Corinth, Miss.

April 20^th, 1862 

My Dear Wife, I write you now for the fourth time. I hope you have received my previous letters. I have not received a line from you though I suppose it is not time yet. I have not been well since I came here for the last few days. I have been very sick. I am so nervous that I can scarcely write. I saw your Father this morning. He was in our camp he is in very good health.

I want you to write as often as you can, for it would be a great comfort to hear from you often. When I left you I expected to return in six months but that is all knocked in the head for Congress has pressed all men between the ages of 18 and 35 into two years service. I thank heaven that I can certainly get a furlough or two in that time. However if I should never return I hope you will be dutiful to your mother and use your best efforts to raise our little Allice respectably and give her all the education you can.

I cannot believe that any accident will befall me for my conscience bears not the remorse of a single crime.

I told you in the outset that I was sick. I am but dangerously sick. My stomach has been very bilious, today I have vomited a great deal of bile and now I am much better. I think I shall be fit for duty in a few days.

I don't know if you can read my letter for it is horrible writing. You must try and make out the meaning. If my hand has lost its steadiness my heart has lost none of its affection. I did not know how intensely I loved you while I was in the enjoyment of your society but since our separation my soul has woke up to the bereavement and the circumstance feels like a dread misfortune but there is a good time coming and I think it is now at hand. Three months some think will finish the war in our favor. Then what rejoicing.

Give my affections to your mother and all our relatives.

Your affectionate husband

Dan'l Blue

[Note: Daniel had joined the army at Camp Moore on March 30, 1862. He had lived in Livingston and St. Helena Parishes. He was married to Susan Jane Carpenter and they had two little girls. Daniel was ill after arriving in camp and was eventually taken to a hospital "in the interior". He died sometime that year without ever seeing his beloved wife and children again. These are the only letters we have, but we do not know if they are the only two he wrote.

His wife, Susan, kept his Confederate momentos and passed them on to their daughter, Allice Daniel Blue Albin of Hammond, LA. Some of the things, including his picture, are on display at Camp Moore.

Submitted by Brenda Felder and other family members of Daniel Blue.