Rockville Wadmelaw Island [South Carolina] 
[November] [11 - ? - 1865] 

My dear friends - 
On the 26th of October 
a package of letters was brought to me, one 
contained an [Underlined: invitation] that made me wish 
eight hundred miles did not lay between 
me and that interesting assembly which I suppose at 
that very time were gathered to witness the solemn 
ceremony [Crossed out: of marriage] that made you man and wife. 
Thought spanned the distance & in spirit I was 
with you, carrying my good wishes and sincere 
desire for your continual peace & happiness, I 
felt like gathering in my arms the warm sunshine 
that rested in this south land upon me, & [Crossed out: laying, giving] bear it to you as a 
blessing. From my heart there went up an unspoken 
prayer that the sunshine of our Fathers love 
might ever rest upon the two lives, bound thus 
in this most sacred [Crossed out: ties] words - That His smile would 
beam on you through all the Shadows and darkness 
that comes over human existence, that His blessings 
may be showered on you [Crossed out: because of your worthiness 
to receive them] as a blank book with spotless pages, waiting for your rewards. 
I fully appreciated the kindness 
which offered me the opportunity to be present at 
such an interesting occasion, and would have accepted 
it with pleasure, had not four days of ocean been 
between us. Let me offer my congratulations now 
and wish you [Crossed out: all the] peace, prosperity, [Crossed out: and] 
happiness and blessedness, which comes to the souls 
of those who feel the approval of the Divine Father 
when taking the marriage vows, and no love that 


the harmony of His laws are not disturbed -. 

The day here was very beautiful, I hope 
it was the same with you - How I [Underlined: did] wish to be 
there, I would have enjoyed it [Underlined: so much], for I always 
like to see people happy, particularly when they 
are so well deserving -. Being as I could not 
I think it would have been a good idea for you 
to have called on me -, it is not too late yet, and I 
promise you many things that you will never 
find way up there -. Flattering myself you 
would like to know a little of my existence I 
will give you a slight sketch. [Crossed out: We sailed from 
New York on the 9th of October, in the Empire City - 
as we moved the deck, & I saw the] My sister Sallie & 
Howard accompanied me to [New York] where we spent 
a few days with my intimate friend Sadie Brouwer, 
and on the 9th of October sailed in the Empire 
City. As I stood on deck & saw the loved firs 
fading from view, it seemed indeed as if I were 
going out alone into an unknown future -. I had 
never spent an hour with a single one on Board 
yet many were kind to me -, especially the two 
Miss Heacocks from Cheton Hills, I felt drawn 
to them for [Crossed out: they were Friends), the same religious 
sect claimed us both -. There was so much 
to attend to in the way of securing state rooms 
etc. - to feel very desolate -, & then my friends had 
written me a number of letters to be read after we 
started -, so the first day passed [Crossed out: with] pleasantly - 
Next morning we arose in time to witness that sublime 
spectacle, Sunrise at Sea -, Out in the free bracing 


air we watched the darkness going down in 
the west, over us the moon shone coldly, white 
in the east, the King of lights rose majestically 
out of the great depths, touching with a halo of 
beauty the waves that kissed the horizon. 
All the while the noble steamer was bearing 
us on and on, like a speck between two heavens, 
for the white capped waves that tossed over 
the crystal waters, seemed like the fleecy 
clouds that often deck the blue firmament - 

Not a [Underlined: speck] of land was visible, nothing but 
the broad expanse of waters, and the long white 
foam that marked the pathway our vessel 
had made -. We had a continuous smooth 
sea & by keeping on deck nearly all the time 
I [Crossed out: was] almost escaped seasickness; in fact 
did not miss going to table [Underlined: once], The company 
too was quite agreeable, about 30 ladies & as many 
gentlemen -. My companion is Mary A. Sharp 
a native of Vermont, but residing in Bradford [County] 
[Pennsylvania] -. Is pleasant, talkative, cheerful, [Crossed out: & as good 
as a diet] well educated, & as good as a [?] 
[?] encyclopedia, is well calculated for the 
position here, yet everything must reach her thru 
judgement or reason, not thru the heart, so I 
guess I will never love her very warmly though 
I may respect & esteem her -. She looks much 
older than she is -. But to return to my 
story - after nearly four days of lovely weather 


we reached Hilton Head, then [Crossed out: took] in 
another Boat to Beaufort where we remained here 
1st day morning -