Letter from aunt to Samuel S. Brooke

Scope and content:

Written from from Richmond, Virginia. Letter gives Samuel S. Brooke the news of his mother's death, laments the "terrible feature of this war that it cuts off all communication with those we love," and gives news that the family is leaving Richmond to go to countryside.

Language:

English .

Other descriptive data:

Richmond, May 17th

Dear Sam:
I write this letter with a sad heart because besides my own sorrow I have melancholy tidings for you. It deeply grieves me to tell you your poor mother is dead. I received the melancholy news through a letter from Sugar which I did not receive until it had been written a week. She seems to have been much worse after they moved, took a great dislike to stimulants (by which her strength had been kept up), grew gradually weaker to the last. I wish I could say anything to comfort you, dear Sam, but I know your affectionate heart will deeply mourn her loss. Her life has lately been one of constant suffering. This is now over. Let us hope she has found that rest and peace she so much desired.

I wrote you more than a week ago and sent the letter with a bundle Mrs. St. G. Tucker was sending to Mr. Tucker, but I now find it has never reached you. Mr. Tucker came in very unexpectedly yesterday and says he has never received his bundle and also that he has not seen you and did not know you were with the army, but now promises to find you and to send the letter if he gets the bundle. It is a terrible feature of this war that it cuts off all communication with those we love.

I have been very anxious to send you and Mr. B. something to eat but they tell me it is vain to hope it would ever reach you. I think a great deal of you and wonder how you bear the hardships of camp life. Oh! I hope you can look to God as your friend and Father and can hope that through the merits of your saviour, your sins are pardoned. You have had many warnings, in the loss of those dear to you, that you should also be in a state of preparation for death. I hope you will think of this and that God who has afflicted you will also comfort you.

Your Uncle's family will leave here on Monday evening for the country, and as we cannot now get to Fredericksburg we shall go with them. If we could have kept clear of the Yankees we intended to have returned to live with T. and your sisters, but I cannot put myself in the power of our enemies without protection. The Doctor you know cannot return, but is obliged to remain here. He seems truly unhappy about his family. We are going by the canal to some place in Albemarle. I shall leave my direction with Mrs. Daniel and when you write send the letter to her and she will forward it to me. You can send it with Johnnie's.

I dislike much to go, for I shall feel more cut off from you and your sisters than ever, but your Uncle thinks it necessary to place us in a place of comparative safety and also of freedom from the turmoil of the city. Your Aunt Louisa sends her love to you. She has not been well but I hope when she has country air, and quiet, she will be better. Give my love to Mr. Bruce. Write me whenever you can and believe me your ever affectionate Aunt A. M. B.

Subjects:

United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Home life
Correspondence

Access and use