1861 March 27 Richmond, Va.

Dear Sister,

I have not heard from you
since I left home; but, thank God, with a
vigorous constitution, I have been able to bear
up and have been enjoying tolerable good
health.--My reason for not enjoying my
Christmas with you was on account of
a trifling difficulty I had, and I was conse-
quently confined during Christmas week.
I do earnestly hope this may find you all
enjoying

I can hardly be home before about
the 1st of June; but I want you to answer
this letter by the 13th of April, as I expect to
leave here about that time.

The Convention setting in this city
with regard to secession or no-secession
still claims a large portion of the people's
attention, but the fact is, they have done no-
thing yet except to squander near a
hundred thousand dollars of money for the
State.--A large part of the delegates are
certainly most consummate fools and worse

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drunkards.--One day we have strong secession
talk and the next opposition talk, but
the general impression is that Virginia will
ultimately secede, and join the other Southern
States, which will be the signal for war
if the North desires it--South Carolina has
been for over a month making preparations
for war, and is daily expected to strike
the first blow.--She has bought several hun-
dred thousand dollars of cannon, cannon balls,
shot, and shell in this city, and had them
sent on to Charleston.--Let us hope for
the best, if the worst does come.

Give Miss Nancy my love, and tell
her I have not forgotten her, and hope it will
not be long before I see her.

Give my love to mother, and all en-
quiring friends.

When you write, let me know all
who have married, and all the news about
home.
Do not forget to answer soon, and di-
rect your letter to "J. W. Parrish, Rich-
mond City, Va." and it will come safe to
hand.

Yours, truly,
J. W. Parrish