Soldier's Letters to Charming Nellie is a touching collection of letters written by Joseph Benjamin Polley during his time serving in the Civil War. Through his heartfelt words to his beloved wife, readers are given an intimate look into the struggles, fears, and triumphs of a soldier during this turbulent time in history.

Polley's writing is both raw and poignant, capturing the harsh realities of war and the deep emotions that come with being separated from loved ones. His love for Nellie shines through in each letter, bringing a sense of warmth and humanity to the brutalities of war.

The letters themselves are a mix of personal anecdotes, reflections on the war, and expressions of longing for his wife. They are beautifully written and offer a glimpse into the daily life of a soldier, filled with both moments of despair and hope.

Overall, Soldier's Letters to Charming Nellie is a powerful and moving read that offers a unique perspective on the Civil War. Polley's words are a reminder of the enduring power of love and the strength it can give in even the darkest of times.

Book Description:
Whether written in camp, in hospital, or in hospitable home, the letters tell a plain, unvarnished, and true story of the observations and experiences, the impressions and feelings, of a soldier whose only personal regret is that he could not be one of those whose paroles at Appomattox are patents incontestable that they fought for the right as they saw it, as long as there was a hope to encourage them. Though not intended as history, they are historical in the respect that they narrate actual occurrences in camp, on the march, and in the battle. The lady to whom all but the last were addressed was no more a myth from 1861 to 1865 than now, when, a gray-haired wife, mother, and grandmother, she presides with the grace and dignity of the truest womanhood over the home made for her by the gallant officer of the Tennessee Army, her first and only beloved, whom she wedded shortly after the close of the war. To her soldier correspondent she was the friend of one more than a friend. It was not until March of 1865 that they ever met. Her letters kept him so well-advised of all that was transpiring in Texas, and were so friendly, entertaining, and altogether "charming," that, without leave or license, he substituted that adjective for the conventional "Miss" to which she was entitled.