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Richmond
August 4th, 1863
Dear Hattie,
Your letter of the 1st inst
reached me a few hours since, and I
lay aside other pressing duties to answer
it without delay. It gives me such plea
sure to hear from my relatives as well as
to see them. Your Father spent an hour or
two with us last Saturday. I was rejoiced
to see him in such apparent good health,
and to find that with God's help, he has
been enabled, like myself, to bear up under
the painful [dispensations?] [His?] wisdom has
called him to endure. I trust the same
[resignation?] has been [?] your
dear Mother, your sisters, and yourself.
As regards the subject of your letter, I
am sorry I cannot write more favor
ably. We are not keeping house alone.
but are members of a house. Each indi
vidual in the house paying from one
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hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars
per month. No member of the house is permitted
a guest. This restriction we should feel
more if we had a spare room. We have
none, except an attic room, a play place
for Mrs. Davis' little boy, which is too hot
to sleep in. You do not ask my advice
dear Hattie, but really it seems to me
unwise to accept any position in Rich
mond that yields only a hundred dollars
a month, as it is rarely indeed, that re
specatble board can be obtained for
a less sum. Washing is three dollars per
dozen, and most of the Laundresses object
to take it except by the dozen. I would
be too glad to exchange my position here
for one in the country where I could en
joy the [?] of peach [puree?] [?]
and something fresh and beautiful
to eat. I would give you a list of some
of the prices of edibles here if I supposed
you could [?] them. I especially
miss the delightful fruit to which I
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have been accustomed. I have had
recent letters from Douglas, dated however
July 3rd. He expected to leave on the 7th
for England. His orders thither were not of
his own seeking or ours. God grant they may
[?] favorably to him. He will not only
be exposed to the perils of the sea, but to
"the violence of Enemies" who are making
Herculean efforts "to wipe out" our little
Navy which harrasses them so severely.
Since his departure everything seems
dark to me. He was so happy and cheerful.
He left me with a heavy heart and sad
countenance, for the first time since
the war commenced. Before the Battle
of Manassas and of the [?], and
when he left me for the Peninsula, his last
look was one of hope and faith, a bright
smile was daguerretyped upon my
memory. But this time he could not
trust himself to look again when he
had said Good Bye! There were rea-
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sons for this. The period of our separation
is indefinite. I almost said limited.
There is no hope of his return while the war
lasts. Letters must be "few and far between."
their receipt always uncertain. His
Father's health apparently failing and
his mother among strangers without
a home and with scant [?] if calamity
should befal. We trust in God.
Give much love to your dear Mother and
Sisters dear Hattie. I wish it was in
my power to meet your wishes -
Very affectionately
Your Cousin
Emily
[note at bottom in different handwriting]
Dear Hatty - after receiving this from E. I wrote the enclosed note
to Custis. I send it to you that you may send it if you approve
of it. From all accts we receive, it [may?] be nearly imposs
ible for you to live in Richmond in any comfort. So it is not
worth while for Custis to be [exciting?] [?] to get it for
you, if you [?] not take it after he got it. I send you
also Bishop [Milner's?] [letter?]. If you think it [?]
you [may?] like to go (though it is so far that I don't
like to think of it). You might write to him telling
him whether you are willing to go and telling him that
you would wish to hear from the Principal of the
school who also would be able to tell you what what would be your duties exactly - what classes you would be expected to teach
