Augusta County: John Quincy Adams Nadenbousch to
Hester J. Nadenbousch, March 26, 1865
Summary:
Nadenbousch writes his wife and reports that he and Freddy are well. He discusses
financial matters, the advisability of his wife coming to live in Staunton, and
mutual friends. He reports that the railroad near Staunton has been destroyed,
making life in town very dull.
March 26/65
Staunton Virginia
My Dear Wife
As I have an opportunity I write you again. Whilst I write this Sunday night about 9 o'clock PM sitting by the fire little F is leaning on the bed looking at me & dictating the words for him
We are quite well & have every thing comfortable & full & plenty Jack & family & Louise are quite well Jerry has gone off with the last raiding party. he may have gone home if so you will see him Let M r S know that he has gone The railroad has been much destroyed here which cuts off the travel & makes it quite dull here nothing doing
I am still at the Hotel & keeping it open
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I have been trying
hard to make some disposition of it but it seems impossible to do it & I
fear the only way to save it until after the war is for me to keep it open
& don't know now who to get in it & for
the present will have to stay here myself
Sometimes I think it best for you to come out here & live & when I think of the risk of all of our property I hesitate & can't decide what is best for us all round but I think it will not be long until we will be able to judge more fully what is best & what to do
I assure you I am very anxious to be with you but I can't
ask you to abandon home with all its comforts to come here with me for my own
comfort & pleasure & of course I
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have concluded to
try & stand it longer.
The people here from our town are quite well Robert Hunter was here some few weeks ago. he is well Drebbing was here he is well &c Jack Harrison is alright M Locke has been Married in Richmond
B Kilmer was married last spring in this neighborhood Robert Stewart I have seen lately. his wound seems to trouble him some he is not doing duty now George Schoppert & family are still here & well Jacob Light & family are here all well but him who is not so well now
Miss Ellie is quite well & heard from her sister not long ago
Sometime since I heard from you Sister M- wrote me in
December- & February Moses wants to know if I applied his funds I
have not applied it
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in property as none valuable can be gotten here
for less that 20 to 50 of old prices & it is not desireable to invest in
it. I keep it so employed that in any event it will bring something. tell him I
will try & take care of it for him at least & if possible put it
in such funds as he can use there as opportunity offers which I think the best
investment for him
Tell him to say the same to J. Wilson for his. I will try & save it for them as best I can. good chances for investment here are rare Let me know if you received all the drafts I sent you & if you have collected them if not collected try & have them collected so soon as can Write & let me know the news
Michael Sincindever started home a few days ago to remain
I have not time to write more now remember me kindly to all friends & may god bless & protect you & Our little ones
ever
John Quincy Adams Nadenbousch
