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                                    Richmond  26 March 1863

            I received a letter from Mr. Wilmer

my beloved wife, two days ago & hope

to get one from you today.  I wrote

to you on Sunday last.  The snow has at last

disappeared by the conjoined influence

of rain & warmer atmosphere.  The

weather is however still disagreeable,

damp & cloudy.   The snow was one of

the deepest known in Richmond, it is

said for 20 or 30 years.  It was nearly

12 inches deep here.  I was truly sorry

to learn that dear Ann & Mary were

sick but sincerely hope that they have

recovered.  Mr. Wilmer said nothing of

Lelia especially,  from which circumstances

I presume & hope that she had recovered

from her ^.cold  

 Col. Randolph Harrison told me

yesterday that Mr. Wise (George) had

informed him that Lelia had been

very sick but as you merely said that

she had a sore throat & Mr. Wilmer said

nothing, I presume it must be a

mistake.  I hope that dear little

Breck has gotten over his cold &

earache.  I think it exceedingly for-

-tunate that more of the children and

indeed all of you, have not had more

colds, considering the wretched weather

& character of the walking up there.

I remain perfectly well.   I saw

Mr. John  Gilmer a day or two ago; he

will go up again next week; I will send

by him a shirt which I will get the favor of

you to have repaired.  I will also send

4 pair of nice little summer stockings for

darling Lucy Page, as I presume it is diffi-

-cult to get such things where you are.  I

happened to see them & thought of  baby

immediately.  If she wants a pair of

shoes, send me the exact length of her

foot - a slip of paper - and I will try to

get a pair and send them up by a

gentleman whose family is at the

Court House, & who is going up in about

a fortnight - a Mr. Patton.

            I have not seen any body lately,

( I mean of the town) just as I determine

to pay a visit it begins to rain or

threatens so strongly that I am afraid

it will keep its word.

      I am afraid I shall not be able to get

any egg plant seed.  I have tried at  

the two principal places whose things of

the sort are kept, in vain.  I will try again

however.

           Dr. Coleman (who you know had

resigned) has gone to settle in Warrenton

N. Carolina- as I learn; his wife has gone

with him.  Mrs. Tucker it is said, intends to

return to Williamsb.g   if she can.  I have

heard nothing special about the place

recently.    Mr. John Barlow has lost

his wife.  His family were (& are) in

New Kent County.   I saw Mr. Morecock^ yesterday

as also his brother in law Capt. Taylor,

for the first time since we were at their

house: I presented them my warm

thanks, and yours, for their great kindness

to us on that occasion.

    Mr. Gilmer told me that Col. Martin was

not married when he came away, &

Mr. Wilmer said nothing of it.

Tell Mr. W with my kind regards that I

will reply to his letter in a day or two.

Best love to Lelia & Page & Ann & Mary,

with sympathy to the latter & hopes

that they have gotten well.  Kiss the

darlings for me and tell them how I want

to see them.  If  it does not rain or snow

again I shall go to church tomorrow, as I

learn that the offices will be closed.

Farewell for the moment my dearest

wife.   Your R.S.

 

           ( Remember me to  the servants)

Mrs. Saunders.