Augusta County: E. J. Evans to David H. Evans,
August, 1868
Summary:
E. Evans writes to David Evans in outrage over a perceived insult which he will
hold David accountable for. He goes so far as to threaten to come to Staunton
and "cowhide" David in the middle of Main Street.
Agt th/68
Winchester
Mr Evans
I received a very inSulting letter from you today which I will hold you responsible for. I Meant exactly what I Said in Joh's letter about it Was for the want of sense you Showed that letter. I Suppose you did not care if it had been confiscated. this of course made very little difference to you
I Would like to Know Sir by What authority you have
to take a private letter & exhibit it around
it did not concern you in the least & the letter was not written to you
& of course it was none of your business at
all. to Say the least of it it was a great
[page 2]
piece of presumption in you
I don't Know what you mean When you Say circumstances connected with the [unclear: firm] We are Not ignorant Sir of your Small opinion of H & My [illeg.] Self for there has been enough coming from you against us that you perhaps think we are ignorant of but you are MistaKen. you have Said Some very hard things about us in the last three Month which we have paid no attention to I could refer to Some if I felt So disposed but I will refrain at present but it May become necessary in the future to Say Something about them in regard to the tobacco I Shant Say one word to you about it for it is none of your business
Now Sir there is one thing which I want to call your special attention to & it is this you Say I have written a direct falsehood or in plain lie . Now Sir this is more than I can Stand I Know exactly what I wrote & John underStands all about it, but for you to put down in black & White that I am a liar is Something Sir that I don't take from No Man, and if you don't take it back I Shall get on the Stage & come to Staunton & Settle it by more than words. Now I Mean every word I Say and will cary it out you have got to retract or I will cowhide you on Main Street & will give you the privilege of preparing [deleted: ] the [unclear: Same]
Joh B Evans can testify whether I told anything but truth he Knows a little More about it than you he Knows things that you don't
E. J. Evans
