Draft of Martha Schofield letter to Jessie James and Sarah J. Cleaver

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 -