.MTE5MQ.MjEzMA
This item is currently being transcribed by a volunteer. We look forward to making the full-text of the document available soon.
[Rome?] September 12, 1862
[?] Friday Morning
Darling Mother,
I was so glad to get your last letter which
came [of?] last mail day, it seemed a long time since I
had heard from you all, and our letters do not seem
to go straight - for it has been much more than two
weeks since I have had a letter from my sister, and I have written
to her twice since her last - except one which came a day
or two ago, dated the 26th of June. The same mail which
brought your letter brought me one from Father, saying we
had good reason to think dear Charley was safe. God be prais-
ed for that. I confess I could not greatly rejoice over our
glorious victories until I heard that. What glorious victo-
ries they were. I wonder what Gen Lee thinks of volunteers
now, in the beginning of the war don't you remember with
how much contempt Mildred used to speak of them and
said her father said they could do nothing against reg
ulars? How glorious for our gallant army to be in Maryland
now the poor oppressed people there will have a chance
to throw off the heavy yoke they have been groaning
under, and show that they can strike for freedom. I
shall be much disappointed if there is not a great rise
in Maryland, for I feel as if the state were more nearly
related to VA than any other in the confederacy. But how
is our army to be provisioned there can Maryland supply
its wants, certainly that part of VA nearest to them
will not be able to send much. Saturday morning Mrs. [F's?]
sister, Mrs. Atkinson, lost her little baby - just a year old last
Wednesday from the effect of measles, and just after I went
into school yesterday morning they sent up for me to come
down to the funeral. Mrs. F had been down there for a week
Mr. F was sick in bed, and Maria had never had the measles
so Mr. [Bowling?] took me down in a buggy, and I did not get
get back until dark and then had to go to bed with a head-
[Page 2]
ache so I will not get my letter ready before Monday's mail.
Father did not tell me a word about any letter from
Aunt Ann. What did she say? As to flannel, I do not expect
I can get it, at least there is none now at any of the stores, or
yarn, and Maria tells me she does not think they ever have
it for sale, everyone just weaves or has woven for their own
family use. Nor are there any goods of any kind at present
at the stores, but the merchants are now all at the south
buying. I could not get gaiters* for Nina, but got a very good
pair for Sister at 2.12 1/2 with the heels. I can get thick shoes
made in the neighborhood for about 6.00 too. But later in the
fall Mr. F is going to buy leather and have shoes made by one
of his own servants for Mrs. F and Maria and I reckon I will
have a pair made for me too and that will be cheaper. I shall want
a dress this winter, but am doubtful what to get. Sis writes me that
she wants to get a silk, but I think a less expensive one would do
for me. I thought my grey dress would do for [every?] day and if
sleeves or body gave out I would take the [?] and [renew?] it
and my bombazine** for a bit and then I would get one for be
tween. My calico is gone entirely. I shall have an opportunity to send
Sister's shoes to Richmond week after next. I will send hers and Nina's
share of the bombazine left from our dresses which I find
my trunk. I have had a good deal of trouble with Maria in
school this week. Have had to [talk her trick?] while she doesn't
speak to me as she did, I think I shall get the upper hand of her.
Willie gets on finely, gives me no trouble at all. I have taken them
rides on horseback this week, Maria, Willie, and myself. We have
no side saddles, so we put gentlemen's saddles on our horses
turn the stirrup over and gallop away as much as one can
as if we were on side saddles. Wednesday we got caught in a
drenching rain. I don't think there was a dry thread on
one of us, but we did not take any cold. I shall ride again
this evening unless it rains. I am sorry the socks are so small
and I have nearly finished the third pair the size of the large
est I sent - but will knit the fourth still larger. So the
peaches were all rotten. Mr. F went straight to Richmond but
was sick in bed four days after he got there. Mr. [Chambliss?]
the widower is very ill with typoid fever. I have not seen
[Page 3]
Mr. [Ned?] since the peaches came, nor had [?] any visitors
last week. I got a letter from Sister last night. I [?] she
and Nina have been flirting with the soldiers quite exten
sively. Ask Nina who Mr. Scott is. [?] [?] she never told me
anything about him, and I tell you all of everybody I see.
Were you not distressed to hear that they had burnt so much of
dear old Wincester? I hope that we will burn Philadelphia
for it. I am emboldened to express such a wish by a conversa
tion I had yesterevening with Mr. White the Presbyterian
minister. Mary Pritchard, Pam Baird, and myself were stand
ing in the porch at Mr. A's talking of the war, when Mr. White
joined us and asked whether we were getting blood-thirsty
and as we hesitated he said if it would help us to express our
opinion he would confess that he was, that he would like
to see every man who joined the northern army killed, and
their country laid waste with fire and sword as ours had
been. He is just suffering from the death of his Brother
Captain Hugh White, killed in the last battle. You may have
seen a notice of him in the paper. I like Mr. White very
much, he is a very intelligent man and very fine preacher.
I never had any conversation with him until yesterday.
I hope Sis will get the situation at Mr. Harris's. I would
think it would be a pleasant one, and the duties light, if they
are good children. I should not be surprised if they wanted me
to take [Nannie?] Baird next year, and if they do I shall not
object - as it would I suppose increase my salary, and I think
to have a smart girl to study with Maria would be an ad-
vantage to her. Nannie judging by her Mother has been [?]
ing and heard part of a most beautiful, comforting sermon
from Mr. White from the text, "The righteous hath hope
in his death," but we did not get there until some time
after the sermon began. On the way we met Mr. John Tucker
who had come down in great haste for Mrs. Baird to go
up to Richmond to see her son who is extremely ill in the
[Page 4]
Hospital wit thyphoid fever. Col Baird is there. They wanted
to start today but Mrs. B was too sick, she is in just
such a state of health as Uncle Fred was for years.
I feel so sorry for her, she is so gentle and lovely, and this
son is the pride and stay of the family. They have only one
other son, and he is a little child and they are fearful deficient
in mind. But she has the greatest of all comforts, he has been
for many years a member of the Presbyterian church and distin
guished for his piety. Mrs. Tucker stopped to see her as we went
to church and said she seemed completely crushed by Henry's and
Mr. Chambliss's illness. She will start tomorrow if she can be
carried. Willie has come up and is chattering so I can scarce
ly write, and when I don't answer, he says, "well if you don't
talk to me I will kiss you." So you must excuse all
mistakes, and this paper bought in the neighborhood
is so horrid I can't write decently.
- I looked up "gaiters" and determined they are a type of shoe popular with women in the 1860s.
- I looked up "bombazine" and determined it is a black silk fabric used in mourning wear.