Complains about difficulties in the teaching profession; family news.

Describes her situation at the Garrett's, teaching Lizzie and others; emphasizes the importance of letter writing now that they are apart; discusses Mr. Irving's? failing health; says Lizzie has diphtheria; describes social events; discusses Nina's problems with teaching Blanche; reports on friends who have been wounded or killed in the war; asks bout Cousin Mary Lee and Cousin Emily.

Reports that her brother Rob has been wounded and may have to have his leg amputated; says her brother Jimmie is in Charleston where there is much yellow fever; says they work all day without rest; more family news.

Gives advice on how Nina should manage one of her pupils; reports on what she is doing; discusses clothes; mentions Minna's wedding.

Gives reasons why she hasn't written of late; describes her brother's episode of being shot in the hand and its effects; comments on number of men that are off at war and says that those who remain are "quaking"; family news; expresses hope that God will get them through "these difficulties."

Describes her social activities; discusses balancing work and pleasure; news of family and friends.

Asks about her "new home" in Richmond and her "new occupation" with Mrs. Paleski; describes Minna's wedding; says the weather was so bad that no one could go home, so the reception lasted all night; reports what she has done socially; describes in detail a dress she just made.

Expresses joy that Nina and their mother can live close to each other; reports on her social activities; discusses plans for Christmas; mentions how well the Confederate Cavalry is doing; discusses friends that are soldiers, and which of them she has knitted gloves for.

Describes a preacher, Mr. McGill, who is visiting; describes social events; discusses clothes she is making; questions Junius Powell's decision to go to Bermuda instead of joining the army; mentions Harry Harrison Mrs. Huge's brother who came home after a prisoner at Fort Delaware. .

Discusses how her home was destroyed; details experiences with the Yankees; comments on incarceration of many Southerners in northern prisons and their suffering; family news.

Describes her trip to Charlottesville and the people she visited, including cousin Gert; mentions Sally's? death; says she must soon accept an offer for teaching from Mr. Frank Cabell; discusses depreciation of money; mentions a cousin Ann and a cousin Laura; reports that Tip Powell was taken prisoner.

Discusses the bad weather and muddy roads, says she has not heard from Custis Lee, for whom she made gloves; discusses clothes and Christmas plans; tells Nina to "change her dress" whenever she desires, since she will always mourn inside; says she and Rebecca will change theirs in the spring; discusses the problems Winchester is having with the Yankees; mentions Minna's wedding.

Discusses a prospective teaching job for her and his plan for her.

Family news; begs her to spend Christmas with them.

Expresses happiness that her mother and father will finally be able to live together again; comments on Nina Powell's loss of hair; refers to suffering Loudoun County, due to Yankees; family news; describes how a friend spends time trying to find hiding places for her possessions.

Describes a "homespun" dress that she has; family news; describes weather; tells her to go to a Christmas get-together where she can met many people, including Robert E. Lee, Custis Lee, and perhaps "our beloved President" Jefferson Davis; later mentions rumors that President Davis may be dead.

Mentions pastime crocheting a cap; comments on delay of mail; discusses ordering some supplies from her sister; refers to troop movement on "the Danville road"; family news.

Scope and Contents Describes social activities; urges Nina to spend Christmas in Richmond with Cousin Emily; discusses cotton and where to buy it. Including fragment of letter from "cousin" Laurence B. Taylor, to ?, , undated, stating that he hopes they will see much of each other in Albemarle County.

Discusses the difficulties of sending mail; inquires about their mother's health; news of friends and the war.

Thanks her for the gauntlets, testament, and book of psalms that she sent him.

Tells what she did during Christmas holidays; discusses her job as a teacher as well as who and what subjects she teaches; family and town news.

Comments on Robert E. Lee's thoughts that the South is in danger; discusses her knitting and whom she has made gloves for; states how she doesn't understand men; family news.

Discusses the possibility of Nina being engaged to Willie Dupuy; says she would like to know him better before she can consent; would like for her to make the final decision herself; says their engagement would last indefinitely because they are both poor and Willie was "disabled" from the war; asks her to consider these issues.

Scope and Contents Responds to her requesting permission to be engaged to Mr. William Dupuy?; gives feelings about entire situation; refers to evacuation of Richmond, Virginia.

Family news; asks her to send her stamps and black glazed cotton and to look for strawsplitters; describes episode of being thrown from horse.