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Latest revision as of 13:46, 28 July 2017
This transcription has not been verified by Special Collections Research Staff. Please also consult images of the document.
Letter from Charles L. Powell [Richmond, Va] to Hattie Powell [daughter]
14 May 1862
Powell Papers – 65 P875, Box III, Folder 1
- - - - -
Richmond
May 14/62
My dear daughter
Our Government is ___
____, although I hope not upon its last
legs. But the enemys gunboats are
in the James the Merrimac having been
blown up by our men - & it is taken
for granted by people generally that
there is no defense agst gunboats
I think it most probable that they
will succeed in getting possession of Rich
mond. It may however be some days
first. We are bound for Columbia
S. C. How long to stay we cant tell. I have
not heard from your Mother since
she left. I expect to go on to meet her
up – perhaps to morrow. It is suppo
sed that our destination is Colum
bia S. C. I expect to see you all
before I go on – if I do go on. At pres
ent I expect to go on to morrow with Franks
family. Until I see you – God bless
you & good bye. I was very glad to get
your cheerful letter Yr very aff father
C L Powell
{the below note in cris-cross at top of the C. L. Powell ltr. from Sister Hattie]
I send you two
more letter of
Pa's which have
just come as they
give rather a more
cheerful view of
affairs. Pa is in
hopes & shall be
able to get board
for Ma & Nina
in this very neighbor
hood at Mr A_____
___, a cousin of
Mary B's husband.
Please write at once
and tell me whose
Mythology we
used.
Your attached
Sister Hattie.
(note: The Merrimac which was sunk was in fact the Confederate States ironclad CSS Virginia.
There was no Confederate ship named Merrimac. The hull of the Merrimac was salvaged at Gosport Naval Yard when the Union forces had burned her to the waterline when they were abandoning Norfolk. The hull was refloated and the CSS Virginia was constructed on the hull of the sunken U. S. ship. When the battle of the ironclads took place in Hampton Roads it was between the Monitor and the Virginia.)
Back:
Monday morning May 19
Dear Sister
I enclose you Ma's & Pa's last letters. I
could make nothing out of Pa's, it put me in dread-
ful spirits, I thought Richmond was gone for cer-
tain but last night Mr. ____ got home on ____
____, & he gives a much more encouraging ac-
count of things. Says Richmond can never be ta-
ken, they may (though it is not probable) shell
the lower part of the city, but Davis says he shall
tell them they may shell away, they can't hurt
us, the ____ in ____ straits; the _____ thinks it's
sensible to fear them. _____ is supported in Richmond
that Beauregard has gained another complete vic-
tory in the west, is in pursuit of the enemy.
Jackson too has taken ____ & all his command
14,000 prisoners. Mr. Tucker says Jackson telegraphed to Lee
please to send him 10,000 reinforcements, but not to tell
him what to do with them. Lee sent them & told
Jackson to go ahead. ____ is supposed ____ to take
right for Maryland. He has now 30,000 men. P. got a letter
from Willie [?] McGuire about four days since, but nothing in
it except his Mother's house had been sacked. ____ was
at Fairfield, Rockbridge County, and little Hugh
Taylor had fallen & broken his leg. ____ you a long
letter about four days ago, so ___ not so long today now.
___ from one of my scholars got a whipping this
morning because he would not ___ his ____, but not
from me.
Ever your loving sister Hattie.