Difference between revisions of ".MTE5MQ.MjEzMA"

Revision as of 21:04, 21 December 2012

This item is currently being transcribed by a volunteer. We look forward to making the full-text of the document available soon.

Rome September 12, 1862

[?] Friday Morning

Darling Mother,

I was so glad to get your last letter which

came [of?] last mail day, it seemed a long time since I

had heard from you all, and our letters do not seem

to go straight - for it has been much more than two

weeks since I have had a letter from my sister, and I have written

to her twice since her last - except one which came a day

or two ago, dated the 26th of June. The same mail which

brought your letter brought me one from Father, saying we

had good reason to think dear Charley was safe. God be prais-

ed for that. I confess I could not greatly rejoice over our

glorious victories until I heard that. What glorious victo-

ries they were. I wonder what Gen Lee thinks of volunteers

now, in the beginning of the war don't you remember with

how much contempt Mildred used to speak of them and

said her father said they could do nothing against reg

ulars? How glorious for our gallant army to be in Maryland

now the poor oppressed people there will have a chance

to throw off the heavy yoke they have been groaning

under, and show that they can strike for freedom. I

shall be much disappointed if there is not a great rise

in Maryland, for I feel as if the state were more nearly

related to VA than any other in the confederacy. But how

is our army to be provisioned there can Maryland supply

its wants, certainly that part of VA nearest to them

will not be able to send much. Saturday morning Mrs. [F's?]

sister, Mrs. Atkinson, lost her little baby - just a year old last

Wednesday from the effect of measles, and just after I went

into school yesterday morning they sent up for me to come

down to the funeral. Mrs. F had been down there for a week

Mr. F was sick in bed, and Maria had never had the measles

so Mr. [Bowling?] took me down in a buggy, and I did not get

get back until dark and then had to go to bed with a head-

[Page 2]

ache so I will not get my letter ready before Monday's mail.

Father did not tell me a word about any letter from

Aunt Ann. What did she say? As to flannel, I do not expect

I can get it, at least there is none now at any of the stores, or

yarn, and Maria tells me she does not think they ever have

it for sale, everyone just weaves or has woven for their own

family use. Nor are there any goods of any kind at present

at the stores, but the merchants are now all at the south

buying. I could not get gaiters* for Nina, but got a very good

pair for Sister at 2.12 1/2 with the heels. I can get thick shoes

made in the neighborhood for about 6.00 too. But later in the

fall Mr. F is going to buy leather and have shoes made by one

of his own servants for Mrs. F and Maria and I reckon I will

have a pair made for me too and that will be cheaper. I shall want

a dress this winter, but am doubtful what to get. Sis writes me that

she wants to get a silk, but I think a less expensive one would do

for me. I thought my grey dress would do for [every?] day and if

sleeves or body gave out I would take the [?] and [renew?] it

and my bombazine** for a bit and then I would get one for be

tween. My calico is gone entirely. I shall have an opportunity to send

Sister's shoes to Richmond week after next. I will send hers and Nina's

share of the bombazine left from our dresses which I find

my trunk. I have had a good deal of trouble with Maria in

school this week. Have had to [talk her trick?] while she doesn't

speak to me as she did, I think I shall get the upper hand of her.

Willie gets on finely, gives me no trouble at all. I have taken them

rides on horseback this week, Maria, Willie, and myself. We have

no side saddles, so we put gentlemen's saddles on our horses

turn the stirrup over and gallop away as much as one can

as if we were on side saddles. Wednesday we got caught in a

drenching rain. I don't think there was a dry thread on

one of us, but we did not take any cold.

• I looked up "gaiters" and determined they are a type of shoe popular with women in the 1860s.
  • I looked up "bombazine" and determined it is a black silk fabric used in mourning wear.