1862 February 10 Richmond, Va.

Richmond Arsenal
Feby 10th 1862

[to Miss Hetty Cary who has been designing and sewing pennons for the Confederacy.]

The Pennons ought to
be satisfactory to one
of more fastidious taste
than myself. I have
no suggestions to make
The most fanciful and
romantic patriot cannot
live on patriotism and
pay her own board.
I am not good at
figures--in fact have
always cut a bad figure
in the world Suppose
you add to price of cloth

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and thread and needles
and gas, and wax, the
"wear and tear" of thimbles,
then estimate the number and value of the smiles
your retinue will lose
because of your business
engagements; then add
the cost of--board
and lodging (alas
that bread and meat and
sleep, should be alike
necessary to patriot
and traitor!)--then
divide one thousand pennons
by the sum of all these

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villainies, and the quotient
will be the reasonable
price for each pennon

I have the honor to
be your most obedient
humble servant "now
and evermore"

Briscoe G Baldwin
1st Lt Arty

MSS 1174