Monday, December 12, 2011

1861 Dec[ember] 12 L'esperance

Dear John,

I wrote to you four Weeks ago to-
day that Ma would, the next day, send with the
letter a box to Charles and yourself the letter was
directed to "Monterey" & the box to "Camp Bartow"
and as you said nothing in our letter to pa-
about receiving my letter & not heard from the
box I don't think you could have received it
I write this morning to tell you that the afore-
said box was certainly sent, weighing not
less than 300 pds, and think if you could
send either to our old camp or to Monterey
you may yet get it, no doubt a good many of
the articles will be spoilt, such as sweet potatoes
turnips & probably the cabbage, but the apples &
pickle will be good whenever you get them--
Ma has mourned over the probable loss, as much
as either of you but shays she hopes some poor
soldiers will enjoy it, if you can't seeing our
anxiety in response to the box's fate you must write
soon and let us [know] if you were fortunate enough
to get it. Ma received a letter from Tom a

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week ago, requesting her to send him a barrel of
vegetables and yesterday she and I spent most of
day in packing one with cabbage, potatoes, pickle
&c. and dispatched Uncle Bill to town with
it, and I expect just as it reaches him, he will
be ordered off to the battle field, and thus get
it destroyed, as I see from the papers last night
that an engagement was certainly expected this
week; and we are prepared to hear of a bloody-
battle every day from that direction. The wise
ones say, that McClenlan[sic] is oblige to make an
attack on Beauregard soon or be starved out soon
as the Potomac is so thoroughly blockaded that they
can not get providions[sic] from either that quarter
on by the Ohio R R. What do you think of old Abes
message? its worthy of such a demagogue.

We are all looking forward with much impatience
to Eglands [sic] decision in regard to Masons & Slidells
capture its generally though here that Lincoln
will apologise, but some think not, that he will
be willing to carry on a war with Egland & try and
get Canada into his fold, particular as he finds
the South is in earnest, in not tristing with them
again. I only hope for the best--- ---

I was sorry to hear that you all were still on
the mountains and a probability of wintering how
do you stand the idea or rather reality of living a

[page 3[
midst snow and ice, but if this weather is a fair
specimen of winter weather; I don't think any of you
will have cause to complain, it is as pleasant and
as mild as April weather now and it has been so
for more than a week. pa killed his hogs just
a day or two before it commenced and he feels quite
uneasy about it, but ma says she has no fears
about its not keeping, the only thing seems to
trouble her is the fact that she hasnt enough
killed only five averaging some thing like 1100 pds
pa had several stolen from him; Mr Apper-
son nine or then, there never was any thing like
the scarcity of pork in town but its though
it will come in more plentifuly[sic] after the
Government is provided. after Christmas Ma talks
of buying two or three hogs. it is selling at $12
now but she is in hopes it will fall--- --- ----
We heard through a letter from Henry a few days
ago that Macon was coming up on a furlough
Xmas I wish it may be true, for I do want to
see Jessie. they say he has grown & wiehgs 150--more
than any of the family. What do you & Charley
say about coming over at the same time? is it
not possible that one of you any how can come?
I tell you we would be so glad to see you, that
we would make the >u>bigest kind of fuss over you both
Pa says I tell you that he has received your letter

[page 4]
and money and that it was all right. he has
paid sam Steptoe and taken his receipt, it was
not so much as you expected being $14. says he will
send Mr Eppes & put the rest out on interest
when he goes to town again. he is right sick to
day with a cold. I think if you and Charles
keep on at this rate you will get independant
though its dearly bought.--------------

There is no news going on, every thing & every body
is quiet. I was in the city Sunday to church. Fanny[?]
is still staying at Gen. Rodes. Mary Lou is still
a candidate for matrimony. her affair with Squire
Neffs
Cousin Fanny says has "all ended in a phiz"
The "Squire" came up sometime ago, to see her, and
I think he found out the game May Lou wanted
or was playing with him so he slided out the scrape
poor girl she is unhappy herself, and makes all
her family. it would be a great relief to thiem if
she were to marry. Ma got a letter from Aunt
Felicie the other day, they were all well and
complains terribly of the hard times. I believe rich
people think and talk more a bout the times than
the poor ones the latter is use to it and don't
mind it. I enclose a piece from a paper to C--
announcing Mr. Wilmers[?] accepting the Bishoprick &c
I don't [know] whether he has seen it or not. You never ac-
-knowledge the papers we sent. do you get them, & wish
them sent to you? we can do so sometimes if you wish it
Love to Charles tell we are anxiously looking for another from him
write soon to your sister Nellie

[top margin page 1]
This is written a great
hurry please excuse
its defects & write or
come soon

The recipient, John Marshall Steptoe, was a 1st Lieut, Co. A, 44th Virginia Infantry

MSS 6516

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