1862 March 11 Richmond, Va.

Clifton House Richmond\March 11th 1862

My dear Johnnie
Is it not too provoking
that just the very day you left
the trunk should have made its
appearance? Saturday morning
Het went to see Mrs Elsey, who
told her that the trunk was undoubtedly
at the Express Office, that it had been
sent up from Norfolk to her care, &
that she had gone herself a week
before and told the man where to
send it--of course Het proceeded
immediately with George Lemmon
to the Office and after a long time
succeeded in making the man
acknowledge that there was a trunk
there directed to Miss Hetty Cary-
they ordered it to be sent up
immediately and consequently shortly
after dinner a leather trunk
and an envelope containing the key
thereto were landed in my room.
As usual Col Pegram was in the

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parlor, and there and there I had he stayed until
to after tea, and I had to sit
and wait with the trunk in the
middle of the floor and the key
laying on top of it in the most
inviting manner, and to make
it worse, I was so sick, my cold
so bad, that I could not read
or write or sew or do anything but
lie and wonder what was in it
and stew at Col Pegram & Het
and mankind generally, & think
I was the most injured individual
in the world. The greatest
misery must come to an end
sometime, & so at last he went,
and in we pitched- what was
our amazement to find it not the
Christmas trunk but one dispatched
since the 23rd of Feb. The enclosed
letter from Ma was in it, the
trunk had evidently not been
touched, it was full of summer
things, there were three silk
dresses for Het, which she

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can wear now, but nothing
except an apron that I can
put on for a month to come
so I am not much better off
than I was before--Ma's letter
has determined me to go home.
I can see in every line of it
how much she needs us--
So I am up today for the first
time, my cold is no better
but I am tired of bed--On
Sunday Ida Winn's letter
was handed me, I send it
to you although I know
she would kill me if she
knew it--Today Sister's
letter came--I am sorry
I am in such a hurry
that I cant write any
more Good bye
your devoted sister
Jennie Cary

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