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My dear Vir | My dear Vir | ||
| − | I have been hard at <br> | + | I have been hard at <br /> |
| − | work all day and now just before night <br> | + | work all day and now just before night <br /> |
| − | take a little time to write to you. <br> | + | take a little time to write to you. <br /> |
| − | The whole county has been in the greatest <br> | + | The whole county has been in the greatest <br /> |
| − | state of excitement you ever saw since <br> | + | state of excitement you ever saw since <br /> |
| − | the evacuation of York and Gloucester Point. <br> | + | the evacuation of York and Gloucester Point. <br /> |
| − | We knew nothing of it until Saturday. <br> | + | We knew nothing of it until Saturday. <br /> |
| − | Sunday when we got to church we found <br> | + | Sunday when we got to church we found <br /> |
| − | many of the ladies in tears, and the gentle- <br> | + | many of the ladies in tears, and the gentle- <br /> |
| − | -men with very grave faces. However we <br> | + | -men with very grave faces. However we <br /> |
| − | ascertained that day that the forces on <br> | + | ascertained that day that the forces on <br /> |
| − | this side would pass through [this?] county.<br> | + | this side would pass through [this?] county.<br /> |
| − | Bro Richard hurried home and started <br> | + | Bro Richard hurried home and started <br /> |
| − | with his wagon to meet them and help <br> | + | with his wagon to meet them and help <br /> |
| − | them on. Monday morning Pa started <br> | + | them on. Monday morning Pa started <br /> |
| − | his wagon | + | his wagon with such [eatables?] as Ma <br /> |
| − | could fix up. Brother came back home <br> | + | could fix up. Brother came back home <br /> |
| − | Monday with one of his severe headaches <br> | + | Monday with one of his severe headaches <br /> |
[Page 2] | [Page 2] | ||
| − | and told us that they would stay at the <br> | + | and told us that they would stay at the <br /> |
| − | Courthouse that night. Although the<br> | + | Courthouse that night. Although the<br /> |
| − | weather was bad, persons were coming and<br> | + | weather was bad, persons were coming and<br /> |
| − | going from here all day. Just before night<br> | + | going from here all day. Just before night<br /> |
two Cavalry men rode up and Aunt Mary,<br> | two Cavalry men rode up and Aunt Mary,<br> | ||
| − | Sister Emmeline, Nannie, [Suly?], Sue, Hanna[h?]<br> | + | Sister Emmeline, Nannie, [Suly?], Sue, Hanna[h?]<br /> |
| − | [?], and myself, rushed out to hear from<br> | + | [?], and myself, rushed out to hear from <br /> |
| − | them the latest news. One of them proved<br> | + | them the latest news. One of them proved <br /> |
| − | to be Jim R[?] who told us that the Yankees <br> | + | to be Jim R[?] who told us that the Yankees <br /> |
| − | were at the Court house landing, and he<br> | + | were at the Court house landing, and he <br /> |
| − | came to [?] Pa's wagon to go down and<br> | + | came to [?] Pa's wagon to go down and <br /> |
| − | assist in carrying off the baggage, ammunit-<br> | + | assist in carrying off the baggage, ammunit-<br /> |
| − | -ion and sick. We not know the character<br> | + | -ion and sick. We not know the character<br /> |
| − | of the man of course believed it and<br> | + | of the man of course believed it and<br /> |
| − | we consequently much excited but Pa<br> | + | we consequently much excited but Pa<br /> |
| − | who had gone down to the Courthouse<br> | + | who had gone down to the Courthouse<br /> |
| − | soon came back and told us it was not<br> | + | soon came back and told us it was not <br /> |
| − | so. Well after a scuffle we found out<br> | + | so. Well after a scuffle we found out <br /> |
| − | what road they would take. and as soon<br> | + | what road they would take. and as soon <br /> |
| − | as we could get off Tuesday morning we<br> | + | as we could get off Tuesday morning we<br /> |
started down to the fork road near the<br> | started down to the fork road near the<br> | ||
| − | old mill. It is useless dear Vir for me <br> | + | old mill. It is useless dear Vir for me <br /> |
| − | to attempt to give you an accurate<br> | + | to attempt to give you an accurate<br /> |
| + | |||
| + | [Page 3] | ||
| + | |||
| + | descriptions of what we witnessed.<br /> | ||
| + | Soldiers barefooted half clothed and many<br /> | ||
| + | with the long march [passed?] for [?]<br /> | ||
| + | with wagons loaded so that the mules could with<br /> | ||
| + | great difficulty proceed, we saw Capt. <br /> | ||
| + | Page and Col Crump both fine looking<br /> | ||
| + | men. Most of the men were cheerful but<br /> | ||
| + | there were a few sad faces, among them<br /> | ||
| + | Jim Pollard and bro Robert. when bro <br /> | ||
| + | Robert bade us farewell he said while <br /> | ||
| + | he could not keep back the tears "be of<br /> | ||
| + | good cheer" and then he left us well in<br /> | ||
| + | tears and with sad hearts but probably carrying<br /> | ||
| + | a sadder than any he left [?] in his<br /> | ||
| + | own [?]. Coleman who went over with <br /> | ||
| + | with the wagon. got home last night<br /> | ||
| + | he left them at Mangohic in King William<br /> | ||
| + | they expected to get to Hanover Court house<br /> | ||
| + | to day. We dont know where Ned is. he <br /> | ||
| + | could not get over the river after the order <br /> | ||
| + | to leave was given, but sent Osborn home.<br /> | ||
| + | News from the Peninsuls rather encour-<br /> | ||
| + | -aging by mail today. <br /> | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | [Page 4]<br> | ||
| + | [first part of page 4 written in portrait layout] | ||
| + | |||
| + | A Yankee steamer came up to Mantapike <br /> | ||
| + | day before yesterday. but only fired some <br /> | ||
| + | guns and returned. It was amusing to <br /> | ||
| + | see Ma and myself boxing up our little <br /> | ||
| + | [?] when we heard it: Ma says you <br /> | ||
| + | must come up when John goes to the June <br /> | ||
| + | Meeting if the Yankees don't have Richmond <br /> | ||
| + | before that time. Cousin Ellen Mathews <br /> | ||
| + | wants you to get for her 1 1/2 yds of blue [?]<br /> | ||
| + | like the pink you sent sister. Cousin Ellen <br /> | ||
| + | with 4 children and [2?] servants are [boading?]<br /> | ||
| + | at Cousin [Ben's?] Aunt Mary declines getting <br /> | ||
| + | the [?] if Mary Lou wants one she <br /> | ||
| + | will send you the money by Cousin Betty. <br /> | ||
| + | Aunt Mary has just left us and expects <br /> | ||
| + | to go [up?] [?] the last of next week.<br /> | ||
| + | Ned left without a rag of clothes besides <br /> | ||
| + | those he had on. and we don't know <br /> | ||
| + | where to send him others. We are left <br /> | ||
| + | as unprotected as you in Middlesex are. <br /> | ||
| + | but our trust is in One who can protect <br /> | ||
| + | and deliver is from the degrading hand <br /> | ||
| + | of a [?] [foe?] affly <br /> | ||
| + | Mary E Gresham | ||
| + | |||
| + | [page 4 continued-written landscape layout on left side of page across what is written above] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Our love to John. And the children say give my love to <br /> | ||
| + | [?] and uncle John. Some of the soldiers told brother<br /> | ||
| + | Richard that they had not met with such kindness in<br /> | ||
| + | King & Queen that they intended to send a petition to <br /> | ||
| + | the president to change the name of the state to<br /> | ||
| + | King and Queen My baby is crying and I have not time <br /> | ||
| + | to look over my letter.<br /> | ||
Latest revision as of 13:59, 21 August 2017
This item is currently being transcribed by a volunteer. We look forward to making the full-text of the document available soon.
[Page 1]
Stevensville, May 9th, 1862.
My dear Vir
I have been hard at
work all day and now just before night
take a little time to write to you.
The whole county has been in the greatest
state of excitement you ever saw since
the evacuation of York and Gloucester Point.
We knew nothing of it until Saturday.
Sunday when we got to church we found
many of the ladies in tears, and the gentle-
-men with very grave faces. However we
ascertained that day that the forces on
this side would pass through [this?] county.
Bro Richard hurried home and started
with his wagon to meet them and help
them on. Monday morning Pa started
his wagon with such [eatables?] as Ma
could fix up. Brother came back home
Monday with one of his severe headaches
[Page 2]
and told us that they would stay at the
Courthouse that night. Although the
weather was bad, persons were coming and
going from here all day. Just before night
two Cavalry men rode up and Aunt Mary,
Sister Emmeline, Nannie, [Suly?], Sue, Hanna[h?]
[?], and myself, rushed out to hear from
them the latest news. One of them proved
to be Jim R[?] who told us that the Yankees
were at the Court house landing, and he
came to [?] Pa's wagon to go down and
assist in carrying off the baggage, ammunit-
-ion and sick. We not know the character
of the man of course believed it and
we consequently much excited but Pa
who had gone down to the Courthouse
soon came back and told us it was not
so. Well after a scuffle we found out
what road they would take. and as soon
as we could get off Tuesday morning we
started down to the fork road near the
old mill. It is useless dear Vir for me
to attempt to give you an accurate
[Page 3]
descriptions of what we witnessed.
Soldiers barefooted half clothed and many
with the long march [passed?] for [?]
with wagons loaded so that the mules could with
great difficulty proceed, we saw Capt.
Page and Col Crump both fine looking
men. Most of the men were cheerful but
there were a few sad faces, among them
Jim Pollard and bro Robert. when bro
Robert bade us farewell he said while
he could not keep back the tears "be of
good cheer" and then he left us well in
tears and with sad hearts but probably carrying
a sadder than any he left [?] in his
own [?]. Coleman who went over with
with the wagon. got home last night
he left them at Mangohic in King William
they expected to get to Hanover Court house
to day. We dont know where Ned is. he
could not get over the river after the order
to leave was given, but sent Osborn home.
News from the Peninsuls rather encour-
-aging by mail today.
[Page 4]
[first part of page 4 written in portrait layout]
A Yankee steamer came up to Mantapike
day before yesterday. but only fired some
guns and returned. It was amusing to
see Ma and myself boxing up our little
[?] when we heard it: Ma says you
must come up when John goes to the June
Meeting if the Yankees don't have Richmond
before that time. Cousin Ellen Mathews
wants you to get for her 1 1/2 yds of blue [?]
like the pink you sent sister. Cousin Ellen
with 4 children and [2?] servants are [boading?]
at Cousin [Ben's?] Aunt Mary declines getting
the [?] if Mary Lou wants one she
will send you the money by Cousin Betty.
Aunt Mary has just left us and expects
to go [up?] [?] the last of next week.
Ned left without a rag of clothes besides
those he had on. and we don't know
where to send him others. We are left
as unprotected as you in Middlesex are.
but our trust is in One who can protect
and deliver is from the degrading hand
of a [?] [foe?] affly
Mary E Gresham
[page 4 continued-written landscape layout on left side of page across what is written above]
Our love to John. And the children say give my love to
[?] and uncle John. Some of the soldiers told brother
Richard that they had not met with such kindness in
King & Queen that they intended to send a petition to
the president to change the name of the state to
King and Queen My baby is crying and I have not time
to look over my letter.
