In response to My Darling Colonel, the soldier writes to his found love among magnolia trees and in the water of the Santee River, to the woman that set not only his heart but all the river afire...

My Dear Southern Belle of Santee River,
the one taking your perfume to Charleston,
where are now those little gentle waves
which covered our bodies making love?
Where is that breeze that tried to wedge
between the river lovers?, without a hope
of disentangling the embracing orchid
from the scarred trunk of that old oak?

I am reading your letter, my Dear Lady,
as I am wounded, lying down in Charlotte’s
makeshift field hospital after confronting
the seventy thousand of Hooker’s strong
in a day, as you said, bad for the South,
with so much pain and so much blood,
when our men, fiercely fought the battle well,
but they were few, the Yankees many more.

Prostrated here, in utterly frustration for be
unable to lead and protect my men in war,
when cannons roar in the faraway fields
a bed isn’t a place for a Colonel’s reward,
but for the love of Dixie certainly I should
raise, go back with my men with three holes
that the northerners bullets put in my chest,
and those I will wear as medals of honor.

In my last paragraphs, my tiptoeing Belle,
that night of August I remember, yes, I do,
the softness of your naked body, the perfume
of the trembling woman inside arm’s hold,
those shining lips and the tip of that tongue
that touched mine with a yearning ardor,
the girl turning from black to lavender dress
a fierce tigress that burned my loins with love.

Duck I will not do for any bullet coming my way,
but foolish chances I will not take, as now for,
I have a reason to see again the magnolia trees
and a girl waiting on the Santee River’s shores,
a Southern Belle with so delicate swan neck
where impassioned kisses a near day may fall,
if for the Grace of the Almighty be peace and,
returning to the river we make love once more.

With all my longings
Your Colonel

PS. Yes I did personally knew Gen. Stonewall,
the fact is, of the two of us, he deserved the
promotion to General, more.