.NzY.MTI1

St Louis May 7th

My dear Lizzie

I have written to you three times already but am afraid my letters have not reached you. Yours came in a tolerably short time and were most welcome. I had a letter from your Uncle the other day; he was quite well and gave me a most amusing account - of seeing some prisoners assembling round a blanket in which was stretched a person whose boots he thought he recognized and presently he had a more distinct view of the person & boots aforesaid going up in the air - he said he almost fainted at the sight but after a while he saw he had come down safe and wasn't at all hurt by "tossing in a blanket." Who the "person" was I leave you to guess - He & your Uncle are confined in separate rooms and, altho' they often see each other on the parade ground, are not allowed to speak; however, they exchange letters and I suppose, write notes to each other. I haven't heard from Brother for ten days but this letter was dated the 29th of April so of course they were both well then. I also had a letter from Cousin Becca day before yesterday - she told me of all the things she had bought them and sent (by permission) to Fort Hassen - Captain Turner wrote e he was going to take the "Oath of Allegiance" and coming here, so I shall not be obliged to trouble myself writing to him any more. Mother wrote you a long letter a day or two ago which I hope you have received. She was arrested and sent here for having been accused of "demanding rents from negroes who had built shanties on her lots" - which she never did. However she is more pleasantly situated here so it don't matter. I am very anxious indeed to hear from you and to know what you expect to do. I had hoped to go to Europe with Cousin Richard &c but don't see any immediate prospect of that just now; that is for some weeks. I have wished very much to see dear, old Richmond where I have spent so any happy days once more, but don't see very well how I could get there as I don't know any one going there soon. I wish very much I could do something for my friends can you tell me how I can do so? Write to me and tell me all you know of every body that I have ever seen. What has become of Maggie Cass? & the Saunders - & the Lloyds and all the others - not forgetting your friends from your old home - the Mumfords - &cc? I want to hear all about Mary & Bessie &c but don't ask after each one separately because I expect you to tell me of them as a matter of course. I am very anxious now to leave this place but cannot, of course, do so now - Genl Ed Johnson is in Fort Warren Cousin R- says shows his sentimental [?] by [?] his window there with a potato-vine, a geranium - and an onion! Do you ever see Mildred? Give her my love if you ever do. Is her Mother dead? I cannot find out. I wrote a letter of condolence to Marielle which I hope was out of place I would much rather that it should be "mal a propos" than that it should be right. I am living in an elegant house here and have all the appliances of wealth around me - but I don't altogether like it. I got entrapped into a small evening party the other day - much to my disgust - for you know how seldom I like such things - and I don't feel particularly gay just now - naturally enough I think. Are you not coming to Georgetown or Baltimore? I want to see you very much indeed, though I don't see much chance of doing so at present - however we must not be gloomy over such small matters - Do you know what the Stuarts are doing now? Poor Mrs Randolph! I thought of her & Capt Bob Early, Genl Jones & Stafford yesterday - Have you ever heard anything of Mrs Rodes We haven't heard from Aunt Rebecca for along time - not since we saw you. I was just wondering if the officials will read this - if I find out that they do so I intend to learn to write an unreadable hand - or study composition - 'Tisn't a very pleasant idea that your letters will be read & criticised, though it don't make much difference to me - They dont open letters at this P. O. but they say they do at Nashville, Memphis ect - Donna Otey has gone to Lexington - she bought some things before she left. I think you will be overwhelmed with blue belts.

Your cousin Rosanna had written to your Uncle - offering to get things for him &cc -

There's the breakfast bell so I must finish - Yours