Would have answered her letter sooner, but she was ill; went to Fredericksburg as soon as she was better and was almost caught by the Yanks who attacked the city as soon as she left; Cousin Anne asked her to come see Willy, who was ill with a cough; decided to bring him homeso he could benefit from the country air; Cousin Brodie put a blister on his [Willy's] crest which has relieved some of the cough; the weather has been bad since Willie came home, so he has not been able to go outside; receieved a note from Cousin Anne saying that they were all packed up and ready to go somewhere in the country;she asked if, in case they stayed, Ankey could come and so light cooknig for them, and she would write to Nan about it; Ankey says she doesn't know how to cook and that she doesn't want to leave Lavinia until after she has her baby; plans to alter some old clothes for the boys next week; has not bought any new clothes this fall; Jack sent a fatige jacket for one of the boys and Walker wants to have it; he reads well and she is teaching him to write; supposes that Willy is learning to read and that Charley must be wearing trousers now; Lucy is as fat and saucy as she can be; wishes Cousin Lewis could stay with her till she has her baby; Charles has to go to Raleigh and maybe further south; hopes e will be back at the end of the week; F[redericksburg] looked deserted when she was therem but she enjoyed her visit; took Amanda too see her mother; heard that William was in Richmond; knows that she enjoyed seeing him; hears that Maria's child is sick; asks for her recipe for making pomade from beef marrow and what to scent it with; sends love to the family; will visit neighbors as soon as the weather clears up. 2pp. ALS Including Ts of ALS, 2pp.