Augusta County: George Wils(?) to Writer's sister,
March 18, 1861
Summary:
George chastises his sister for writing short letters and gossips about friends,
acquaintances, and family. He also expresses his wish that Virginia would
secede, proclaiming his southern allegiance and disparaging the "Black
Republican party."
March 18th 1861
Mosey Creek Academy Virginia
My Dear Sister
I read yours dated the 13
th
I had almost concluded that did not intend to write to me anymore or at
least you waited very long & then when it came it was only a short note.
You must write longer letters (than) you have been in the habit of doing. every
one of my correspondents write longer letters than you, with the exception of one or two, So Miss Kattie has left old
Woodstock perhaps never to return, to the old place where she has so often
enjoyed herself and where she made one person (at least) a happy being, but it
may turn out the reverse and it may be said she made him miserable
[page 2]
instead of happy. I hope not. They certainly have my best wishes. Miss Sallie I
suppose spoke in the [unclear:
biggest
] terms of [unclear: milton], and is still in love with him. I
think he must be a very nice boy from what I can learn, and is worthy of the
love she gives him, but I think he must beware of me or I might spoil his
calculations especially if we all get to Texas together, which I hope we will. I am almost confident that I will be there
in less than twelve months [unclear: From] this time, I want to whether
[unclear: Pee] goes or not, for I am ashamed
of Virginia. I don't desire to
call her my home I shun the very idea of submitting to Black Republican party,
who desire to place the insignificant negro on an equality with us, who will
submit none but those who at heart if they would but express themselves are
partial to the North
[page 3]
I fear Virginia has too
many of them in Convention, how glad I was when I saw that Virginia wished to present an
ordinance of secession to the convention. I thought then if they were all like
him we would this moment be honored &
loved by our seceding Southern Sisters, who now almost as it were despise us. I
am ready at any time to join the southern army although I am not prepared to die
but [unclear: this] I know Dulce
et
decorum
est
pro
patria
mori
I am sorry to learn that Cousin Pet is going to leave I was in hopes that she was
going to stay until I came home and in all possibility would be married. I don't think she ought to go back to Ohio such a mean tale,
but I am of your opinion that she will not stay long; but then the [unclear: Dr] is so very fickle. I can scarcely trust
him he must certainly be in earnest this
[page 4]
time,
Nothing surprised me more then to hear of the death of Uncle [unclear: Hen, Clower], he was the last person that I expected hear was dead but we know not the hour when we shall be called to give a final account of ourselves, and oh! how many are unprepared to meet the doom & how the words (depart from me [illeg.] [unclear: crossed] [missing section] I think [missing section] Confederacy [missing section] What [missing section] speak to Miss Mary, he often told me he never would speak to [unclear: her] Pass the [unclear: numerous ] [unclear: flundes] over. my love to all home Folks also to Tom [unclear: Prach ] tell him I am going to leave this state soon
write soon to your fondly attached Brother
George
