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Letter from Lloyd Powell [Henry, Ill] to Nina Powell [Winchester, Va]

12 May 1861   (envelope in file)

Powell Papers - 65 P875, Box II, Folder 5

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                                                                                    Henry, Ills  May 12/61

My dear Nina

                        Your note to me enclosed in your last letter to Charlie gave me great pleasure & there was no reason for your fear that I would discard your suggestion without giving it due reflection.  It does seem however rather impracticable to one whose life has been devoted to purssuits so different from those which you propose; I have great doubts as to my fitness in any particular for such a position.  When I come in this summer we will discuss the question more fully, & perhaps we may come to a different conclusion.  The letters which we have received from home lately have relieved our anxiety very much, & have enabled us to look forward into the future with more hope & patience.  We shall hope to hear from home once a week, as long as communication is kept up between the two sections.  You must tell us exactly how you all are & how you feel, but be somewhat careful what you say upon politicial or war matters.  I wrote Pa freely upon those subjects some

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three weeks ago, & was greatly gratified & relieved by his reply.  Our whole family here is perfectly well, & entirely free from care & anxiety on any account except your own.

Do not therefore counterfeit in your letters a serenity & comfort which you don’t enjoy, but let us feel that we are just as well informed as to your real situation as if we were with you.  Of course the time of my departure for Va will be governed by the circumstances which may arise between now & then.

Our spring has been unusually backward this year, & even now the country presents rather a wintry aspect.  How is it in Va?  Has dame Nature dealt more gently with her children of the Confederate States?  In Savannah I observe the market has been flooded with vegetables of all sorts.  Uncle Richard boasts of having had asparagus for dinner a few days ago, but I have my doubts.  Business here is almost as dull as it can be & now that the blockade is established at the mouth of the Ohio, & our Southern trade entirely suspended, there will be hardly any thing left for us to do.  We have been discussing various modes of economizing, & have come to the conclusion that the best possible way will be to establish a Kitchen & dining room up stairs & turn our second story into a

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bachelors hall.  What do you think of the idea?  Wouldn’t you like to step out & dine with us some fine day?  Charley has been diligently engaged in learning the mysteries of the culinary art for the last week or two, & now flatters himself that he would pass anywhere as an accomplished cook.

Sister Bec’s letter reached me several days ago bringing the welcome intelligence that you were all well & in good spirits.  What a busy scene Winchester must present!  I observe that there were 3700 names registered at the Taylor Hotel during the week before last.  It is rather a difficult matter I should think to attend to the duties of the school in the midst of so much excitement.  Tell Pa I have received the Balto Suns which he has been in the habit of sending me, & have read them with much interest.  By the way let me mention while I think of it that my eyes have entirely recovered.  I sincerely hope that Sister Bec has been equally fortunate.  Give a great deal of love to all at home for Charley & myself & tell Ma & Sister Hattie that I haven’t forgotten my indebtedness to them, & shall write to them very soon.  Give my love too to Grand Ma & Minnie & Aunt Sally & accept a large share my darling sister for yourself from

                                                                        Your devoted brother

                                                                                                Lloyd Powell