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Carysbrook July 21st 1864
Thursday morning
Just afer I had send a letter for you ^on Tuesday, my
beloved Husband, to the office two from yourself were handed me.
The first in June, without further date ["without further date" underlined], thus leaving a margin of
thirty days. The other July 5th. Finding that my letters [? crossed out] posted
in some Southern city are most apt to reach you, and as [?] most
of my letters have recently been sent by the usual mails, I
have determined to write again this morning and forward by
E[?]. I have heard from you but very rarely, and tho' I have never
written so frequently to you, I fear, my letters have never reached you.
It may perhaps, be some comfort to you to know that I have written
every two mails out of three since I have been here.
Your comments on Garland's life of my Uncle gratified me, for
I have often heard my Father say that Garland was a very unfit
Biographer for such a man as John Randolph, that he was
not capable of a just delineation of his character, and could
not comprehend his peculiar talents etc. I was glad to find
you agreeing with my Father in his judgement of the work
After this book appeared Father begain to write a sketch.
[P.1- marginalia]
people around you contribute some of this much needed article?
I have just read
a letter from Sunnie
Pleasants in which
she says "Were you
not disappointed
that Earley did
not rush into
Washington-
He lost his chance
by waiting 24
hours?"
Ain't it
too bad?
But it
is glorious
to see how
frightened
the enemy
were and
[P.2]
Uncle Randolph's life, but death put an early period to
the work, which would with him have been a labour of love. ^to us The
manuscript was lost which, to us was a source of great regret tho'
it extended our but a few pages- I doubt not that my unfortunate
Uncle was a sincere Christian. I was always taught by my Father
to renounce his memory, and to regard him with a respect and
tenderness second only to that entertained for himself.
I was quite pleased to hear of your handsome present from Mr.
Warren, not so much beacuse you needed the pants, as an indi
=cation of kindfuling. I have a great respect for a long pedigree
provided "the men have been have, and the women virtuous."
You may tell him that your wife goes back not quite so far by a
Century or so as himself, but still to the reign of Edward the
sixth of England, and there is no blot upon the [?],
tho' there is a story [underlined] that Uncle Randolph while in England
traced back his Mother's [crossed out] family until he came to a Tanner
and then he stopped. You may tell this too, if you please, for
I feel that no matter [underlined] blood flows in any veins than my own.
Where I am deficient- I, and not my blood, are in fault.
The same mail that brought your letter, brought one from
[P.2- marginalia]
Cousin Randolph has just told me that he loved his children more because
they were his wife's than because they were his own. That is what I call
[P.3]
Mrs. Wilson, and one from Cary Peachy. The latter is the out
=pouring of a crushed and bleeding heart. Poor little Cary truly
grieves for the dear Father whom in life she was betrayed [underlined] into slighting.
Memory and repentance are at work in her heart, and while I
mourn for her, I cannot but rejoice that she see how faulty she
was in this particular. Her letter is in reply to one I wrote her, after
her good Father's death. She gives a melancholy account of Sainty.
I fear he is in a very critical condition still, and could you have
seen him as I did, I am sure your heart would have melted to
your old friend. His mind so weakened by disease that the
same question was repeated again and again. The once self
=reliant, strong man prostrated, and helpless as a little child.
He sent his love to you, and almost the last words I heard from the
lips of his Father, were "give my love to Charley when you write." Sainty
at times suffers great pain I am told, his memory improves very [underlined]
slowly, and he is sometimes so much depressed that he will take
little or no notice of any thing or any body. I shall go to see him
again on my return to Richmond, and write you if there
is any improvement in his condition. Mrs. Wilsons letter
contained another pressing invitation to visit her this Summer
[P.3- marginalia]
real unselfish love, and that is just the way I want you to put about Charley
But
you
don't
do it. I
used
to think
you loved
me more
than any
man
ever loved
a woman
but I
now think
you are
just like
the rest
of your
sex, "a
gay decision".
[P.4]
and to hurry on. She also suggested that you sould give yourself
rest from your Cousins and join me there, and expressed herself
most kindly towards you. The letter also contained a similar
invitation from Mrs Williams, and kind messages from other
friends. She gave me news of some of the girls who have p[?]
mentioning some in these troubled times. Minnie London, to a son
of the Hampton [underlined] [?]. Carrie Hodges in her last Winter's campaign
in Richmond and Petersburg captained a Mr W[?] Murdo. who has
since spent a week in Warrenton. I asked Mrs Minnegerode about
him yesterday, and fear it is not an offer that Mr Hodges would
approve of Carrie's accepting. Mrs Summerville's only son
was wounded in one of the recent Battles and is lying very low
at the Windor Hospital. I wrote you, did I not, of Dr Chambliss's
dangums accident. In performing an operation, he ran the
eye of the needle into his finger, inoculating himself with
the veins and bringing himself to the brink of the grave. I went
to see his wife while he was in R. found her in bed and Dr C in [crossed out] the most
pitiable looking object. They have since gone to Warrenton.
How much I wish you could have come on during the Battles
doubtless your services were much needed. Old [?] is
much wanted at Chimbrary. Can't some of these good
