1861 Dec[ember] 13 Centreville

Dear Jinnie

I received your letter this
evening enclosing a note for Genl B-
to go with your flag. I shall have great
pleasure in serving you when the flag
turns up--where it is at present I hav
not the slightest idea. Mr Banks goes
to Richmond to-morrow & says he will
leave directions at Culpeper for it to be
sent up here. I doubt whether he will
be able to hear anything of it, now that
Connie has left. Aunt Morimia was on
the platform at Culpeper the other day as
we came up & I had the pleasure of
seeing her for a few minutes, I was very
glad to see her, as I have not seen
her for three or four days ears. I
believe I am catching Mr Banks peculiarity
of not thinking of what I am saying--Voila
an instance above. Everything goes on

[page 2]
well up here. I have been nearly distracted
all this week at having --as Ma would
say--to eat the bread of idleness. I think
it is the heaviest bread that can be prepared
not even excepting Camp bread. Major B.
has been so exceedingly busy every ever
since I came up that he has been
unable to regulate affairs in the office.
He has however to say taken compassion
on me & given me some accounts to
look into, examine, endorse &c. I was
truly grateful for the work.

The Counsellor has gone to Manassas.
his business has not yet been fully
arranged, but he is drawing pay & will
have his duties assigned him & enter upon
the discharge of them in a few days.
Edward wrote to his Mother yesterday
evening explaining all his affairs and
therefore it is not necessary for me to
touch upon them here, he seems to be
very well satisfied. Willie has been

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very busy ever since we returned, I
have am scarcely toable to say three words
to him during the day. He does very well
& Major seems to be very fond of him.
I think if he did not worry so much
about his inability to perform (as he
thinks) what is required of him, that
he would get along much better. He
gives however I think most perfect satis-
faction. I shall be perfectly satisfied
if I do as well. Capt Moore is in
Richmond, where he has been all this
week I miss him very much, he is
such a pleasant fellow. he, Willie & I
will have a room together this winter
if we stay here, & will I think be very
comfortable. Willie Robinson hasn't
yet made his appearance. Has he re-
turned to his old love? If not, considering
his hurry when he first made his ap-
pearance, I cannot imagine what
has become of him. the Maryland

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Regiment went off on picket the day
after we got here, and consequently I
have seen nothing of them & have not
been able to give Bill Murray the
package Sister Hetty sent him.
All of our packages arrived & gave perfect
satisfaction. The impression has been
conveyed that the hemming of the towels
& tablecloths was the work of the two
fair refugees, & therefore you need not
undecieve Mr Banks when you meet
him in Richmond--He will be there
until next Wednesday. by the way--
Genl Johnston wants a cover for this
flag to Keep it from getting soiled--
Tell Sister Hettie she had better make
it for him. Mr Banks says he will
bring her the material when he gets
to Richmond & tell her what is required
Had not you better make one for Beau-
regard's flag at the same time?

I have a long letter on hand to Pa,
but don't know when I will finish it,

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or how I will send it, but "fortune always
favors the brave" & so I pitched in and
have been floored two or three times al-
ready, but have not yet given up
The Colonel always vows he wouldn't
read long letters, but I think I can
"Knock him" to use a slang term. If I
were to honor him with two dozen pages
and any one were to suggest to him that
it was a long letter, he would throw him-
self back in his chair, take his fork
in his hand, & demonstrate for two hours
& a half to all comers, that it was the
shortest letter he had ever read in
his life. I can see him at it now.
At Orange Court House the other day I
had the pleasure of seeing Miss Lilie
Bailey & her mother--I did not get off
the cars however, and did not see Mr
Mercer Slaughter, & therefore can not
have been the young gent. who drew

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forth so unmerited a compliment
& withal so great a one, for Hester
& yourself. We came up with Mr. Banks
on Monday. He was the first man I
saw at Gordonsville. I begin to think it
is impossible to travel anywhere without
meeting him, and the more I see him
the better I like him.

A thought has lately struck me
from which I have derived a great
deal of comfort--the man who
is engaged to Miss Bettie Price is,
I suddenly recollected, an office
and the chances of war may at any
time put him out of the way. You
may therefore, I think, if you should
happen to see her--give her my love.
This is strictly confidential, & to be
told only to your most intimate friend
& also in confidence. What in the
thunder is the use of writing all this
nonsense? Indeed I dont know except

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that it is about ten o'clock at night,
Willie is hard at work--and I have
nothing else to do, but sit by the
fire & scribble away.

I will now close however, with
much love to all at the Hill.


Remember me to Dr. Tuttle.

Good-bye--yours affect'ly

Jno B. Cary

Miss Jennie M. Cary
Mrs S. S. Carr
University of Virginia

MSS 1415