Item No. 7106517

A southern woman writes to relatives in West Virginia in this July 1865 letter. The author, “Helen,” writes in part:

Now that this “cruel war is over” and mails are established throughout our land, I will comply with your request with great pleasure. I presumes you would hardly expect to receive a letter from me during the war, as communication was so irregular. I have written a number of letters to Morgantown since the collapse of the Southern Confederacy. I left Richmond just a week previous to the evacuation. Came home by Lynchburg and the Nat. Bridge. I spent five weeks at the Nat. Bridge. Had a delightful time. I left the Bridge sometime in May, came to Staunton. A short time subsequent my arrival at Staunton, I was agreeably surprised by a call from a cousin of mine belonging to the Federal Army. A young, handsome, and gallant officer, he express great delight at meeting me. He came home with me, but was here a short while, as he was obliged to return to his Regt. He visited me several times, but his Regt was soon ordered from Staunton.

The letter was written on three pages of a 4-page bifolium letter sheet measuring about 4 1/2” x 6 3/4”. Very light toning. Creased at the original folds. The full transcript appears below:

Lebanon Spring
July 12th / 65

My own dear Allie
I received a letter from Miss Mary a few days since. She wrote me you were in Morgantown and sent your love to me, and requested me to write to you. Now that this “cruel war is over” and mails are established throughout our land, I will comply with your request with great pleasure. I presumes you would hardly expect to receive a letter from me during the war, as communication was so irregular. I have written a number of letters to Morgantown since the collapse of the Southern Confederacy. I left Richmond just a week previous to the evacuation. Came home by Lynchburg and the Nat. Bridge. I spent five weeks at the Nat. Bridge. Had a delightful time. I left the Bridge sometime in May, came to Staunton. A short time subsequent my arrival at Staunton, I was agreeably surprised by a call from a cousin of mine belonging to the Federal Army. A young, handsome, and gallant officer, he express great delight at meeting me. He came home with me, but was here a short while, as he was obliged to return to his Regt. He visited me several times, but his Regt was soon ordered from Staunton. It is now very lonely. I know if you could meet him you would “fall in love.” I think you would be “mutually attracted.” I showed your photograph to some of my acquaintances in Lexington. They all concurred in the opinion that you were beautiful. I told them the picture didn’t do you justice. How is Bessie? She I presume graduated last fall. I did not have the pleasure of meeting your cousin S. Wilson last Winter. He was in North Carolina. When do you expect to return to Woodburn? I hope to attend the examination in Oct. Will you be there? This is a pleasant place, but rather lonely. I went in bathing yesterday evening. I wish you were here. We would go in every day. Deary, as I am a “country girl,” I know you will pardon the brevity of this epistle. I will promise to write a more lengthy one the next time. Give my love to Bessie. Ask her when she and M. T. are to be married. When you reply, direct to me at Staunton, care H. K. Trout.
Yours devotedly
Helen