Letter to Eliza Johnson, 1862 December 29
Item
Letter to Eliza Johnson, 1862 December 29
Written from Fredericksburg, Virginia. Letter regards family and business news.
Dates
- 1862 December 29
Extent
From the Series: 20 items
Transcription
Camp Fredericksburg
December 29, 1862
My Dear Wife
I am still without a letter from you, nor have I heard from Brownsburg since I left. We move in the morning to some point 25 miles nearer to Richmond so you need not answer this note until you hear from me again. Only portions of the army fall back at this time, but it is supposed that Gen. Lee with the main army will follow in a short time; the object being to eat up everything as we fall back so that the enemy will find it difficult to sustain or rather to support their army should they elect to advance. I sold the wagon, harness and the two old horses for 625 dollars including the horse I had when you arrived. I thought it better to keep the two young mares for the present. Porter was offered 300 dollars for the bay mare today but thinks she will bring more money. I have heard nothing of the butter and apples left at Staunton and Waynesboro and probably never will. If so I shall lose by my investment as I sold what arrived here for cost and expenses. You had better have your apples opened and see that they are not rotting. These that arrived here had rotted considerably. Richard started to Staunton on Saturday morning and will not return for some two weeks. I have suffered considerably for the last few days with my back and have had to use half of a bottle of liniment tonight being the first I have used since the morning I left. Porter is in good health and if he keeps well and we settle down for the winter I think I can learn him so that he can do my writing and give me an opportunity to stay with you for a short time in the month of Feby. I should like to be with you sooner but do not see how I can get away sooner with the amount of writing on hand. I have taken up for the benefit of the 31st Regt a small collection among the men in our train. You will ask Mr. Withrow to hand to the Ladies Society of Brownsburg thirty dollars with the request that they purchase yarn and convert it into socks for the men in that Regt. I shall try to send them a farther sum sometime next month. If you need money call on Mr. Withrow for what you may need until I have an opportunity to send you some which will be before long. It is now near 11 oclock. I was writing all day, have been packing up tonight so that we can make an early start in the morning having gotten every thing ready. Though tired I felt like writing to you if for nothing else to say how glad I would be to be with you. Give my love to all the children and accept for yourself my last thought for the night and my last letter for 1862.
December 29, 1862
My Dear Wife
I am still without a letter from you, nor have I heard from Brownsburg since I left. We move in the morning to some point 25 miles nearer to Richmond so you need not answer this note until you hear from me again. Only portions of the army fall back at this time, but it is supposed that Gen. Lee with the main army will follow in a short time; the object being to eat up everything as we fall back so that the enemy will find it difficult to sustain or rather to support their army should they elect to advance. I sold the wagon, harness and the two old horses for 625 dollars including the horse I had when you arrived. I thought it better to keep the two young mares for the present. Porter was offered 300 dollars for the bay mare today but thinks she will bring more money. I have heard nothing of the butter and apples left at Staunton and Waynesboro and probably never will. If so I shall lose by my investment as I sold what arrived here for cost and expenses. You had better have your apples opened and see that they are not rotting. These that arrived here had rotted considerably. Richard started to Staunton on Saturday morning and will not return for some two weeks. I have suffered considerably for the last few days with my back and have had to use half of a bottle of liniment tonight being the first I have used since the morning I left. Porter is in good health and if he keeps well and we settle down for the winter I think I can learn him so that he can do my writing and give me an opportunity to stay with you for a short time in the month of Feby. I should like to be with you sooner but do not see how I can get away sooner with the amount of writing on hand. I have taken up for the benefit of the 31st Regt a small collection among the men in our train. You will ask Mr. Withrow to hand to the Ladies Society of Brownsburg thirty dollars with the request that they purchase yarn and convert it into socks for the men in that Regt. I shall try to send them a farther sum sometime next month. If you need money call on Mr. Withrow for what you may need until I have an opportunity to send you some which will be before long. It is now near 11 oclock. I was writing all day, have been packing up tonight so that we can make an early start in the morning having gotten every thing ready. Though tired I felt like writing to you if for nothing else to say how glad I would be to be with you. Give my love to all the children and accept for yourself my last thought for the night and my last letter for 1862.
Repository Details
Part of the Virginia Military Institute Archives Repository
