Other Letters To Maggie from Lt. L J Wolfe Richmond, Virginia May 16, 1865

Richmond Va.
May 16th 1865

Mrs Lancaster

Yours of the 12th of May came to hand last night.

I have not the least doubt of your gratitude and I will here state that I have done no more than it was my duty to do. I never feel happier than when I can in any do anything for a friend.  and such was your husband to me.  I can say this truly.  I never met him from the first time I saw him until the day of his death that he was not sociable & free.  Becoming a Commissioned Officer did not seem to raise him in his own estimation as to forbid him speaking kindly & freely to those he had formerly associated with.  Some are so but it cannot be said of him.

Never in all my life did I regret anything more than his death.  I loved him dearly and almost felt that I had lost a brother for such he seemed to me.

In all that I did, I did no more than he would have done for my wife had I been killed.  I am proud to say this of him & it makes me feel happy to know that everything of his passed into your possession.  I would have been ready to accompany you myself to recover his body but that circumstances forbade it.  but I was happy to learn that you did recover his body & if I should chance to get to Philadelphia I will not lose the chance of looking upon where he lies since it was denied me to look upon him after death.  I don't wonder that you loved him so dearly.

I hardly think that he had any presentiments of his death.  Long ago he had given me your address in case anything occurred. but this time he said nothing more than usual remarks.

We breakfasted together in the morning.  and riding along he said "I feel hungry now for the first time since I left home and perhaps it will be two or three hours before I am permitted to eat and then my hunger will be gone".

When ordered to take part in the charge he told me.  "Draw your saber and try to keep the men well together".  The last words he ever spoke to me.  Then turning to the men he said.  "Keep your horses well in hand and follow me wherever I go."  Alas he was not suffered to go far.  he fell by my side in a few minutes after he said the above.  his last words.  and I never saw him move.  If I ever come to Philadelphia I shall call and then I can tell you a great deal more than I can write.  Oh how I wish that he were alive now.  but so it is so must it be.

The only consolation I can offer is to place your trust in Christ and strive so to live to meet him in the skies whither I fully trust he has gone.

Wishing that your skies may always be bright and that nothing may ever cross your path to mar your happiness and after may lie you may enter the portals of bliss

I am yours

L. J. Wolfe
2 Lt. Co. "E". 11th Pa Cav
Richmond Va

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