Augusta County: John D. Imboden to Annie Lockett,
October 20, 1870
Summary:
Imboden explains his delay in returning to Virginia to visit a young woman. He
delivered a speech about Robert E. Lee in New York.
Oct. 20, 1870
New York
My dear dear Miss Annie
I am sure my reputation with you is almost gone, as a wave of truth and fixed
purpose. But never since I came on here have I had it in my power to say when I
would get away. At one time I was about ready to go when my brother's affairs
got tangled and delayed me two weeks. During that time I became involved in
matter of my own of so much importance that I could not let go and return to
Virginia. Now all is arranged so that so far as business is concerned I could
& would start home on Saturday. But this week the admirers of General Lee have held several preliminary meetings and
resolved to hold here on Monday night a Minister meeting to do honor to his
memory. I was appointed chairman of the committee on resolutions, and
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last night reported what I had written, which was received with so much favor
that I was unanimously approved to present the paper to the Mass Meeting at
Cooper Institute on Monday night. I begged to be let off, but no excuse would be
taken & I was compelled to consent to do so. I enclose you a copy of
what I wrote. It was a difficult thing to prepare anything that would be just to
General Lee's memory and yet not offend these
people. I am told I have succeeded. I shall sail from here for Norfolk on
Tuesday's steamer. Reaching there on Wednesday I may have to run over to North Carolina for two or three days & then up
to Richmond. This will bring me so near the State Fair that I will not have time
to go to Mecklenburg before the fair and stay as long as I wish. I regret this
the less since receiving a letter from
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Colonel Flournoy this week that he has certain propositions from Brunswick,
Lunenburg, & Mecklenburg people about land, that he wishes me to go
there and attend to in November immediately after the Fair. It will take me from
2 to 4 weeks to attend to it, and I am arranging in my mind a plan for
[unclear: work] at after this Fair ends. That I will take a good
horse & buggy from Richmond & I make my headquarters at Lombardy
Grove & branch out from there in all directions returning two or three
evenings in the week to spend a night there. I like that prospect for instead of
one short visit of a few days it will give me 10 or 15 visits of a night at a
time, and if I can't in that time make some impression on you, I will despair of
ever doing so, and will leave Mecklenburg forever a wiser & a sadder man
- wiser by teach
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ing me the folly of asking one so young, so sweet, so
good to love me - and sadder because I shall go out into the world again a man
denied.
There is another reason I do not regret this delay. My daughters will reach Richmond November 1 st and I will have a full and comfortable conversation with them about my hopes and intentions. I wish you could be at the Fair. I want them to know you as well as I do, and am sure they will love you as tenderly.
Your last long sweet letter to Richmond was sent to me yesterday. A thousand thanks for it dearest Miss Annie. I hope this will not be 8 days in reaching you. So the Post Master at Boydton guesses your New York correspondent does he? & caught you so nicely. Love to all. And God bless you. I will now soon see you I hope.
Devotedly yours
J.D. Imboden
By my plan in November I will catch some of your other friends there & see how things are going. You can hardly keep them away a whole month. You might for a week.
