Augusta County: Margaret Ott to Enos Ott, December
6, 1864
Summary:
In this letter to her brother, Margaret writes of efforts to start a petition to
get Enos out of the army as well as the efforts of neighbors to harvest their
crops. In the postscript, she mentions Confederate efforts to impress slaves
from citizens and her refusal to send their slave, Alf, off to them.
Moffetts Creek Va
Dec 7
Mr Enos Ott
Camp
Lee
Richmond
Va
Care Rev H. Brown
Mr Enos Ott
December 6th 1864
Willow Row
Dear Brother
we are all well and doing very well consider[added: ing] every thing. Jinnie and I received your letter saturday I was at the
office when the stage came
I saw John W. Henry and Frank McNutt come home last
saturday evening on detail for 20 days and I think
very likely he can get his detail extended. he got it
to come home and bail his hay and get up his corn and gather up all he can. Elec went home last week he brought a man down with him to help put up corn or to do any thing we have for him to do he is not very smart he
never says any thing with out we ask him questions. they
are putting up corn every day the weather will admit.
Old Peet and Barkley won't work half the time we expect to butcher tomorrow. Frank McNutt was here yesterday he says Miss Ann R. McNutt is not well she has sore throat Doctor Bill has moved in Mr Robert McNutts house
[page 2]
Mr Black and
James Cooper went to town to day with your account book. we had been talking
about
getting up a petition and
sending down to Richmond to get you off. I was very
glad to hear that you got your box we were very fearful that some one might brake it open, but
it was a very common looking box they thought
there
wasn't
much in it. well I must close hoping to see you home
soon.
yours most truly
Maggi H Ott
PS they are drafting the negros they notified me to report Alf last friday I got Mr Black attend to it for me I told him I could not spare him Doctor McChesney went to town saturday to hire a hand we under stood he did not get any I do not know what they're going to make of it. Henry says positively Alf is not to go. Jinnie and Charlott send their love to you. Your sister Mag.