Augusta County: William McCue to John McCue,
December 25, 1859
Summary:
John McCue's brother, William, discusses John Brown's raid and family
matters.
Dec 25th 1859
Fincastle
Dear Brother
Your kind favor bearing date Dec 16th was received
yesterday & read & reread with more than usual interest, so
replete was it with interesting items & good advice. Permit me in the
commencement of my letter, to express my very high appreciation of the motives
which promted you to give expression to those feelings of paternal affection, so
beautifully & affectionately set forth in your communication. Time
& again have I meditated upon our brotherly conversation in the "Cabell
House" and have thanked heaven that such an opportunity was afforded me of
giving expression to those emotions of love and sympathy for you & your
family which had been locked up in my soul for so long, I can now [deleted: console] flatter myself that you can
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appreciate something of
the feelings of that brothers heart, who has for so long been a silent observer
of passing events--one who has thought much but said little, because he [deleted: thought] deemed it far more prudent to remain
passive,-occupying as he did, a neutral position, (You understand my allusions)
Had I the time & space to [unclear: dilate] upon this theme I
might consume hours & pages, but I must forbear.
The late excitement occasioned by the foray of John Brown, & his infamous
coagators, is about to bring our school more prominently before the public,
Owing to the disturbed state of the public mind & the dangers that
threaten the distinction of our once glorious honor, the citizens feeling the
importance of fostering the military spirits now aroused, and of giving the
[unclear: growth] of the country instruction in military [deleted: ] on last court day drew up a petition to the Legislature asking
an appropriation to assist
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them in establishing a military
Professorship, in the [unclear: Botelomt]
[unclear: snule] Academy,--beleiving that the prosperity &
usefulness of the institution would be greatly promoted thereby. which was
signed by a number of the most prominent citizens of the county & sent
to their delagates, accompanied with a petition
from the "Board of Directors," If the petition should be granted, we may expect
a large acquisition to our school.
9 of our students, members of a volunteer company, in obedience to Executive
orders were in public service at Charlestown during the execution of
[unclear: Coppie] & Cook. If the said petition passes the
Legislature the school will at once be converted into a military school. Wilson
& I will uniform & take a regular course of military training.
Since the excitement a large company of voulunteers has been raised in
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Fincastle & a Company of cavalry is now being raised, to which I
belong I think it more than probable that I will be elected to one of the
offices, as I have the reputation of being one of the best horsemen in this
section of country, At the public meeting of which I spoke, there were a number
of resolutions adopted similar to those adopted throughout the state,--declaring
their intention to cut off all trade with the north to preserve the Union if
possible & if not to maintain our rights at the point of the bayonet. A
number of warm & eloquent speeches were made some were in favor of an
immediate secession but the prevailing sentiment seemed to be that contained in
the resolution adopted- which you will see in the Richmond papers- I for my part
love & cherish the Union, & do wholy
& heartly endorse that sentiment of Webster "Union now &
forever, one & unseparable" but if this cannot be," I am ready to should
my musket at a moments warning & die if need be in defence of my
country's rights.
I am sorry that the black does not suit you as a riding animal. I had not noticed anything like [unclear: sting-salt], However I only had her 2 days before you got her & of course did not have an opportunity of judging of her imperfections. Barefoot is regarded by several judges as being much older than she was represented to you She has been worked several times but did not work gently, Owing to the state of the roads & the small-pox in Lexington I gave out my trip to Augusta, & would certainly spend my holydays with you all, if the rail road between Charlottesville & Lynchburg was completed. Nothing would afford me more pleasure, than to spend a week with you all. When that road is finished I will tavel that road home altogether it being the quickest & much the most pleasant.
I was in [unclear: Sursterdam] last week they are all well, but Lizzie
& Aunt Margaret are contemplating
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a visit to Augusta next
spring, & will stop & see you all on [unclear: their]
way Aunt Lizzie often speaks of the pleasant visit she had at your house, when
you were living in Staunton, Miss Mannie Turner & Mr McDowel will be
married next Thursday. Our school is still flourishing & is in public
favor, We have 36 scholars now (30 classical) & expect an acquisition
the first of Feb. We are now boarding at [deleted: ] Glasgow's, a very nice place indeed, have every thing that is
necessary for our comfort.
Give my love to sister Liz & the children & remember very kindly to Mrs Wills & [unclear: write]
Your brother
Billy
