.MTA3Ng.MTY1Ng

South Boston Jan, 20th 1865 Friday morning

My beloved Husband –

I have only time to write you a few lines

                  will

telling you that I must[crossed out]^ start this morning for Clarksville, the boats have come, and I expect to leave here in a few moments. Mr. Hancock came here unexpectedly yesterday, and told me all about you. I was too, sorry I had not gone on with him to see you, and glad to year that you had not seemed at all displeased by my trip to Williams =burg. I would have had an escort there and back had I gone, and met you in Columbia. I know you would have been glad to see your darling. Would you not, my dear Husband?

Have you written to the Surgeon Genl ? If you have not and to Judge Perkins, I will never speak to you again.

I have not time for more.

Your devoted Wife[underlined]

Jan 22d

When

[Pg 2] I wrote the above letter I expected to start immediately, but the boats disappointed me, and I was told they would go Saturday. I was all ready, and Saturday morning when I awoke the face of nature was [cover?] with ice, and it was raining, still, I insisted on going to South B_ to see if the boats were going. They did not, the weather being too bad. I enjoyed the ride, notwithstanding, the heavy fall of rain, for the trees covered with ice were most beautiful. One tree was so bent by the weight that it seemed falling over to rise again, at its base their clung a wild rise which seemed to draw it back and sustain it. So will woman cling to and support the man she loves when storms are raging around him, and crashing him to the earth with their weight, a [ ? ] idea, but poetical.

Poor Mary Southall has lost her Husband, and again Mrs. Southall is cast out on the World – this time without friends[crossed out] health. She is exceedingly feeble and delicate. I don’t know what she will do. Some families seem doomed, and her’s is one [ ? ] of of[crossed out] them. Sally E. is sick in bed to-day. I feel truly

[Pg 3] sorry for her. Her health is very bad, I should say quite desperate, and that enlargement increased to such an extent that she must feel deeply mortified. With all her failing health she works incessantly, teaching school and giving music lessons, after school waiting on Mr. B_. who ought to have his head cracked, and doing any kind of fancy work that she thinks there is a chance of her selling. Her’s is a noble, self-sacrificing nature. What a fool her Mother was when she made her last marriage. Mrs B_ is not here, she is now visiting Kate Marshall in Petersburg. I have seen selfishness, but, I think Mr. B_ the most selfish person I ever knew. I am perfectly disgusted with him. Bob is engaged to a handsome and accomplished girl, but the daughter of a negro buyer. I do wish you could come on to Virginia, and see about your business matters, for I really fear your Mother will lose all of her servants except the children in Clarksville. As soon as I show Mama a note I got from

[Pg 4]

                 I will save send it to you

Mr. Hopkins about Alfred ^. I don’t think you will keep him long. I am, indeed, greatly troubled to annoy you, but I don’t know what to do, should your servants all go without my having given a word of warning I should reproach myself. Cousin Lizzie P_ would have been so glad to have gotten Lizzie, but now she is gone. I will not talk about it however. I wish you could come home, and that I could get there, which seems impossible. Not a word yet from Helen, tho’ she knows why I am detained here. I am so anxious about my child, that I feel almost crazy sometimes. But, I suppose, Helen would have written had any thing been the matter. I hope[underlined], to get off to-morrow, but the weather is still cloudy, and there is every appear =ance of rain, more rain will bring another freshet and then – I would go down by land from Wolf Trap, but I fear, to leave my valuables unprotected, and having waited so long will wait to the end.

[Pg 5] (This is page 6 in the .pdf file)

I cannot not tell you how anxious I am to see our precious boy. Helen was inconsiderate enough to let me reach R_ without finding a letter from her, and I have not, therefore, heard a word of my darling for more than three weeks. I wrote to her while in R_ thought I had not any news to communicate. Not a [vestage?] of your Mother’s old house was left save a heap of rubbish, and during my absence Kitty and Lizzie decamped to parts unknown. You know I wrote you of the probable danger of such a thing and I found it out by sending some clothes to be washed, and the house was shut up and nobody near. I then sent to ask Alfred if he knew where she had moved to, and he replied that on the previous Monday he had seen her, but that on Tuesday she was missing, and he did not know what had become of her. So far as Kitty is concerned she is not great loss, but for the name of the thing, as she has never been

[Pg 6] (Page 5 in .pdf file)

of service to the family since I entered it and seem but little inclined to aid them. Not so with Lizzie, for she has grown to be a smart valuable girl. The night before I left R_ news came in that twenty some negros had been captured while trying to make their escape to the Yankees. Mr. Paine promised to go to Castle Thunder to see if Kitty and Lizzie were among them – it is a chance, but only a chance for I don’t think you are very lucky.

Patience & Ellen & her child are the only servants left in W_ but Billy is at Fort M_ I felt strongly tempted to offer a large reward to any scout who would capture and deliver him in Richmond. I think it very probable it might be done. Miss Lizzie said Molly disappeared about the same time Kitty did, also their Husbands. It is thought that the reason of the unusual stampede from R_ was owing to the talk of putting negro men in the Army – be the cause what it may they are gone, and the few who are left will follow in time – and then –

[Marginalia – Pg 5 left side, and top] Julia sent her love to you, and many messages to Montagu which I will deliver shortly in a letter to him. I want to see you badly. Do come on as soon as you can. Your devoted Wife[underlined].

[Marginalia – Pg 5, right side] I have not heard from you for an age.

Marginalia – Pg 3 left side] Think often of me and [love?] your poor [...t?]