1862 January 20 At Home

My dear Son.

Yours of the 10 came safe to hand, and it gave us considerable relief to know that you were once more in Camp. Yet we cannot be otherwise than extremely anxious about you all. You have undergone such cruel exposure, toil, and suffering that sooner, or later it must inevitably affect your health. I hear that you have had the jaundice. How very grateful you ought to be, that you have still been able to keep on your feet, whilst so many have fallen around you. Oh How my heart aches when I think of the perils you have so lately passed through. Divine Providence has sustained and guar[d]ed you thro' all your trials, and to him we must give the praise.

Kate had a letter from Mat Ewing at Athens last friday 17 saying that your brother Abram was there sick with fever. He left the army on the 6 and came there on the 12 he was on his way here; but was so unwell that he could not travel. He put up at the Hotel, and Mr Caldwell heard of it, sent his buggy for him, & took him to his house. he was not able to walk. He was better when she wrote, and their family physician was waiting on him. Her father had written to her saying that she might go to Richmond if she could get company; but she thinks that is doubtful. Isaac's letter was misplaced when Kate intended sending it to you; but I have found it & will try to enclose it now. I suppose it was Franks children that bent it so: Lizzy wrote to us last week, Frank was gone to Tazewell. The rest were well. Old Billy Rutlege died lately. Since I commenced there has been a violent thunderstorm and a tremendous rain. I think the lightning has struck somewhere very near this. I commenced on saturday morning & has rained nearly ever since, this is monday.

I often think how little the bad weather effects us, in comparison with those in the Army. Some of the friends here are trying to have some gloves knit to send to your regiment. I had only yarn enough to knit one pair. They were sent by J. White. I have been waiting sometime to hear when you would go into Winter-quarters, I wanted

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to send you some dried apples, and potatoes if you want them, also some soap. Did you get the beans that I sent? Mrs Rapp made me a present of a part of them. We sent you some butter in Jimmy Vance's box. We will send some more as soon as we can make it. If you want any more clothes that we can make, dont fail to let us know. Goods are enormous high here, and but very few of any kind. There is enough of the flannel left to make another pair of drawers, like the ones we sent you. We shall dye the flannel some colour, thinking it will be better than white.

Your uncle John Vance was here lately. He looks very fresh and young for a person going on seventy nine years. Your aunt Polly is now in better health than she has been in many years. Their son John died lately in Missouri near the time that poor William Meridith's remains were brought home from Manassas. William was a very promising young man, & his death is much lamented by all friends. Jonathan Vance's son is in the same Regiment with Abram.

You will be surprised to hear that the soldier that has been here so long with a broken leg, is still here. About seven weeks ago Dr Heiskell told him that he was well enough to leave, and soon after he wrote to his Capt at Portsmouth for a discharge & his pay. He got no reply, then wrote again,and got an answer the day before New Year, and that had to be returned with his signature & some other writing that was necessary. I told him that I thought that he had better go himself and see to his affairs as he had a free passage. (which I only learned a day or two before.) I thought that he was obliged to wait untill he could get his pay. He got a letter yesterday from his Capt dated the 8 saying that he would go to town next day and get his money & send that & his discharge to him. I was as willing to have have[sic] him waited on as any person could be, untill I found that he was able to leave. Since then I have been quite impatient. He came here the 1st day of september.

His leg is very crooked, and he will always be lame.

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I was at your uncle James's saturday. He was at the Maxwell place husking corn; but came home before we left. Kate was there also. We seldom find an opportunity to go there. I had not been there in a long time. Jane Vance, Peggy Rhea, & Nancy Preston were there the day before. Have you received Miss Peggy's socks? Our neighbors are well except Capt Gibson he is quite unwell with a cold. Lizzy Davis is so unwell that some think she will not live untill spring. Lee has been chopping wood for a while when the weather will permit. Frank thinks that you ought to have him to raise some corn. He says that his old hired man has raised enough of corn & oats to do him this year. I suppose that he tends the lots there at home.

[letter will continue on the 22nd]