.MTM3NA.MjMyMQ

This transcription has not been verified by Special Collections Research Staff. Please also consult images of the document.

Letter from Cathatrine Powell [Belvue, Va] to granddaughter

11 April 1861

Powell Papers - 65 P875, Box II, Folder 6

- - - - -

                                                                                     Belvue April 11th /61

 

                                   

            My dear granddaughter

                                                                        I have been waiting for some time for the softening influence of genial weather to release my stiffened fingers from the effects of the long cold & damp weather, to answer your last letter unfortunately I am not the only suferer, Your Aunt Ann, has been confined to the house, & often to her bed, more than a week at a spell all the winter with colds attended by cough and fever or inflamatory rhumatism, I have not seen her for a week, my limbs continue so weak that I cannot get upstairs and there is no one about the house able to carry me; Fanny has been very much indisposed for several weeks with violent cough and is much reduced in flesh and strength.

 

Phebe has been sick several weeks with chills & fever, Nanny has quite recovered her health, and devotes herself assiduosly to the duties of

[2]

nurse & housekeeper, which she fulfills as well as could be expected from a girl of her age, and with more self denial, She has had no company at home this winter & has not spent an evening out; yet appears always cheerful and contented.  Lewellyn is employed at the Observatory, but comes down every saturday evening to see how we are getting along.  Poor fellow the times wear a gloomy aspect to him, This breaking up of Federal relations, must involve the ruin of many individuals whatever the result may do for the country, It seems to me like breaking the marriage tie & sacrificing the interest of the family on the selfish plea of incompatibility of temper, We are in a state of very unpleasant suspense here as to the efect the attempt to reinforce fort Sumter may have on Virginia, many native officers of the Navy, have resign’d, we heard yesterday that Commo Forrest was threatened with orders to sail, but I hope it is only an idle rumor.

 

Douglas has opened an office in Alexandria

[3]

but I am affraid it will be a long time before the profits of his profession realizes his visionary expectations, One bright spot in our limited horizon apear’d yesterday, our neighbors daughter, Nelie Hall was married to Mr. Kellogg, a young minister of agreable person & manners & estimable character, A couple united loving, and worthy to be loved, is an event to be rejoice over, The Bridegroom traveled from N York during that violent storm of tuesday night.  The clouds were lowering still & drizzling till the hour of the bridal, when they dispensed, to the satisfaction of the superstitious, who believe in the old saying.   Happy is the bride that the sun shines on.”?

 

I have not been out at all since October, except 2 or 3 times to take wash out side, when I am taken in old Harry’s arms & put in the Carriage.  I have made a great acquisition in a wheel chair, it is quite a hansome peice of furniture, no too

[4]

large to sit in my room, Some poor fellow vacated it in the Infirmary at Washington & Charles Wallace purchased it for me of his Widow.  I can put it in motion & turn it in every direction in my room, & on the portico, by turning the handels.  I read a great deal this winter & by way of resting my eyes, & varying my ocupation kept a peice of work in the frame, or rather a peice of silk on which I have worked various little peices in chenilles, they do not require as good eye sight as finer materiel & the richness makes up for deficiency in execution.

 

I send the best of them to my dear son, as a memorial “Tha’ I do not think he will require it of his mother.  I have just heard that dear Jane is with you, I have not heard from her, or known where to direct a letter to her for a long time, tell her I have been anxious to hear from her, if she could see with what difficulty I write, & so slowly with an inflexible steel pen, she woud not expect me to write frequently, it is very fatigueing to me  Your Aunt Ann & Phebe join me in love to yr Father, mother & all the household  Remember me affectionately to Sarah Conrad & Betty

                                                                                                Your ever Affectionate

                                                                                                            Grand Mother