Battlefield Valentine
A 48 line poem in tetrameter couplets.
The Valentine measures 4.5" x 6.5" (folded), written in a clear legible hand. In addition to being folded in half, it is also folded in thirds (line 31 is damaged by the fold). The paper is embossed and of good quality. The poem was most likely written in 1864 (or possibly 1863) as Valentine's Day approached. There is no date on the poem itself nor does the envelope survive. The Valentine was kept in Minnie Kendrick Hendricks' Bible.
On the Cover:
Eliza J. Reynolds
Have for your motto,
"Nil Desperandum"1
S. P. F.
Page one
Old Valentine is coming along,
Singing his old familiar song.
His day this year is very near
4 But he'll not be noticed much I fear.
Cousin Eliza, I now presume,
A little space and time to consume.
To write a little about the day,
8 In an odd peculiar way.
In time of Peace when all was gay,
Many folks observed the day.
But now since war confuses all,
12 'Tis not observed by great or small.
Here I am away from home--
I regret the day the war did come.
I often wish I was a child
16 Then rule and law would be more mild.
I then could sport in boyish glee,
And feel myself so gay and free.
Oh! How long will I have to stay
20 Away from home-so far away.
A soldier's joys are few and scanty,
But hard times and sorrows he has plenty.
In camp the soldier leads a horrid life,
24 He thinks of scenes of bloody strife.
Page Two---(verso)
On the dreary field of battle,
The canon roar, and the muskets rattle.
I hope the time is soon to come
28 When we'll quit the wars, and return to home.
When the contest will be o'er
And we'll hear the noise of war no more.
Then we can woo our sweet hearts as lovers love,
32 And live as happy as we used to do.
I hope you will meet with a lover
That's both wise & good and clever
Now may kindred ties unite our hearts,
36 Altho' we be in distant parts.
I know you think I'm very long
In singing out my curious song.
O! Live a life that's good & true
40 That you may go where good folks do.
And your course, may you plod
To Heaven, to Eternity, to God.
You desired my likeness some time ago
44 Whether you wish it now or not, I do not know,
But I will send it anyhow
Hoping, if ever, you want it now.
So here it is,--look and see
48 If it has any resemblance of me.2
Sam. P. Fuller
Samuel Pierce Fuller was born September 3, 1842 the son of Abraham Fuller and Mary Reynolds Fuller (daughter of Bernhard Reynolds, sister of Ira Reynolds, aunt of Eliza J. Reynolds). He is included in the Russell County Census for 1850 and 1860. He served in the 29th Virginia Infantry. He died on March 24, 1893. He was Eliza Reynolds' first cousin.
Eliza Reynolds was born 7 April 1845, the daughter of Ira Reynolds and Leah Fuller Reynolds at the Reynolds house in Barnett, Russell County, Virginia. She was at home with her parents at the time of Stoneman's (?) raid. Those living near the wagon road (now Rte. 19) were warned of the approaching Federal troops. Eliza carried the valuable family possessions and food to a mountain cabin her father owned and buried the items under the floor of the house. Some pieces of that silver remain in the family. Federal troops did not visit the Reynolds house.
In 1865 Eliza married George Drayton Kendrick, born May 25, 1843, the son of James Kendrick and Clarissa MacFarlane Kendrick of Rosedale. Kendrick served in the Confederate Army, Company F of the 6th CSA Cavalry Battalion. He also served in McFarlane's Squadron in which he enlisted on 4/7/1862 in Lebanon. He was elected 2nd Lt that same day, promoted to 1st Lt. On 9/4/1862, and to Captain on 6/28/63. He had suffered with measles and consumption during the siege of Atlanta and returned to Russell County after the War.
George Drayton Kendrick and Eliza Reynolds were married in late 1865 and had one daughter, Minnie Clarissa Kendrick, born October 15, 1866 at the Kendrick family home in Rosedale, VA.
George Drayton Kendrick died on March 20, 1869 and is buried in the Kendrick Family Cemetery in Rosedale.
Eliza Reynolds Kendrick married Edward A. Leonard in 1871 (?) (issue: Everett A. Leonard). Edward A. Leonard was a Baptist minister serving churches in Pamplin City, Va. (near Appomattox), Pocahontas, VA, Mosheim, TN, and Portland OR.
Eliza Reynolds died in Mosheim TN, 17 January 1892 (of cancer?), and is buried in the Reynolds Family Cemetery in Barnett, VA.
1. "Do not give up hope" See Horace, Odes, Book I, Ode VII, line 27. The sense of the passage is consistent. "Do not give up hope for a better time to come."
Nil desperandum Teucro duce et auspice Teucro;
Certus enim promisit Apollo,
Ambiguam tellure nova Salamina futuram.
2. Sadly, no photograph was with the Valentine.
William N. Hendricks, III
Niskayuna, New York February, 2001 |
