Letter from John T. L. Preston to Stonewall Jackson

Creator:

Preston, John T. L. (John Thomas Lewis), 1811-1890

Scope and content:

Written from Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards Topics financial transactions affecting Stonewall Jackson, including the purchase of Confederate bonds and proceeds from sale of tannery. The letter also concerns religious matters, particularly the upcoming General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina.

Language:

English

Other descriptive data:

Lexington April 28, 1863

Dr General,
According to your direction I have purchased for you $2700 of 8 prct [percent] Confed. Bonds. This leaves a small balance to your credit. The bonds are deposited in the Bank of Rockbridge.

Our tannery has been very prosperous. I have not deemed it necessary to write to you about it hitherto. But now I have to say that the concern will be ready to pay over to you in a few weeks, as your share of the profits from ten to fifteen thousand dollars ($10,000 - 15,000). We have on hand a contract for tanning from the Government which will not be as profitable as our operations heretofore have been but it will be remunerative and [left edge] Maggie sends her love at the same time safe. If I can be of any service to you in investing your money let me know. I was informed at the VMI that there was a balance of $50 against you on the Treasurer's Book. I told the Supt. that I would settle it out of your funds. Maggie wrote lately to Mrs. Jackson something about your house. I cannot recollect any other business items.

I expect to leave home, day after tomorrow for the Gen. Assembly at Columbia. I go with the earnest wish and prayer that this the supreme council of our branch of the church may under the guidance of the Holy Spirit be able to devise something which will be operative in impregnating the institutions of our very nation with the spirit of vital Christianity. I cannot myself think of any new mode of attempting this. We have in operation all the agencies prescribed in the Gospel and if these are used in the spirit of the Gospel they will prove sufficient. But the real battle of the Church will begin when the national struggle is closed and Peace opens the flood gates through which will flow upon society the stream of evils generated by War. Profanity, Sabbath breaking, intemperance, idleness, lawlessness and general looseness of morals may be expected partly as the reactive influence of the scenes through which the entire youthful population of the land have been called to pass. Against all this the church must lift up her banners if would maintain her own. But instead of merely maintaining her own she does not make the reorganization of things the occasion of assuming an advanced position, will she be guiltless. Dr. Palmer has replied to Dr. White who had communicated [illegible] about supplying the army with religious service. He does not express any very decided convictions upon the subject and looks to some action by the Gen. Assb. I trust it is a good Providence that has given to your corps Mr. Lacy. Remember me warmly to him.

If you can make any suggestions touching church matters, write to me at Columbia Pres. Gen. Assembly. On business at Lex. If you wish anything done before I return Gilham or Fuller will attend to it for you. My love to your wife if she is still with you.
Yrs. Trly J. T. L. Preston.

Subjects:

Lexington (Va.)—History—Civil War, 1861-1865
Correspondence

Names:

Jackson, Stonewall, 1824-1863
Preston, John T. L. (John Thomas Lewis), 1811-1890
Jackson, Stonewall, 1824-1863

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