Jan’y 19th 1864
My Dear
brother –
Upon my
arrival here I found that the letter you spoke of having written enclosing
$1000 draft had never arrived. I write
this to apprize you so that you can stop payment at the bank should the draft
ever be presented. I regret very much
that I saw so little of you & Sister El. the more so because it was in a
great measure my own fault for I was on the go nearly the whole time. I hope however to meet you all again under
more favorable auspices. I sent a flag
of truce to the enemy to-day to take Gov. Smith’s letter to Gen Meade
requesting that Mrs Smith be permitted to come through the lines from
Warrenton. I will hear tomorrow. Everything is very quiet. The army is suffering to some extent for
shoes & blankets and rations are not as bountiful as they have been, but if
Congress & the people will hold up our hands we will fight the enemies of
our cause & country – and God will bless with victory our arms. I have never been cast down, there is
certainly nothing in the condition of our enemies to excite alarm. God has placed our cause with his blessing
in our own hands, Independence is within our grasp – we have but to reach forth
our united arms in one grand effort and it is ours. Dissensions at home we must have but let us not be cast down by
them above all let not those dissensions paralyse our armies in the field or
detract from their strength & efficiency.
Give much love
to that sweet wife of yours – and regards to friends. I will go to Albemarle tomorrow & return. I suppose Flora has reached Richmond ere
this – Please say to Dr Brewer that his box of turkeys left Bonsack’s by
Express for Richmond several days ago.
I hear you have bought Hazelwood.
It is a splendid estate. I have
been all over it – I believe its last owner was Mr Jno Taylor. The land is superb, the house is burnt but
the land, garden, & grounds still preserved.
Affectionately yours
J.E.B.Stuart