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Written when Uncle Lloyd was killed at 1st Manassas.

Letter from Ms Bedinger (Lexington, VA) to Nina Powell (Winchester, VA)

29 July 1861

Powell Papers - 65 P 875, Box II, Folder 6

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                                                                        Lexington July 29th 1861

Dear Nina,

                        It is with a sad heart that I now write you a few lines, to assure you of my deep heartfelt sympathy for you in this your sorrow.  At this time when "Our Father who art in Heaven" hath seen fit to bereave you, - This one child of your dearly loved Mother - Believe me, dear Nina I can feel for you for I too had a brother in peril on that day, & the anguish I felt on his account before I learned that God had spared him to me, teaches me how your poor heart must be rising for the loss of your own dear brother - & I pray God  to comfort you with His promises to strengthen you to bear your heavy burden, and to enable you to say "God's will be done" I know it is hard

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for us sinful creatures to leave all "our times in God's hand," hard, for us to give up our loved ones [unassumingly?] into His keeping - hard for us to bow meekly beneath the rod - But I know you too well Nina to fear for one instant that you will not see God's love towards you in this visiting you with sorrow, I know that you who have so long been one of God's own children will be at rest when you know whose hand it is that presents the cup of sorrow to your lips - I know that you will be comforted by these His precious promises - "The Lord will not cast off for ever, But though he causes grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies - For He doth not afflict willingly or grieve the children of men."  In how many ways has God striven to show us his mercy towards us in our sorrow & bereavements.  How impassionately He calls us to come unto Him, for peace and consolation, and you Nina who have always drawn so largely on your Father, for grace & comfort will surely be no unknown or unheard supplicant.  God I know will be with you & comfort you in this your hour of affliction - When I think of your sorrow, of all the sorrow through the length & breadth of our land, I have to promise & pray God to give me a thankful heart for all His mercy towards us, in not delivering us over to our enemies, as well as bereaving us of many of our dear friends -  May he make us all humbly thankful for the victory over our enemies & the deliverance from their power - Lexington is also among the mourners - God has seen fit to visit with sorrow more than one happy home - Remember me in your prayers dear

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Give my love to your father - mother & sisters & believe me your fond friend.

                                                                        ys. Bedinger -

Dear Nina, Truly do I feel for you in your heavy sorrow.  Human sympathy is of small avail.  But I pray God to give to you and your bereaved household the "Comfort of His Grace," in your great grief.                                            I am most grateful to your whole family for their great kindness to Mr.  Lee when he was sick in Winchester, and feel that I can never repay it.

Most mercifully he and all my dear ones were spared, but the great anxiety and grief for them, has I am sure given me a feeling heart for all whose hearts were torn and wrung on that dreadful day.  And most earnestly do I pray the "Father of Mercies and God of all Comfort" to be with all who mourn in our beloved Land.

Give my best love to your Mother and Sisters, and beleive [sic] me

                                                            Your affectionate friend

                                                                                    Sue P. Lee