.NjY.MjAyNTg

Richmond July 18th 1864.

My dear Lizzie

    Am I not changing my character and
becoming a good correspondent? this is the second letter I have
written in the last ten days and I hope you will appre-
_ciate my epistolary efforts. I don't know what you meant
by your trouble in writing to Mr Hough. I read Brother
that part of your letter and he remarked on the consistency
of a young lady who accepted a pistol from one gentle-
man and "couldn't accept presents from gentlemen" she said
to another. But tell me all about it. I don't at all
understand what it was he sent - so cannot sympathize
with you yet. I wish you would back here and stay
with us. half of my room is quite at your service - and
you don't know how glad we shall all be to have you. and
especially myself. I do miss you so much for I haven't
any "crony" inparticular now. Do you know that  Col Lamar
who married pretty little Mrs Carter was killed at Monoca-
cy Bridge? Isn't it sad. so young and twice a widow.
Of course you have heard of the relieval [struck-through] appointment
of Hood to a full Generalcy and Johnston's Army. I
really am almost beginning to doubt the success of
our Cause. it is said that Genl Lee raised the
schedhule of prices too saying that he could not feed
his army as they were. So wheat is raised to thirty
dollars a bushel making flour $500 a barrel at govern

ment prices. and Mr Trenholm our new Secretary
of the Treasury says it will be impossible to do any-
thing with our finances with the [struck-through] prices as they are.
Altogether things look pretty blue. and were it not
for our trust in a Higher Power I do not know what
would become of us.
    I have been seeing a good many of our Army
acquaintances lately. Mrs Taliaferro, Capt Jones (of Gordon's
Staff & Capt. Smith who we met at Mrs Taliaferro's.
Do you remember Major Cabell who was there at the
same time? He has been killed since then.
Your friend Lt. Martin is almost well and is par
ticularly devoted to Miss Sally Taylor. there! don't you
feel badly. Capt Turner is going about on crutches
has been down here twice and says he is coming again
to-day. Major Hamilton was here night before last.
has been at the Officers' Hospilat but is nearly well again
now and is as polished and pleasant as ever. Another
Captain Heiskell was here last night. older than the
ones we know. Fannie Johnson hasn't gone to
Georgia yet and "entre nous" I don't think she is going.
I have been reading two novels lately "Very Hard
Cash" by Reade and "The Small House at Allington" by
Trollope - both tolerably good.  I like the first best.
I suppose you have heard of Miss Maria Tompkins death
it was very sudden. She was sick only three days.
Miss Sally is indeed desolate now.

I haven't  enough to say to fill the next
two pages and so, from motives of economy, shall
stop here.
    Your affectionate cousin