• Monday, 1842
    Mount Royal, South Carolina
    Today I have to leave and go to West Point so that I can become a soldier. I am off on my way to West Point. I saw this carriage that was tipped over and I heard someone call for help so I went over to help them get out of their overturned carriage and I found 2 ladies there. 1 lady told me that her name was Madeline Fabray, the other 1 her name was Maum Sally, she was Madeline’s maid. I asked her where she was going and she told me that she was going to Resolute which is next to Mount Royal. I asked her if I could give her a ride there and she said yes I could give her a ride to Resolute, then after that I told her that I best be on my way and we will keep in touch. Then I was off to West Point.

    Tuesday, 1842
    Lehigh Station, Pennsylvania
    Today I am in Lehigh Station, I might get to West Point by tomorrow. What are these people making fun of me because I am from the south, or is it something else. But that is just not right, for someone to be making fun of me, but luckily someone was there to stop the fight. He told me that his name was George Hazard and that he was on his way to West Point, he also told me that people in this town are not usually like that, so then I told him that my name was Orry Main and I was also on my way to West Point. So then after that George and I became friends like that. So he and I went on our way to West Point.

    Wednesday, 1842
    On the train
    Today George and I are on the train because we are on our way to West Point. I thought we would be there today. But I guess not.

    Thursday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today I’m now finally in West Point. George and I were on the train for 1 full day. When we got here we had to see our cadet drill instructer his name was Elkanah Bent. But do you want to know something Bent did not like us (George and I) because we had to do all this stupid and we did not like it so he was basically beating up on George and I. Well we finally got to our room so that we could calm down.

    Friday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today I had time to write a letter to Madeline Fabray.
    Dear Madeline,
    How are you at Resolute with your father. Can you tell my mother that I am doing well. Now is Resolute your father’s friends house. What is your father’s friends name, what is he like. Did you tell your father about me and about how nice I was to you. How are you doing, are you doing okay. Well I got to go, sorry that this is all I can write.
    From, Orry Main

    Later that day,
    We had to go and see Cadet Bent for our next lesson. Our next lesson was sword fighting, he needed a volunteer to be his opponent so I said that I would do it. He was very impressed with how good I was doing, I told him that it was because my father let me take fencing lessons.

    Saturday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today we had some lessons on some different stuff, but that was only for ½ the day. For the rest of the day we got to relax and unwind.

    Sunday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today we got the whole day off, which was pretty nice.

    Monday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today we got mail from our friends and loved ones. I got a letter from Madeline it read
    Dear Orry,
    I am doing wonderful at Resolute with my father. From time to time I go an visit your mother, she is very glad to have me come over to see her. I told her that you are doing well and she said that is very nice to hear. Resolute is my father’s friends house, his name is Justin LaMotte. He is very nice, kind, and friendly. I told my father about you (I said some nice things), I told my father how nice you were to me, and he would be very pleased to meet you, but I told him that it would have to wait because you were at war training and you may go into some part of the war. I am doing very well but I am somewhat lonely without someone like you to talk to. But I do go over to see you mother and we have some tea and cookies. Your mother sends her love and she wants you to stay safe. All I want is for you to come home safe.
    From your friend, Madeline Fabray
    That was the nicest thing I got so far while I was here in West Point.

    Tuesday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today we got to go for a nature walk and we also had a campout with our buddies.

    Wednesday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today we are still on the wonderful campout.

    Thursday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today we went on a nature walk and then we went back to our camp site.

    Friday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today we made it back to our training camp. Also we got letters from family and friends, I got one from my mother it read
    Dear my son Orry,
    I hope you are doing well in West Point training to maybe go into some horrible part of the war, which I should hope you will be safe during. I am spending a great deal of time with Madeline, we have so much fun spending time together. Madeline told me that she is leaving with her father in a few days but I told her that she could stay here at Mount Royal and she told me that she would talk to her father to see if it is okay if she stays here so that when you get out of the war she will be there to see you and not so far away where you and Madeline could not be together. Well I have to end this letter now.
    From you loving mother
    I also got a letter from Madeline but I will read that tomorrow because I have things to do today.

    Saturday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today I am reading the letter from Madeline it read
    Dear Orry,
    I miss you but I found out that I have to leave with my father, which is somewhat saddening because I have to leave and I won’t be here when you get out of the war but I am going to take your mother up on her offer but my father has said that is a nice idea that you mother is giving me a place to stay so that I can stay there so I can be there when you get out of the war. Your mother told me that Maum Sally can stay as well, but she is going to only work for me. Well I have to end this letter here because my father is having me start packing so that I can move in with your mother.
    From, Madeline
    That is the most wonderful thing I have ever heard.

    Sunday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today I got a pass that I can give to Madeline when she gets here, so that she can use to get into the training site and she can stay for that day the go to stay in a hotel and do the same thing for the rest of the week. The telegram that I sent my mother was that I told her that I was going to have a pass for Madeline so that she could come and see me and have some time to spend with me but she will be spending the night in the hotel near the training site, so that all she has to do is show them the pass and she has to tell them that she is here to see me. If she can come as soon as tomorrow that would be great. My mother told me thru the telegram that she is out the door with a packed suitcase and on her way that was all she said in the telegram. This should be wonderful because Madeline is coming to see me.

    Monday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today I went down to the train station to see if Madeline was there and I had the pass with me. She was not there so I will try again tomorrow.

    Tuesday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today I went to the train station and she was not there again today.

    Wednesday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today I went down to the train station to see if Madeline was there. I saw this beautiful woman get off the train so I decided to help her. I went over to her to see if I could help her carry her bag, but I did ask her who she was looking for and she said that she was looking for Orry Main and I said to her does this solider look like who you are looking for. She said yes, she was so happy to see me. So then I swept her off her feet and I told her how much I missed her, when we got to the hotel she got a room and she left her bag there. I gave her the pass to get her into the training site, I also told her how to use the pass. Then I told her where the training site was, also I told her that I had to be getting back.

    Thursday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today Bent gave me something to do and then a lieutenant came to see me and he said that someone was here to see me, I asked him if it was a beautiful woman and he said yes it was. So I got cleaned up a little bit and then I went to the gate to see her. I let her in and showed her around the training site, but we had happened to run into Bent and he told me that she could not be here. But I told Bent that she had a pass so that she could be here. I even had her show Bent the pass, he said that he was very sorry to have said that she could not be here. I told her sorry about that. But I do have to say that George was so glad to meet Madeline. Madeline had told me that the day before she had taken a walk around West Point, she had found out that West Point is a lovely place to live. A commander came and told me that I had to go do something, but I told him that I had a guest here but she has a pass with her. He told me that she can come with me but she is only going to watch. I asked him if she and I could talk to each other while I work. He said that it was okay as well as I’m working and not goofing off.

    Friday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today was my last day with Madeline before she has to leave for Mount Royal, South Carolina tomorrow. I asked my commander if I could take the day off, he said that I will have to talk to my cadet drill instructor first. I told him that Bent will say no, but the commander said you will not ask him. But if he is looking for you then I will tell Bent that you are very busy. But I have to say today was the best day of my life because this one is the only time she could come and see me because they are not giving out any more passes so she won’t be able to come in and see me anymore. I won’t be able to leave and see her either. But no one can leave to see someone who is related or that they know. I took Madeline to the hotel and I told her that I would probably see her tomorrow and she said that she was to be glad that I was coming over tomorrow.

    Saturday, 1842
    West Point, New York
    Today I went to the hotel to see if I could take Madeline to the train station. She was so glad to see me, so I picked up her bag and we walked down to the train station together. When we got there I set down her bag and I told her this is where I leave you because I have to be getting back. She gave me this present and said I hope this fits in your bag, I was also told to open it in my room. I gave her a hug good- bye and said thanks for the present, I will love it no matter what it is. So I got back to my room and George was there and he wanted to know what the present was so I opened it and showed it to him, he said that was a wonderful present that Madeline gave you so I looked at it and I started crying because that was the nicest this Madeline has given me. I left the picture in my room and rushed down to the train station to tell Madeline about the present that she gave me. She was so glad to see me again,