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Is sorry to hear of Nathaniel's bad health; has been forced to give up his low profession and concentrate on his farming; mentions his poor health; refers to the troubles of their sister, Pattie Watkins Scott and the nursing of her husband (?); is now taking in boarders and is teaching; relays crop news; is getting poorer each year; refers to an attempt to form a Farmer's Club; deer hunting seems to be the last profitable venture in Virginia.

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Gives details of the schooling and boarding of their children.

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Relays family news; refers to their good cotton crop in the area.

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Refers to her running the farm and matters of the household; is also maintaining a school in the house; mentions her declining appearance; has been forced to raise her step-son Emby (Scott) in a strange manner; gives details of her garden and livestock; is upset that she seldom sees her even closest family; refers to the declining health throughout the family.

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Informs him of her father's (?) death.

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Responds to Richard's request for a loan; refers to family illnesses; discusses her trip to Texas; apparently times in Texas are not as hard; also revisited Mobile and states its people are "real Virginians."

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Scope and Contents Thanks them for sending Emma Watkins to care for them while they are ill.

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Refers to the loss of her daughter Lizzie and Nathaniel's son Charley R. Watkins; relays family news; mentions her family's religious practices; refers to the schooling of her children; times have been hard since the outbreak of the war; prices are higher and children are being forced to work; can no longer keep servants. Includes letter from Mary Ballantine, to her uncle, Nathaniel V. Watkins informing him of her sister Lizzie's death.

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Wishes she could visit; relays family news; her health is improving.

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Relays family news; are having a rough winter which is hurting their crop beds; refers to the schooling of their children; mentions the chores performed by the family.

Scope and Contents Often mentions the prospect of Nathaneil's receiving a furlough; refers to a woman's chore of weaving at home; relays news of schooling going on; negroes are fortifying Raleigh, North Carolina; mentions her many chores at home; relays news of their crops and livestock; is relieved to learn that the Ironsides have been forced to leave the area of Charleston, South Carolina; relays family and neighborhood news; there apparently are a number of southern deserters; are having trouble with the...

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Encourages him to continue the study of his letters.

Scope and Contents Relays family news both before and after the war; discusses money matters; relays news of their provisions in camp; refers to the South's greatest victory at Manassas, Virginia; although the Yankee army is rumored to be quite large, Nathaniel believes they are "despirited and demoralized" refers to success in Kentucky; makes references to General Robert E. Lee's expertise; believes an attack of Maryland, Ohio, and Pennsylvania is coming; refers to the North's destruction of Northern...

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Relays both good and bad news concerning crops in the area; discusses financial matters; wishes he could visit; refers to the problems of his livestock and negros eating away at his farm; relays news of his crops and livestock.

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Refers to his son (Asa Watkins) and his numerous amusements; relays neighborhood news; is behind in his farm work; low tobacco prices add to the already hard times.

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Refers to the increasing hard times they are living in; mentions the many demoralized Negroes; her children are frequently sick; sickness is prevalent throughout the South; relays family news; refers to the Southern hatred of Yankees.

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Relays news of her caring for an ailing neighbor friends have also been wounded in battle; many horses are dying in battle; there has been an increase of sickness in area.

Scope and Contents From the Collection: Letters, chiefly 1862-1865, written by Nathaniel Venable Watkins to his wife Nancy Daniel Watkins. During the Civil War, Watkins served with Co. H, 4th Virginia Heavy Artillery, which became part of the 34th Virginia Infantry Regiment. Watkins appeared to have saw little combat, spending much of his time in defensive positions guarding artillery batteries. His unit was stationed at Gloucester Point (during the Peninsular Campaign), near Richmond (Chaffin's Bluff) and near Petersburg. His...

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Scope and Contents An envelope for a weekly offering made by Nannie V. Watkins at Shiloh Presbyterian Church, two school compositions written by Minnie H. Watkins, an invoice of goods bought by Nathaniel V. Watkins, two news items reporting the death of Dr. Elisha Ballantine, a note written by a parent requesting prayer for their conversation, four items of miscellaneous verse and two unidentified fragments.