1861 August 9 Bon Air [Virginia]

[Behind every famous Confederate scout...is a mother?]


Mr C[abell]

Dr Sir,

I had a letter from Jno, saying they had
half in their Co sick, I want to send a box to them, and
in the absence of Mrs C write to you to ask the favor if you
have any more Tomattoes than you use to let me have some
ours ripen very slowly. I want to send the box to the Depot on
Sat eve to go off Sunday & all you can spare shall be
very much obliged if you will save for me till Sat mo-
rning. I also will be greatly obliged if you will allow
your cook who makes such superior bread to bake me
two loaves, I will send the flour over to her tomorrow eve
or this eve either as I want all I send to be perfectly cold.

Jno is in a very perilous situation several miles
in advance of any other co, goes out scouting every other
day & stays 24 hours, & never has anything to eat during
his absence from camp, his Capt had his horse killed un
der him last week while out in that way--he is leading a
most laborious life yet has been well up to the time
he wrote, his fare is very coarse now & spare too, so I feel
very anxious to get off a box to him, particularly as there
are so many sick & he divides all he has with them,
he says the boxes I have sent proved most gratefull
to the sick--I feel more uneasiness now then ever
as his situation is so dangerous, a large shell fell

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just before his horse, tore up the earth all around
him so far he has escaped unhurt--

Nothing but the protecting arm of Almighty
God wd have saved him in the perils to which he
has been exposed----Let me hear particularly how
your children are that have been sick--

Very Truly Yours

Mrs V[irginia]. I. [McLaurine] Mosby
Bon Air August 9th

Mr. N. F. Cabell
Liberty Hall

Historian Rick Britton comments that J.E.B. Stuart, whose 1st Virginia Cavalry John S. Mosby had joined, was already using the future "Grey Ghost" for scouting. The small, wiry man, an excellent rider who knew the territory, was easily able to slip around the Union positions. His mother, remembering his frail and sickly childhood, was obviously concerned about his health and safety, and thought a care box from home was in order.

MSS 38-111-g