Dear Mrs. Harris,

With my deepest sympathies, I must relate to you the loss of your husband.  He fell in Palatka, Florida, at the battle of Horse Landing on Sunday the18, 1863.  He died in a gallant manner as he led his company to victory.  Dear Thomas was a close friend and we had fought together since the inception of this conflict.  I shall, as will all others that knew him, miss him.  The event of his death I most sincerely mourn.  This world abounds indeed with misery and his sacrifice in this battle is yet another cruel circumstance of this terrible war.  I look back on the battle fields over which he and I fought and what a slaughter of good men they do exhibit.  The havoc of war has strewn many heroic men by the way and scarce few remain to count the numbers fallen.

As he led us towards a small fortification on the St. Johns river which was held by the Union army, he was as always confident and he led not from afar but from his normal position among his men.  The battle was short.  We achieved our objective and overran the fort but in addition to your husband, many good Confederate soldiers were lost.  Our men carried Thomas to our field hospital after the battle but to no avail.  Although a tremendous effort was put forth by our Brigade surgeon, he was unable to help him.  Nearing death, he worried only for the future state of his beloved army but he left this world with your name on his lips and a heart full of affection for you.  As he weakened, I copied his last message and have sent it within this post.  With sorrow, yet gratitude for our friendship, I stood over his body as he was carried from the field hospital.

In the years of our acquaintance, his merits inspired me.  All men under his command felt great respect, admiration, friendship and love for your husband.  The harmony of Thomas's and my political principles and leisure pursuits will always be with me.  He was not only my commander but the first of whose opinion I would consider in all matters had I an opportunity to consult him.  If it is a sin to be a man of honor, he was the most offending soul alive.  His pure devotion to our cause which he demonstrated daily will find its way to another generation.  In the years ahead, common remembrances of the man will be sufficient to awaken the sorrow of his loss in my mind and the feelings of sincere attachment and the regard with which I have long been and still am his affectionate friend.  I will miss his genius and virtue.  As we stride closer to the end of our journey; the place, circumstances and time wherein we shall find our eternal rest, only God knows.  The Lord our God assures us that we shall all ascend to an enthusiastic meeting and there we shall see him in the midst of the friends and loved ones we have lost along the way, those who we continue to love and will never lose again.  The sweet remembrance of the just shall flourish when they sleep in the arms of our Lord.  I grieve from the death of my closest friend and your husband.  I shall not afflict you with any other details although my pains are lessened by this communication with you.  May God bless you and support you under your heavy burden.