Scope and Contents Has not written due to wrapping up his former business as he intends to quit the practice; feels it impossible to make it to Williamsburg at any given time; has pulled their house down and intends to build another; and Maria is at the Court House visiting her uncle Bailey during this time; is willing that he and brother Robert divide the slaves between them and asks if he needs to be present during this time; encloses a letter from Francis H. Lee and asks if he will need to find out from Mr....

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Agrees with suggestion in Maria's letter that he ("brother") take a trip to Northampton in order to convalesce and recover from his illness; has not been well himself, and has been suffering from a disease that resembles bilious cholic, and supposes it was combined also with gout; was truly sorry to hear of the loss suffered by Dr. and Mrs. Garrett (the death of one of their daughters); informs him of the death of Mr. Lyon, who passed away peacefully and retained his...

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Expresses deepest sympathy for the loss of (her husband) W. Savage; was shocked by Savage's change in health when he saw him last; asks her to inform Dr. Garrett that he is to travel to Norfolk next Tuesday and will meet Garrett there; sends the love of the family.

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Received her last letter without a signature or a date; informs her that Uncle Sam's violin is beyond repair; would not sell Pa's violin but if she would like Rob to have it, he will lend it to him; encloses $45 to settle the bill with Mr. Kellum.

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Has filled his ice house with ice three inches thick; killed his hogs, which averaged 225 lbs. each; has taken all his Negroes to his new plantation that he intends to make the finest in the county; is determined to make a good farmer; asks after all the news, especially of the Asylum, who the candidates are for the Senate and the House of Delegates, and whether there is no opposition to Garrett for Congress; informs him that Mr. Clark gave Bettie 15 Negroes and $3,000.

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Scope and Contents Informs her that Robertson is in love with a certain black-eyed lady, whose name he cannot yet reveal. Bears signature from S(?) Guion, (?) of Virginia, to "aunt" [?], May 23, 1859. Regrets that he could not finish the letter the night before, but was overcome by sleep; reveals that he will come to Williamsburg soon to become engaged; informs her that the weather has been quite warm; shares news of the family.

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Encloses a check for $5, the amount of Mrs. Saunders' donation to the Bible Society of Virginia; informs him that the money is also intended as the first payment toward making George T. Wilson, son of Reverand G.T. Wilson, a life member; thanks him for the kind care he received while a houseguest at his home.

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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";...

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Hopes that she will stop in Williamsburg on her way to Richmond to visit Cousin Mary Howard; shares news of many friends and relatives; informs her that Mary Garrett, daughter of Uncle Benjamin Garrett, is visiting and breaking many hearts; urges her to visit while Mary is there also.

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Apologizes for his lack of correspondence; refutes the statement she made in her previous letter "about an 'old aunt who gives offence (sic) by showing an interest in the family'"; assures her that she is well-loved by all but that the younger generation is "very negligent in the little etiquettes of life"; informs her that Comfort is visiting them, but will leave soon as she is afraid of the smallpox and fears it will reach Hickory Grounds; shares the news that Winder...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Has not been able to get up to Eastville to get the blankets, paper, or envelopes for her since it has either rained, snowed, or been very cold lately; cannot "see the slightest probability of borrowing you any money" and Mother cannot make her a comfort; informs her that Nancy has not been able to work since last August, Patience has been sick, and the new cook has been in bed almost every day since she arrived, so all the work of the house lands on Mother; looked in...

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Encloses the receipt of the deposit in First National Bank and asks that she let her know as soon as she receives it; informs her that Captain Turner died a few days before; shares the news that Cousin R. took Mollie away with him and that Uncle John left a few minutes before for the island; asks when she will visit; would like Aunt Susan and Lottie to send her some scraps of worsted for her bed quilt; shares news of friends and relatives.