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Latest revision as of 13:49, 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) to Hattie or Nina Powell (?)
17 & 18 August 1862
Powell Papers – 65 P875, Box III, Folder 1
- - - - -
Do you drink your thoroughwart?
Aug 18. I got a letter from Charley this RICHMOND
Morning. He was in the battle of Cedar River Aug 17/62
on Friday after joining – was ordered early into the
My darling
fight but did not fire until about two hours after. His Co kept up
Its fire until 12 o’clk at night – had not a single man killed or wound
Ed. It was the last to leave the field the next day. He is perfectly
__________ that your father was a _____ _____
well & well satisfied.
__________ have you not? Could you see him
now & would believe your own eyes you would
be convinced he is a respectable colored in
dividual. I have the jaundice which is an epi
demic here & have more of the golden about me
than I could have anticipated in these times & can
be more justly charged with having a forehead
of brass than I have ever expected to be – I am
not sick from the disease, but more discolored
than is agreeable. I have remained in the house on
yesterday & to day & hope to go to the office tomor
row. I am staying at Lees. He & his family have been gone for
some time & his house has been occupied by his brother in
law Dr. Temple & Jones & Edward Powell who at present
is engaged in our office. They have been boarding at the
Rev Mr Reed's. To morrow we begin a new arrangement
Those gentlemen & myself propose to mess together
& are paying Lee’s cook a dollar a day for board-
Ing us - & as I shall then have a comfortable
place in which to receive her I written to your mother
inviting her to pay me a visit for awhile. Unless
she declines I shall expect her on Wednesday or
[2]
Thursday next. I was very glad to get your sensible &
cheerful letter. I think you are right in your views unless Maria should try your health & patience too much
I confess I should be like Mr & Mrs Tucker which would
not be surprising to me & be tempted to scold her for wor
rying you beyond the the magnitude of her fault –
If you do succeed in making a fine woman of her
you will have accomplished a good work in the world –
If you can give her a good standard of right & improve
her temper & disposition you will have done very much.
A capacity for study depends so much on previous ha
bits & natural contribution of mind that I do not
think it is required or wise for you to attempt to give her that at the
cost of injury to your own nervous system, with a dis
proportionate benefit to her. I think your Salary ought to be $200
at least – but that is not a controlling consideration – My darling
I thank you most heartily for the manifestation of your love in
proposing that I should use any part of your hard earned
salary. But I could not think of it unless under the influence
of a harder necessity than is now upon me. I have paid Mr
_______'s interest. I have written your Uncle Wm to let me know when
ever he wishes me to remit to him – Dont trouble yourself about the
peaches. They are at the moderate price of $1.50 a dozen here. Per
haps Mr. Leo Tucker could bring me a few without inconvenience
& let me know by calling on me at the Adjt. Genl office – sending
in for me by the doorkeeper if after office hours or dropping a note
for me addressed to me at the Adjt Genl offices or the Post Office
or to save postage leaving it with the doorkeeper if I should not be
in – I am glad to hear of your efforts to make yourself agreeable.
I have no doubt of your success. I am sorry that Rebecca could not
get an engagement with Miss Pegram. I have made efforts to get one
for her in various quarters with hope of success. In these unhappy
days there are more who desire situations than of those who are able
to supply them. I have not heard from Charley that he had positively joined
the army. There has been one battle in the Piedmont country
Mr Fred Holliday lost his right arm in it. I have heard of no casualty
to any other of our acquaintance – A severe & bloody battle is impending, the
parties becoming more & more embittered. God grant us a victory which will
hasten the advance of peace & protect Charley. We must pray, hope & ___
___. The armies are being _____ there on both sides. A large proportion of both armies has left here. Genl Lee is near Gordonsville – Jackson with 2 divisions &
Longstreet, A P Hill, Ewell & Anderson with theirs – I trust a ________ re
tribution is in store for all Pope’s __________ . I saw Harry from Leesburg
he & Mr ______ escaped from another attempt to arrest them. Harris & Robert Gray
had been arrested taken to Harpers Ferry _______ the Oath which they refused
& were afterwards discharged. Your Uncle Wm had not been disturbed but
was anxious. Winchester was said to be guarded to prevent the escape of those who
should wish to evade the oath of allegiance. Jamie Washington has been in town
& the Bartons passed through. I did not see them. I dont know Geo Burwell – I saw Rob
ert. He looks very well. He said they had been terribly treated the last part of their stay
He gives his respects to the family. Yr own loving father C. L Powell