Augusta County: Phebe Ann McCormick to Enos Ott,
November 2, 1864
Summary:
In this letter to her brother-in-law, Phebe discusses the feasibility of Enos
getting transferred within the military, the arrival of house guests, and the
return of some local men from service.
Mr. Enos Ott
Camp Lee
Richmond
Virginia
November 2, 1864
Home
Dear Brother
I received your kind letter yesterday and was very glad to hear from you. You
speak of getting a transfer to McClanahan's Battery. I
would be glad indeed if you could as I would much rather you belonged to that
Company than to stay where you are. You remember that last night you were here,
you asked Frank if you could get [unclear: away], but as in rather a
joking manner and he took it as such and did not give you a decisive answer, but
after considering the matter next morning, he thought you might be in earnest
and told me to tell you to come on if you had to go off service, that he
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would be very glad to have you as a member of their company and to
tell you to be sure and come on, that they would take on members. So you see
that you need not be uneasy about getting in if you wish, unless they have
closed down [illeg.] since the [illeg.] I owe him a letter soon
and I will write and ascertain all the particulars about it, whether you can get
in or not, but I almost know you can, for Eddie Brownlee is going to start to
that Company Thursday. Becca, Ginnie, Marie McCormick, Eddie Brownlee, one of
his sisters, and probably Amanda Miller are going to start down to the
neighborhood of Churchville Thursday. All going on business but Ginnie, and she
is going to her Aunt Sallies on a visit. Af coarse she
will bring your cloth home but her principal object is to pay [illeg.]
relatives & friends a
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visit. She has been over since last
Friday and is quite well. The [illeg.] and [illeg.]
[unclear: Parreiah] came over with Ginsife Friday & [deleted: ] with us [unclear: big] night stayed for preaching
Saturday & went home that evening. We had John, Sam Lightner, Charlotte,
and Aunt Jane that night. Sabbath evening we had Rev. Wm.
McClure Rev. Dr. Thompson & wife, General R.
D. Lilly Mr. John C. Echard Aunt Jane & sisters family. Gen'l Lilly, Mr. Echard and sister left the sisters
stayed all night. Cousin Robert came with me from Church & stayed until
nearly bed time and was compelled to go to Staunton early next morning. Ma says
to tell you that she will send you a barrel with some supplies and
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your overcoat by Mr. Thomas Shumate who is going down to Richmond next week if
he will take them, and she can still ascertain you are there. Write as soon as
you get this and let us know whether you can possibly get a transfer to
McClanahans Battery and will be coming to the Valley & then we will know
what to do, whether to send it to Richmond or whether to wait until you come to
the Valley. We want you to write as soon as ever you get this and let us know.
Ginnie wrote to you a few days ago. I guess you have received it before this.
She would have written now but is very busy fixing to go down the country. We
received a letter from Davis at Staunton he was well. Henry Ott, George Cook,
Jas Brown Jas Callison George Cochran and several others were
[unclear: imprisoned] none of them got home Ott & Jas
Callison you know got home from Richmond.
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All send love to you Ginnie
is looking for a letter from you tomorrow You must write as often as you can and
let us hear from you Be sure & write soon and let us know about your
transfer & I remain as ever your devoted sister
Phebe Ann