1861 June 12 Belmead [Fluvanna County, Va.]

My dear Husband


Your letter of the
9th inst by Abner Harris was sent to
me promptly on Monday afternoon
by Thomas Royall who has also become
inspired with the Military zeal of all
our young men broken up his
school & has joined one of the companies
that is to form Wise's Brigade & left
here again last evening to see father
about the arrangements & movements
of the company to be commanded by
Capt Wm A. Cocke of Winchester.
I am glad you received my last
letter so promptly & that It gave satis-
faction as it is very little I can do that
pleases every one now a days. But I have
ever desired & exerted myself to
discharge my duties faithfully in life
in all the relations & some very

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responsible ones have been assigned
me by Proficence. And if my dear
Husband there have been times
when my waywardness & willfulness
has tried our generous & noble
nature I hope it will never be the
case again. And should your value
able & useful life b spared through
the perils of this momentous crisis
in the History of our Country & you
be permitted again to reutrn with
your head covered with Laurels as
I am sure it will be to the walks
of private life you will see then
how entirely & unreservedly I am
devoted to you & the remnent of my
life spent in soothing & comforting
your declining years. We never
sufficiently appreciate blessings
until deprived of them. I feel this
but too keenly in regard to yourself
& know now but too sensibly for my
present peace & enjoyment

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how entirely dependent we all are
on you for happiness & direction.
Therefore hasten back to the bosom of
your family who are waiting with
open arms to receive you as soon
as you can do so consistent with
your duties as a Patriot & Soldier.
But if your presence & influence can
acheive any good to our soldiers
or people do not think of Home
but devote your energies heart &
sole [sic] to the glorious work before you.
And my prayer to God is that you
will be more than conquerors if
your trust is ina mightier Arm
than that of Flesh to lead you on.
We were greatly cheered by Johns visit
short as it was & the girls particularly
were charmed to be with Brother again.
Sally B. tho' is delicate greatly debilitated
every warm day. Dr. Bryant has sent
her some tonic & iron pills he urges her
to take them & plenty of exercise in the
open air when the weather is not too
oppressive. I think she greatly injures

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herself staying upstairs in heated
rooms too much. Your Father returned
Home on Saturday with Cousin
Judy he was I think revived by his
trip here & to Rec[ess] & I never saw him
half so agreeable a communicator
of his feelings to his own family.
His being at last weaned from the
Yankees & his eyes being opened to
their faults as well as ours is exerci
sing a salutary effect upon him
socially he is deeply interested in the
progress of War Movements & one of
the warmest secessionists. Mr Wm. Hemser
says that he the Genl. is right at last
And that last Sabbath week in the afternon
he Mr. H. being with the Genl. in Ri[chmond]
that instead of gong to church as
he started to do both called on the
Governor & the Genl. strongly urged
upon him to have buck shots put
in some muskets for sharp shooters
to render them more effective against
The Yankees. We hear of skirmishes
& reconoitres of a small order in every
direction but when is the battle of
Inkerman in Sebastopol to come off.

[cross written on page 1]
We hear Epsy is still in Jail in R[ichmond] had you not
better have him taken out & sent ot Brunswick.
Aunt Mary wrote me E. is in great trouble and
distress but Mary & Tom Upshur say he
persists in visiting Mary and she to encourage him
has [?] & good for nothing no employment
& no reputation & will not now even enlist in the
service of his country. E[psy] is anxious to be out & go
to Carolina. Mary will not agree to it. All goes
to confirm what I said in my last that they ought
not to live in Norfolk. He believes if sent elsewhere in
July for his Home. You had better write to E. about it
yourself. Aut Mary says she is looking wretchedly &
that she is in trouble & needs advice & direction She
respects yr opinions & I know it would come bbetter from you

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than any one else She is preparing a visit to me
in Richmond tomorrow nght perhpas.

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God bless & protect you believe me as
ever yr loving
& devoted but anxious
wife.