Centreville Feb’y 17 1862
My Darling Wife; I wrote you a long letter several days ago, but write
again to join in exaltations over our success at Donelson. Mrs
Neighbor Jones has arrived & I paid my respects yesterday.
She seemed very glad to see me and spoke of having seen you
recently. I am very sorry you failed to find Miss Mary Lee at
home, as she is one of my favorites and I feel sure you would like
her. As a matter of etiquette you ought to have called on her
first, but she waived etiquette & called on you, failing to find
you in, you then called on her & found her out also. So that
it would have been no violation to etiquette for you to have called
again. I think you have mistaken her character, and that you will
find her the same warm-hearted girl I have always represented her to
be, not changed by condition or circumstance.
I send you a specimen of some of the
“business letters”
I receive. I was quite prepared for it when I heard that Cousin
Fannie was paying you such assiduous attentions. My Staff is too
large now & I shall have to confess my inability to oblige her,
particularly as I know nothing about him.
I am very much disgusted at the failure to commission Powers as Qr Mr
of the Brigade, and cant understand it. Why is it I dont get the
candy? Why don’t La Pet send Papa some? It will be
quite gay here within doors, but really I shall find it difficult to
get any place better than Machen’s I am getting very
impatient to see you – the days are growing long and the ides of
March look a long way off. I hope you will not allow Mitchell
& Lyles to furnish anything less for the two belts than perfect
workmanship – for I paid for them and paid
high.
Miss Jones of Charlottesville is a sister of Capt Jno M. Jones of 7th
Infy U.S.A. and latterly Adjt Gen’l to Magruder. You will
like Miss Jones I know for I took a great fancy to the whole
family. They were very kind and affectionate to me. Sam
Johnston, (Mary Ege’s husband) is one of my Inspectors of
Outposts, and a capital one he is. Geo. is Capt. in the Qr. Mr.
Dept. Both lost everything to join us. The young Turners
are still here – one will probably be aid to Gen Ewell, the other
is in the
“Stuart Horse Art’y.” That will be a fine Battery; O! I am tired of writing I want to talk to you Dearest –
do come.
All my military family inquire after you frequently, and I want to see
those dear children so much. Give much love to Maria & the
Dr. Lt Brewer went with me the other night on a tour to the
outposts – we stopped at Fryingpan where we spent a very pleasant
time. I have heard some very stirring words composed by Capt
Latham to the Puritans [?] you play. I will get the words and
send them to you, & you must learn them & sing them for me next
time we meet.
Wont you send me the words of the songs I asked you for?
Capt Brien is complaining of rheumatism, I wish his red shirts were here. Love me dearest & write
often – Love
my friends for my sake -- &
love Ma’s for [illegible]
kase I love you.
Yours ever
J.E.B.Stuart