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Locust Hill 2nd [?] 62

My dear granddaughter,

You see I have made

a beginning and a bad one to write the long

promised letter. I have been so out of the

habit of writing so long that I can [scarce?]

form a letter. I have been enduring the horrors

of influenza for 1 or 3 days, but not with

out the consolation that I am no worse off

than others, every body in the house is feel

ing its effects more or less, including the

brave Capt Duff who was foremost in the

defence of Leesburg. He came here sick a

week since, and has had quite a severe spell

he has been well taken care of, for we know

the value of the [?] and in the [?].

We are quite anxious to see him restored

to health before the next battle, for he is

not only a brave soldier, but a good com

mander, and only 21, sober, industrious [?]

[?]. The girls have a variety of Beaus

[Page 2]

from the [Vicksburg?] Southerners Camp

over near neighbors just the right

sort for the [purpose?], very young, handsome,

genteel looking, and well behaved.

We are surrounded on all sides by en

campments, but not at all disturbed

and feel very secure in the number and

bravery of our defenders.

No more romantic affairs have trans

pired in our society since Hattie Gray's

marriage, which has turned out much

better than might have been expected.

She has written a long letter to her Mother

that seems like a fairy tale. She finds

herself surrounded with a [stately?] mag

nificence that she could not have imagined

in a large old Virginia family mansion filled

with servants, surrounded by [parks?] and [?]

laid out to considerable extent and kept in fine

order, and a connection in the neighborhood

living in the same style, she says she believes

there has been a hundred negroes to pay their

respects to their young [?].

[Page 3]

The scene has changed around us since

you left. The Vicksburg Southerners occupy

the place of the [?] they poor fellows

are employed in making fortifications below

the river and Leesburg, and since they got a new general

have been put to work like slaves at night. The girls

met Lieutenant McCarthy yesterday in the [street?]

and did not know him. He is so thin, he told them

he had been starved, worked to death, and not allo

wed to leave the camp. Mr. Anderson has been sick

too. Both your aunt Mary's boarders have left.

[?] remains in the country [Mitchell?] gone

South. There are several Regiments near us [?]

[?] [Mississippi?] [?] [?] and some from Al

abamaba between Locust Hill and [Selma?] and others

on the other side of Leesburg. I see nothing of

them and hear little. It is incredible how quiet they

are. We sometimes hear the band and the ringing

of their axes all day long. The enemy remind us

of their presence only by sending up a balloon

every day to inspect the progress of the works

but they excite no alarm. They lie like the cat

in the [meal?], but waiting for an opportunity.

[Page 4]

to spring. But such is the watchfulness and efficiency

of the army that I trust they will not find it.

We have had a most delightlful winter in the en

joyment of the finest climate in the world,

as it is pronounced by both Southerners

and Northerers and generally good health until

the [mark?] of influenza, we are all now I hope

[?]ing well over it. I received a letter from my

dear son Charles yesterday. I am very happy

to find he is so comfortably established in Richm

ond. His state of mind required a change.

I think Fanny has [borne?] school life very well

is improved by it. It is wonderful how we

have all got hustled into comfortable places in

such a confused state of things. Emily Forrest is with

her husband in a [?] establishment with

her 2 brothers and Charles' wife [?] on sick fur

lough feasting on [?] [?] and oysters. She says she

never lived so well in her life. Remember me af

fectionately to your dear mother. To Hattie and Nina

give my love. To Sarah Jane, to Betty and her

daughters, if you knew what a lark working was

[to one?] [?] give me [?]. Adieu [your affectionate]

Grandmother