Scope and Contents From the Collection: Correspondence of the Garrett family of Williamsburg, Va., concerning family and social news, politics, and the Civil War. Earlier letters deal mainly with business and political news, as several Garrett family members, including Richard R. Garrett, Alexander C. Garrett, and Dr. Robert M. Garrett, were involved in the politics of 19th century Virginia. Correspondence of Dr. Robert M. Garrett and his brothers Alexander C. Garrett and B. F. Garrett concerning the sale of "Yardley," Northampton...

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Encloses a note to him; hopes that he will accede to his wishes.

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Informs him that Mary has been extremely sick for a week, but it appears that she is recovering; will return home next week if she continues to improve; regrets that he has no concrete information to give him regarding Mr. Hughes; advises him that if Lou has made up her mind about Hughes, that there is little he can do to stop the wedding; was sorry to hear of the death of A.C. McCandlish but was told by Robby that his habits were bad.

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Has heard of Lou's impending marriage but is concerned that she is a bit young, being not yet twenty; assures her that Mary is quite recovered and has an enormous appetite; Mr. Garrett has gone up to Court today, so she will have three or four servants to sleep in the house and protect her and the baby; informs her that the baby is getting fatter every day, but still has no teeth; asks after her garden and shares news on her own gardening.

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Has waited to write til Lou set a date for her wedding, which will be on the 25th of April; was told by Mr. Hughes that he intends to meet him in Richmond; informs him that Lou could not do with less than $300 for the wedding; was told by Mama that the interest on the money earned from the sale of the servants along with what brother owes for Negro hires would be more than $300; asks if (cousin) Laura has yet gone to the Eastern Shore as they expect her every day. Bears...

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Scope and Contents Reports that his wheat crop has been damaged by a hailstorm and fears he will get only a half a crop; hopes for rain because otherwise he will not make a good crop of corn or tobacco; discusses politics and who will be elected; informs him that his ankle is no better and hopes that he can send the "receipt" he made for his leg; has decided to go to White Sulphur Springs this summer.

Scope and Contents Has just received the interest on her two bonds from the Messrs. Nottingham; has been expecting her to visit but realizes she does not know yet when she will be able to; hopes that her children have passed the critical point of scarlet fever and are now safely convalescing; informs her that he and Comfort are suffering from bad colds; shares the news that Hamilton Neale and Lizzy Smith are to be married this summer, and Robert Nottingham and Miss Byrd are to be married at length also;...

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Has not had time to make the inquiries she wanted; deposited $100.66 in her account to bring her balance to $574.59; has not heard from (?) Guion; will send the ring she spoke of if he finds it; informs her that Mrs. Galt is in Norfolk staying at the Atlantic Hotel.

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Spent about a week dividing his time between Norfolk and Hampton and saw the Great Eastern; was appointed a delegate to the Democratic convention at Charlottesville as soon as he returned; rode up to the convention with Miss Maggie Parker and plans to go see her in September on the Eastern Shore when all the rest of her beaux have departed.

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Seeks to gain the vote of W. Robertson Garrett for Tallie's husband (?); is afraid that the man will lose his office, and he has no other means of employment; informs her that Eliza's health has been poor lately; will not be able to make it down this winter as Eliza is taking care of some little servants who have lost their mother, and she is afraid that they will be mistreated if she leaves them; has had a severe attack which makes him more aware of his age and his mortality.

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Returns Humphrey's and Taliaferro's check for $150 to him as it was not endorsed; informs him that there was no deposit made to his credit at that bank.

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Reported to General McClaws (McLaws) last Monday and was stationed at Young's farm at the mouth of the Warwick River; occupies the right of the line of defenses and is in command of the right battery; was told by General McClaws (McLaws) that General Magruder wished to take New-Port News (Newport News), but there are 11,000 men stationed at that place and there is little chance for a fight; will take winter quarters nearby.

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Informs him that George and his family have been staying with him since last summer; assures him that George has quit drinking and will hopefully do well; has been enjoying the company of Laura and family, who is at Hampden Sydney College in Prince Edward County; has a good crop this year but finds groceries and salt difficult to obtain; purchased salt for $25 a bushel last week, corn sells for $10 a barrel and wheat $4 a bushel; decribes the prosperity of the tobacco...

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Is now at the Military Institute (Virginia Military Institute) in Lexington; is told that a young man cannot be gotten in there, and that expenses are quite high, being $400-$500 per year; asks that Winder brings a letter to his (JWB) son Daniel in Colonel Gorgas' department if he comes up; will write to Colonel Smith and his son will write to him (RMG) as soon as possible.

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Decided to write to her, though he does not know her, when Colonel W. read parts of her letter to him; has let his imagination wander to think of his home in the South, and wishes "this cruel war was over"; has amused himself by coaxing a rat of his hole and then throwing Colonel W.'s toothbrush at him; joined the Confederate Army with the notion "that it was a mighty funny thing; that there was a good joke in it somewhere & that I was the Columbus to discover it";...