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16 Sept[ember] 1862. Pattie [Watkins], at Mt. Pleasant, [Prince Edward County], to her sister, [Nannie V. Watkins]

Mt. Pleasant Sep. 16th 1862

My Dear Sister,

You don't know how glad we always are to get letter from you & to hear that you & the children are well. Your last came Saturday. We were so sorry to hear of Bob McCormick's illness, but hope he is better by this time. We got a letter from Brother Nat written the day that Abe Daniel got there. He said that Dr. Flour [noy?] had joined the company. Sister Sue is getting ready to send him a box of sweet potatoes etc. She wrote to him yesterday to tell him when to look for it. Poor Brother Dick he is so far off that we cannot even write to him except by private conveyance. He was on his way to Maryland when we last heard from him. We feel so anxious about our Army there that we can't feel very glad to have them cross the Potomac. Mrs. Powell the lady who is living here has just received the news of the death of her son her only one he was killed the 24th of August & had been dead three weeks before she heard of it. She had one killed at Manassas last year & the other near Warrenton this summer. He was only 22 years old but was a pious boy was shot in the heart with the fragment of a shell. Mrs. Powell has three daugh- ter(s) who are all teachers & Mr. Powell is ^clerk^ in the War Department. They are very clever nice pious people. Mr. Powell letter telling of the death of his son is one of the best letters I ever read. Sister Maria was here last Saturday on her way home from [Church?] where she had been to [see?] the last of Charles Hundley. he died last Wednesday. He was delirious almost all of the time, sick two months. Fannie will come to her Pa's in a week or two but I don't know yet where she will live Poor Child. John Venable is rather better but not yet out of danger though he is riding out. Sallie is com- ing here to go to school in the course of a week or two. Hal is with Brother Dick. Brother Will was here yesterday his family are well & Mollie & the children were well Sunday. Next Sunday the funeral of Little [Lit?] Morton will be preached at Douglas by Mat Lacy. Mollie Watkins & Sue Daniel are coming to Cousin Will's some time this week. I will be almost afraid to go there to see them as Cousin Margaret is just getting over the sore throat but I will try & see the girls while they are down & learn when Mollie will go back. But I don't think much that I can go with her. But I do want to see you & the children so much that I can't say now what I will do. Ma is very well. Sister Sue & Mr. Redd are both very busy trying to get (reddy?) for winter. Sister Sue does very little else except working in hanks & cloth. Little Frankie is a delicate child never right well long at a time but is a right good baby has 7 teeth & is a precious little darling Mr. Redd's crops are very good I believe. He is gone today to try & get leather for the winter shoes. Ma says how do you come on with your spinning & your cards? Sister Maria has made 80 yds. flannel for sale. Lou Booker came over & brought Sue Booker (her Cousin) yesterday evening. Lou is quite pretty & is the best neighbor I have. Margaret & her baby are staying with Nannie now. Margaret looks mighty pretty & young but is the saddest person I ^almost^ ever saw. Lou told me that Mr. Wharey is expecting to be married in about three weeks to a Miss King, a refugee who has been staying at Dr. Morton's. I hope it is so for I think a married man can do so much more good as pastor than a single man. John Daniel came down to see us & went to Mrs. Duprey's. He looks very well & cheerful says his health is great deal better in the army than it is at home. Joe is thinking of joining the Charlotte Troop unless he can get a place in Richmond. Ma & I went down last week & staid several days at Cousin Polly Fowler's. We had a very quiet pleasant time one day all of the Duprey's went & spent the day with us & we came up to Mrs. D.'s one day. Ma Sister Sue & all join me in love to you & all at your Pa's & at Mr. Hines's. Kiss the little ones for me tell Charley I dream- ed about him last night dreamed I was putting shoes on his feet. I would give any thing to see you & the children. But I hope it wont be long [fist?] Goodbye

Your own Loving Sister, Pattie