Fort Riley, Kansas
Jan’y 9th, 1859
My dear
Lizzie,
Your very
interesting letter written more than a year ago has been on my table, a
memorable example of pleasure deferred, almost ever since. I will not trouble you with a long apology
for I know that you know your uncle too well to suspect him of disinclination
to answer as nice a letter as you have written. And even now it is more a wish to have speedily a second such
favor from you than any hope of interesting you which prompts this effort. During the greater part of last Winter and
Spring I was so much occupied preparing my company for Utah that I had no time
to do justice to our correspondence. I
need hardly tell you also, who have read so much of the toilsome march of the
soldiers, that our march to Utah presented anything but a favorable opportunity
to write. I came back late in the season,
had to go down to Fort Leavenworth for the two Floras, had to get fixed up at
housekeeping again and had to settle up my accounts as Quartermaster and
Commissary of the command. So, that
including in the category a march of 250 miles we have had to make this winter
upon the requisition of the Gov. of Kansas, this is the first leisure I
have had to justify me in answering your long deferred letter.
.
We are all
very well. Little Flora is considered
by all a great beauty. Her eyes are the
loveliest shade of blue, forehead full, cheeks plump and rosy, and brow
encircled with ringlets of golden hair.
She is the most bewitching little creature in her ways you can possibly
imagine. It would take volumes to tell
half of her charms, so I’ll not attempt it.
I hope to take her and her Ma on a visit to Va., and then we hope to see
you again. We have not changed much,
but I know I shall never know you, since you and Belle are both stylish young
ladies. You both and Bug are very, very
dear to me, and your Aunt Flora loves you all very much. I ask her why and she says because they love
their Uncle James so much. When
you look on the map and find Fort Riley away out at the junction of the
Republican and Smoky Hill Forks – you regard your uncle, if not out of the
world, very near the jumping off place.
But you will be surprised to hear what a thickly settled community we
have around us. We have quite as many
inhabitants in this County and well cultivated farms as there are in Patrick or
Surrey Counties. The female portion of
the community however is very scarce – almost any old maid of single
blessedness would be a belle out here among these farmers. The garrison society is very distinct from
the citizen population. Among the
families of the two there is little or no visiting. We have a sort of society among ourselves, which is very
pleasant. Our Chaplain here is the Rev.
Mr. Clarkson of the Episcopal Church, who preaches every Sunday. My dear Lizzie I hope you have not neglected
in the training of the mind, that far more important training of the heart for
the other and better life. Our lives
hang on such a delicate thread that we ought to be always ready for it to be
cut asunder. The pleasures of this
world are few and fleeting – the pleasures of the next are many, sure, and
lasting. Then strive for the latter.
Lieut. Pender
is now I hear on leave of absence. I
also learned that he had been to Mr. Shepperd’s – did you see or hear of
him? I hope to meet him somewhere in my
wandering next summer. He is a fine
fellow. Is Miss Fanny Shepperd married
yet? I have heard of Miss Ruth Boyden’s
marriage, and Miss Lilington’s also. Do
write and tell me all about our old friends.
We have some
very cold weather just now, but the winter generally has been so mild that we
have not yet had a chance to have our ice-house filled. We are supplied here with abundance of
fowls, vegetables and game at reasonable prices.
Remember me
affectionately to any friends you may see or write to. Little Flora and her Ma send two sweet
kisses to Cousin Lizzie. Little Flora
walks all over the house. Write soon.
Your affectionate uncle,
J.E.B.Stuart