.Mjkw.NDA0
Richmond Sunday 12 April 1863
I have no doubt that you will have received
what I sent by Mr. Patton before you receive this,
my beloved wife; I wrote a hasty note to Page &
put it in the bundle. I hope that the articles
were much as you desired especially (as there is
most doubt about them) Page's muslin & darling
Lucy Pages' shoes - I lost the measure, taking out
my letter to show Page's note to me , to Lizzie Ewell's
so I had to guess of the size; if to small send them
back by Mr. Patton, or the first opportunity with
the exact measure of the baby's foot = not of her
shoe. I got your acceptable bundle by
Mr. Lefebvre & saw him before I recd your letter.
I am greatly indebted to you for the shirts; they
add much to my wardrobe; I am getting up
a box to send back by Mr. Lefebvre, or rather to
put under his charge. I shall send in it some white
cotton for 4 shirts for Bob & a little piece of
linen for bosoms &c.
I went to church this morning and after escorting
some ladies home I met, on my return to the boarding
house, Martha Page & returned with her as far as
her lodgings. She told me that Mr. Sheldon had
just come up from Gloster with news that his
brethren the Yankees had committed more
deprivations in the country.
On our way we met
Old Mrs. Peachy ( the first time that I have seen her since
she left Wmsburg) who told Martha that she had
been to see her. Martha had been somewhere after
church. I gave a flourish with my beaver and then
stood as bold and upright as a steeple ; however the old
lady did not detain us long. I presume that my
presence was not agreeable to her, especially looking
so well in health as I do.
Gen. Wise has gone down with his forces to
Wmsburg and below; I heard this aftn that he had
gotten below town & was driving the Yankees down;
I presume therefore that he took Fort Magruder.
I saw Miss Julia Johns a day or two ago.
I suppose she is staying at Mr. Macfarland's, as she
was there at dinner on one day & I found her
there at breakfast next morning; Mr. M. had asked
me to return to breakfast the day after I dined there;
afterwards he kindly went with me to see Mr.
Secretary Memminger who was very courteous-
said that he had heard of me -was sorry that he
had not been able to give me, at the time, any
thing "more worthy of me", but hoped to be able to do
so &c .&c. Whether the expression of this hope was mere
diplomacy remains to be seen. When you next hear
from me I hope you will receive the box with a few supplies
& other things. Kind regards to Mr. Mrs. Vest. Love to all the girls &
kisses for the darlings. I am glad to hear that Dr. Cabell
has gone up. I suppose there will be a wedding soon.
Farewell for the present dearest wife, Your R.S.
(Remembrance to servants)
Marginalia on page 2-
I wrote Page that the bread riot was not quite an April fool, but it was not a bread riot that was merely the
pretext for plunder: Some low women & desperate men broke open a few stores & stole cloths &c
There was no assault by troops, but the police dispersed them & caged the ringleaders of both sexes.