1862 February 18 Bedford County, Va.

Home Feb 18th/862[sic]

When I recieved your long and interesting
letter about ten days since, my impulse was to answer
it immediately, but recolected that Ma had just
written to you the day before I forbore until now. I
have seen with pleasure that you do no object to your
letters being answered quickly, and as you are so punctual
yourself, I feel at liberty to impose my scrawls on you at
time but at the same time I will endeavor to be--
considerate enough not carry my imposition too far with you
I would dislike above all things to do any thing that would
check your punctuality, a virtue so much to be admired in
every one, and what I would rather possess almost than any
other for it brings into action so may other noble qualities
and gives so much strength to ones character, but you will
say not any more moralizing; well a greed----
We have been looking most anxiously for Charles's arrival
but to no purpose as yet, we were in such a state of anxiety a
day or two ago that in a fit of desperation I consulted the
table and was most exaltingly informed by his majesty
that Charlie would be with us on Wednesday evening, so we are

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in hopeful expectancy of seeing him on that day, but only
regret is that you will not be able to come with him, and
hope you will be able to do so when he returns. Macon came
up a week or two ago, on a weeks furlough, he was with us
only two days as he was caught in the city a day or two by
the snow and rain together. I never saw any so improved
in appearance grown and fattened very much weighs 163 pds.
he arrived in Norfolk just as his company was ordered to
Roanoke Island, but fortunately the order was counterman-
ded and they are still at their old Camp with orders to march
at moments warning its thought there will be a great battle
somewhere near Weldon the North Carolina news threw a
gloom over us all for a while, but was cheered on Saturday by
our victory at Fort Donnelson, and hope to days paper will
bring us still better news. sometime John I think things
look dark and lowering and it makes me gloomy indeed
until I remember God who ordereth[?] all things for our good, will
by his divine providence so guide and protect us, that we may
not fear the power of any earthly adversary, we have only to
put our trust in him, It is generally believed now that Egland[sic]
and France will recognise in the course of a few weeks.
I hope in time to bring in Spring goods for it's almost
impossible to get necessaries for any price, Ma complains
terrible and says if they continue so much longer she
will be bankrupt. I have made up my mind to do
without every thing that its possible for me to do.
Ma recieved a letter from Aunt Bet on yesterday

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giving us the particulars of the death of Aunt Felice--
were you not surprised to hear it? she died suddenly with
inforenation[sic] of the stomach. she had a still born child
a few weeks before, poor thing; Aunt Bet says she never
saw any one so frightened. When she was told of her
situation she made no disposition of her property-
you know she inherited a great portion of the estate from
the child she lost last summer and [?] the stillborn--
childs part. Aunt Bet shocked us all very much by telling us
of the unnatural and ungrateful conduct of Louise at the
death of her sister, says she manifested no feeling
whatever but talked about how rich they would all be &
that she never intended to do another stitch of work as
long as she lives Oh the selfishness of this world. I always
knew that was a ruling passion with Louise, but did think
she had a sincere and natural affection for her sister.
There is something so strange and mysterious in regard to our
dear Uncle's family, to think there is not a vestage of him
remained to us in five short years five children, himself,
and lastly his young and beloved wife has been sum-
moned before the bar of the judge of all men.
What a commentary for all worldly things--. Aunt
Bet wrote that the sale of all the household furniture
was to take place on the 17th (yesterday) she is staying
at Mr Macon's and will come on sometime in
May she seems deeply distressed, she is truly a child
of affliction----We heard Sunday of the death of

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poor Gen Rodes. his death has been looked to nearly all
the winter he had become as perfectly helpless that death
was a relief to himself and his family he expressed a
desire to die and seemed almost impatient for it before
he was called he was buried yesterday the day was so
desperate that none of us could go.

I hear from Tom but seldom, his friend Mr Ogden is
still here he has improved very much since he has been
here and will leave for Manassas as soon as the weather
changes permanently. We still like him very much, he is
a perfect gentlemen and has but one objection to him
and that is, hies not at all conjugally inclined; seems
to pride himself on his resembling Paul Pry in that
particular. he is very fond of chess, and I am getting to
be a right good player under his tuition---
Did you ever see anything like the miserable weather we
are having there is nothing but snow and rain for
more than a week now, and the roads are as bad as they
were a month ago. Ma is mourning over the impossi
bility of getting any ice or even snow as it rains or melts
before they can do any thing with it, but I'll be reconciled
as they say its the only means of keeping off the Yankees
until our reenlisted volunteers return I tell you its right
scary to see how they are leaving for their home especially
at Manassas. they say there are not more than 20 or
30,000 there now. would it not be awful if McClenhan
were to make an "Inward move" now Please write
soon to our affect sister Bettie I hope C. is on his way
to Gall Ridge

Betty Steptoe to John Marshall Steptoe of the 44th Virginia

MSS 6515