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Charles L Powell Powhatan County Virginia to daughter either Hattie Rebecca or Nina Powell np 26 April 1863 This transcription has not been verified by Special Collections Research Staff. Please also consult images of the document.

Powhatan Co Apl 26/63 Darling daughter My present house is a very plea sant & desirable one, in all the comforts which easy circumstances, & good hu- moured hospitality can supply. I would however willingly exchange it for a much humb ler one which would give me the society of wife & daughter. The thing which most interferes with m comfort is what you would not com plain of - the crowd of young people attracted here by the generous hospitality of the [?] & the society of a son & daughter just turned out. Miss [Ginnie?] is quite [?] to be a [belle?] with her [?], kind, good humored, with a merry laugh, dimples, fresh complexion, & bright black eyes, good sense & considerable humor. She has not much taste or [...............?..............] [?] but sings & plays very well. I heard her say to one of her beaux, she did not know what was best to drive away [horseflies?], she never had had any. Bernard has spirits less elastic but [...................................?......................................................] [...................................?...........................................]. No doubt there is a spectacle here as in every household [?] not yet [?] [?]. Bernard (the son is abt 20.) Kind considerate & amiable, practices no excess, except perhaps in the use of tobacco, of good practical sense, has no taste for reading, & is very fond of music. He is good looking enough, is like his sister not quite as eager in pursuit of pleasures. In his countenance & complexion there are [?] of greater delicacy of [?]. He was one of the earliest volunteers when the war broke out. Was taken with the measles, which fell upon his beings & has had repeated & severe hemorrhages [?] [?]. He is discharged from the army & is engaged in farming. When I came from school on Monday, the

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presence of sabers & holsters in the [?] indica ted an arrival of a squad of soldiers because [?] there were in the pasture these young lads, & three young gentlemen who had been spending the day they all staid all night. The next day on my return the 3 [?] had left. The gentlemen all stayed through the succeeding night until the afternoon of the next day. I found the coast clear Wednesday night. On Thursday there came another beau said to be a lover. STaid util next day, when he was succeeded by four others one of them a [?] man who left this morning for the army. Three are here [?] [?] [?] [?] the last a merry little fellow said to be very much in love with the Miss [G?]. I don't know whether he has ever told his love. Certainly he is not pining away with a melancholy shady green & yellow** or of any other color. He is very [?] & has a great deal of [?]. Certain ly I should not grudge the poor young fellow, [?] [?] [?] - how do I. They are very polite to me & although as I occupy a bed in the boys spare room my privacy is somewhat invaded by having those three [?] with myself, but [?] [?] & poor fellows their four nights are justified and on Monday they are [?] going off. We had another to join the happy [?] [?] [?] I am afraid there is no chance the little girl is fixed in a school under charge of a young lady from Richmond who boards at [?] Michaux but alas a school of 11 puples in the woods half way between my school house [?] [?]. Have you heard that Frank Lloyd [?] on a visit to their mothers in [?] were taken prisoner & came to Washington. In a letter from Mrs. A. H. [Powell?] she says [Millroy?] is treating the people of Winchester more [horribly?]. He had [?] Mrs [Logan’s?] family out of time taking possession of the house & every thing in it allowing Mrs. L to take nothing but a few clothes which he had put into her trunk. This was done on compliant of a negro [?] whom one of her sons had [?] on this [?]. That it was supposed several other families would be sent off. Your cousin [?] was in Richmond a few days ago. She thinks Mobile can be as well defended as Charleston. I trust Mr. Walkers grandson will be preserved to her. Your devoted father Charles Powell

• • This appears to be a reference to Shakespeare's a Twelfth Night where Viola says, "And with a green and yellow melancholy. She sat like patience on a monument, Smiling at grief."