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[Page 1]

1862
Richmond
Sunday Night Dec 21
How can I express my gratitude
to God, my dear Husband, that you have once
more passed through great dangers, when so
many brave men have fallen. I never see a
funeral of any veteran of the late battles – and
Alas! there have been many – without thinking
how much we have to be thankful for. I was
delighted to get your letter by Jim – though
Mr Bolster had relieved any anxiety by a
message though Papa that you are safe and well.
He spoke of you very handsomely! I hope you will
write to Papa – and don’t forget to mention Da
vidson [?]. Imogene has been so anxious.
You know how she suffers. You will probably be

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surprised to find that I am with her – but these
Yankees had possession of King & Queen and Gloucester
for some time, and all communication was cut off.
They came five thousand strong, and had come out
to cut off our retreat from Fredericksburg! ["our retreat from Fredricksburg!" underlined] So con-(?)
fident were they of victory. The news of their defeat
sent them back so hastily to Yorktown & G.H. that
they left most of their plunder at the Ct House. I can
only say they [?] in the usual manner which [illeg].
Every body in the neighborhood lost everything.
They took from Mr. Smith all his sheep, five horses
four mules, eleven burros. Your uncle William,
Mrs. S. Field, Mr. [?] and many that suffered
in the same way, but many of your uncle William’s
were left at the Ct House. Ims father, Mid and Bland
came up yesterday and gave us this account. Sam
drove them up. He says he had gone to the Ct
House on the black horse when the Yankees un-

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expectedly made their appearance. They tried
being kind to make Jim go with them but he flatly
refused – when they called him a “Regular Secession-
ist”? ["Regular Secessionist" underlined] and took the horse from him. They said they
would not make him walk home, and gave him
a poor broken down steed to ride. I am sorry to say
Bindy & Abram went off and joined them while
they were at the Ct. House. The only negroes in the
county who did. Every body, especially poor Hermin,
who has been through it all, says we ought to sell the
place and come away. You must tell me what to
do. I am going down to morrow. It would be a great
grief to me to give up my home, but I don’t see how we can
live there if these Yankees are to keep up these raids. Your
father says he is going to stay as long as he can. Mr. K[?]
and his family have moved to Petersburg for the war. They
came up yesterday. The Yankee Officer asked for the key of his
corn house, and fed a hundred & thirty horses night & morn-
ing. They went in his house and drank all his wine & they
took poor Mr. Mimm’s only horse, and all his fowls.
Fanny Shackleford held uncle William’s riding horse,

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and refused to tell let him go, but they roughly snatched
him from her, and [?] to shoot her.  Poor Hermin
and two soldiers are at [?].  [?] I look at her,
I feel that I can comply of nothing, as long as your
life is spared.  I add to [?] griefs, [?] [?] destruction.
Every thing is at destruction [?] [?], and I hate to add to
Papa's boredom.  Thoug he isists on evy [?] Gloucenters
and don't want [?] [?] later Fanny and Leah [?].  It was
so kind in your fu[?] to come for me, for it really is not
[?] to go alone, and I was getting desperate at being
cast off.  Tom Tucker has been brought to Col. Morris [?]
in a very dangerous condition.  Give my love to Nannie,
Mr [?], [?] [?] & many wo;; ne dpwm pm Tues.
day.  I am so sorry I won't be there.  Dr.  Cr[?] has told
that [?] to Mr. [?].  How [?] [?] lad [?] send
your [?] to Brownsburg.  I don't know yet about the Glou
cester friends.  I came in yesterday to Nill's and shall start
from here to-morrow.  [?] my down Richmond.  May God
bless and keep you.  Remember my [?] and write to
every floor ["every floor" underlined"].  It is such a pleasure to think of that little visit to
your [?] I enjoyed so much.  Though I have [?] [?] [?]
in being [?] so long.  [?] sends his love and the children [?] [?]  [?] [?]