Difference between revisions of ".MTIyNQ.MjE2OA"
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to spring. But such is the watchfulness and efficiency | to spring. But such is the watchfulness and efficiency | ||
− | of the army. | + | 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 |
Latest revision as of 18:41, 3 March 2013
This item is currently being transcribed by a volunteer. We look forward to making the full-text of the document available soon.
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