1861 July 17 Locust Grove [Virginia]

Wednesday night 21 o'clock

[to Edwin R. Page]

Good night my darling I can't write to you to-night can you
tell why--no I reckon not & it is best that you should not--I have written
to you once to -day when I felt better than I do now & sent it in your
box--your little daughter too is fretting--as she has been stung by a bee & her
little hand is very much swolen & she is complaining of it a good deal
she has been talking about you all day & has been telling me how
she felt when you left home-- poor little darling--I wish I could forget my feelings as easily as she does hers--one moment she is crying &
the next laughing as joyously & lighthearted as a little bird--Mary
Mann has commenced you a letter this evening--finished one page & let
it to be completed in the morning. Maria is kneeling by me saying her
prayers & asking "God to take care of her Papa that is way off at War
& bring him to her safe again for Christ Jesus sake" Oh that God will grant
her prayer my darling & bring you once to your wife that loves you
as no one but your own wife could love her husband--goodnight
good night my darling May the God of Mercy Truth & Justice bring
you again to see your wife & little children--oh how much we miss you
here & how sad everything looks without you--There is no bright spot that
I can [see] any where

[unsigned, written by Olivia Alexander Page]

[The following two letters were enclosed in the above letter:]

Dear Papa Kill all the Yankees and come
home and see how much wheat an oats we have
Uncle Tony has made 4 stacks of winter oats
& one long stack of wheat--when you come home
bring me a Yankee gun--the flies bite my
head so much I can't write any more
Your little boy Willie Page

My dear Papa
I got your let-
ter last night and was so
glad to hear from you I would
like to see in your tent Ma-
Ma has just sent your box to Town
this morning and it will make
you a good seat in your tent
and the buckets you can drink
out of--

Papa the little colt is so pret=
ty and gentle and Nelly is as fat
as she can be, old Roebuck would
be mighty glad to see you I know
we have 35 turkeys--and 20 ducks
Lucy and Jimmy are nearly grown
they will lay some eggs soon I ex
pect Tippy has her little kittens
yet and the black one caught a rat
last week She will be a good cat
papa wont she

[page 2]
they run and jump and play
so pretty Papa I can hear the drum
this morning So plain in Town
I wish mama would let me
come to see you when she comes I
want to see all the soldiers &
see you worse than any body in
the world



Would not like to sleep
in a grave yard though you must
write to me a gain dear papa
your daughter
Mary Mann Page

MSS 8937