1861 Oct[ober] 17 Folly Farm

My dear Maggie [Cochran]

I have treated you very badly in not
answering your letter before this, but I trust to your good
nature to forgive me. Everything I believe goes on
in the same old way at Folly. last week Jennie and I with
Annie went over to Mr Harrisons and stayed two days we
had a very pleasant visit, Aunt Maria came out while
we were there She looks badly. Mr. Harrison has the finest
set of children I ever saw, Cousin Jane is as large as her
Mother used to be (for Aunt Maria has fallen off a good
deal) she looks well, and all were well except bad colds--
I havent been in Town but once since the Peytons came
I hope to get to see them soon, Jinnie and I were
talking about going to see Miss Rachel Lewis next
week but it is so hard to get horses, that we are very
[?]
I have had a piece of Edging
that Tarlton sent you in a letter to D[?]
some time ago so I will enclose it in this letter, it belonged to Miss
Munson, and Tarlton got it while they were on Picket duty
at Munsons Hill, he sent Annie a little piece Also[?]

[the edging is still attached to this letter]

I begin to feel quite anxious to see you all but I am
afraid of Annie getting the measles. she hasn't
been very well lately I thing she is cutting four
teeth at once and then she has a very bad cold--I wish
you could see her now she talks very plainly but she is
very much spoilt, when I go to Town I will try and get
her likeness taken, and send it over to you all--
Tell Mittie I was glad to get her letter and will try
and answer it soon. Ask Aunt Sarah if she has forgotten
me, I would write to her if I thought she would like

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to hear from me but I have written her two or three letters
and haven't received any answers Tell her her friend John
Gilkerson came home very sick with the Dysentery and
when I last heard from him it was feared that he would
not recover--he has been out in the west, Columbus--
Davis is sick at Monterey, Aunt Jane Amis is going out
there to nurse him I believe Bob and Jimmie Cochran
are both getting well, Jimmie I suppose will go back soon
There are a great many sick in the army in the west they
send wagon loads of sick to Staunton almost every
day. the Soldiers out there undergo many hardships
they scarce get one meal a day. the roads are so bad they
cannot get provisions to them I believe Col Baldwin's Brigade
is still on the Alegheny When did you last hear from
your Brother John? we haven't seen any of his letters for
some time, How is Flowe[?] getting on, and where is Henry
and Willie? Has Henry gotten a situation as Surgeon--
I never saw Mr Crawfords store so completely stripped of every
thing as it is now, no dress goods of any kind except a few
B[?] He has been selling a good many things in Richmond
I think he will have to close up very soon I think George
would be right sorry if he did he seems to be so will satisfied
Staunton ladies are still very busy knitting and sewing for
the Soldiers, they have a large Overcoat Factory, and employ
over two hundred women, I believe they have made a
thousand overcoats already

The young Ladies have been having a good many beaus
lately. there has been a good many Georgians in Town that
have been sick but are now well, some of them are very nice
looking young men, they have geen doing sociables and
little dancing parties although it is war times.--
Give our love to all write soon as ever your
affectionate Sister Lizzie Cochran
How is Nonnie and Mrs Carrington and Cousin Ginnie?