camp now darling. Today the sun is shining again. Tomorrow we have to go on picket and remain till Thursday evening so you [see], I can’t write to you again till Friday. This will make my next letter two or three days behind time. I hope none of my letters go to Pa’s and are opened there. Be sure to send none there. I will write to him occasionally. I will destroy all your letters before every fight so that there will be no chance of anyone else to see them. Have no fear to write me fully and freely on every subject. If you get sick, send for Daniel or Darnell just as you like. Write me if you are unwell. Goodbye my dear sweet darling wife. A heart full of love and a tender love kiss from— Chlovis Caude