Augusta County: C. Smiley to Thomas M. Smiley, [1861]
Summary:
In this letter to her son Thomas, C. Smiley writes of Thomas' recent illness and the
increasing interest in religion displayed among neighbors. In addition, she implores him to
connect himself with the church and trust in God.
Saturday morning
Dear Son
As John Beard starts back this morning to join your company I will endeavor to write a few
lines to you. We are all in our usual health We have had a great deal of anxiety about you for
the last eight or ten days past It is about three weeks since the last letter we got was
written June 23 I thought you were certainly Sick. We tried to find out but you were not named
in any of the letters that came into this neighborhood And it
was not until day before yesterday that we
heard you had the measles, and then through letters written to persons four or five miles
distant. I want to send you a piece of Cheese and a few cakes if John can take them. We will
also send you three dollars Gold and silver And now I will say in conclusion if you wish to
come home and your friends think you ought to come Mr Steele has gone
down
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and I think will take charge of bringing you home if you want to
come. If you do not come I want you to send a particular account of
your case and situation. And now I will close hoping and praying that your health and strength
may be restored and that you may use it in Gods service
Nothing more But remain your affectionate mother
C Smiley
Sabbath evening July 14
Dear Son
As John did not start
yesterday as was expected I will endeavor to write you a few
lines this evening I heard today that Mr Bowman got a letter from Will
Arehart yesterday stating that you Wade and himself were still in the Hospital but thought you
would soon be able to join the Army We had the Reverand
Mr Penie of North Carolina with us today he preached
a very excellent sermon and was very fervent in prayer for the soldiers he also has sons in
army There appears a little wakening up in the Church on our last Communion there was some 12
or 13 persons joined the church some on certificate and this day there was two persons
received into the church who did not wait for a communion season John W Beard and James B
Berry & now my dear son I hope ere this you have accepted of Jesus Christ in all his
offices as your prophet priest and King and that you also will connect yourself with the Church
Your Mother
