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Letter from Selina Powell (Winchester, Va.) to Charles Powell, Jr (Henry, Il.)


17 July 1861


Powell Papers - 65 P875, Box II,  Folder 6


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                                                                                    Winchester      July 17 1861


 


Dear Charlie


                        I commence a letter with very little hope that you will ever get the benefit of it, but there is no harm in trying, at any rate.  We received a letter from you about a week ago.  It came through Baltimore & was dropped by private hand in the office here, but we could not price out who brought it.  That is the only letter we have received from you, since Lloyd came, so you had better continue to send to Balt.  We are all well, except your father who has had a slight tendency to dysentery for a week past, but is getting better.  He almost always has an attack of this sort in July.  I think it is brought on by his walking so much more in the hot sun when the holiday first commences, than he does at any other


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part of the year.  Hattie & Nina went yesterday to Mr Philip Meade’s to spend a short time – so we have a small household now.  Mother & Minnie left us a week ago to go to Fauquier to Augustine Washington’s.  Minnie was very sorry to go.  Your Uncle Fred & Lute, Mrs Hammond & Molly are boarding a short distance from Mr Washington’s at “The Plains”? where they have very comfortable board for 16 dollars a month & excellent soft water.  Fred was very unwell at Warrenton, which was the cause of their removing.  Lute wrote me that he was very weak & she was right uneasy about him, but I hope now he will soon get better, I wish he had the means to go to the White Sulphur but I expect money is very scarce with him & no chance of getting any more.  He was coming here to stay with us, but the water here does not agree with him & the hospitals here we are afraid may make the town sickly, though it is not so now.  I saw Ed Grady & Temp yesterday & Pirnell the day before, all very well & in good spirits.


We should like very much to see you here dear Charlie, but as things are, perhaps you


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are best where you are.  I hope this war will soon be over & we may all live in peace once more.  Give my love to your Uncle Richard & your Aunt Lib & Minnie.  All are well at your Cousin Betty’s & Sarah’s & they often enquire for you.  Kate C___ is in Clarke now.  Sally is at home, lively as ever & Mr Archie Fauntleroy very devoted – Whether Sally smiles on him is not known.  Do you feel very lonely without Lloyd? Lloyd looks remarkably well and sends love.  I suppose you have not much to do, business is so dull, but you can read & improve yourself the more & I do hope it will not be very long before you can live nearer to us.  It is very painful dear Charlie to be so situated as not to be able to write freely, but we will hope & trust that the time will be short & pray that God will be near us, though we are far from each other & that He will protect us & bring us together again.  Oh dear Charlie let us live near God & strive to obey him in all


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things, so that though the atonement of our dear Savior, we may be accepted & spend an eternity together in Heaven.  The time is short – oh how short it may be to some of us!  but if we can get to Heaven when we die, how little difference it will make.  I thank God that my darling Minnie is safe – dear Charlie, so live, that you may be safe too.  A few more days of self-denial & our trial will be over – only lean on God at all times & he will be your sure support.


I trust we shall hear again from you before long.  Your Sister says she thanks you for your letter & will answer it soon.  She is well – We had a letter from F – He is well & doing well.  Your father - Lloyd & Rebecca send a great deal of love to you & to all.  May God preserve & bless you my darling son – Your devotedly attached mother.


                                                                                                            S Powell


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July 22nd – I am going to try to send this to-day.  We are all well.  Becca & Hatty are talking of a visit to Fauquier where they will go and board in the country for a few weeks to strengthen up a little – They will be in the same house with Fred, Yr Father, Nina & I remain here.  We are all well.  Your devotedly attached Mother, write as often as you can.  We have only got one letter since Lloyd came. Dr Packard was here from The Plains & he says he thinks Fred must be better as he saw him at Church last Sunday. We are all quiet here now. Direct your next letter to the under cover to Mr E. J Lee Sharpsburg Maryland & he will forward it to me. I send this by him to Shepherdstown.