Phil^a Mar 9^th

 

My dear Mother I have taken but a small sheet to indite upon tonight but I am sure you will not care if the letter from me is but small when I enclose one from Edward telling of his good health & spirits as far as spirits go the letter will speak for itself. I must say I think his present mode of life seems to suit him wonderfully well. We had heard that Hookers Brigade was on the move across the river & that the Massachusetts First had crossed but this is a fake report they have not moved an inch I saw Mrs Candler last Friday had a long conversation with her and she said / she had been in Washington more than two weeks and visited some of the camps near there & the Hospital and the Sanitary rooms & other places worth visiting She has returned much easier in her mind she says such complete arrangements as are made for the comfort of the soldiers is wonderful that is both sick & well and she feels so differently now she has been down there & viewed matters for herself. She said it was terribly hard parting once more from William you will see that Miss Fanny Chandler visited Hookers Brigade by Edwards letter it appears she was sick whilst she was there with a cold & has returned with one Mrs Candler & she were to have returned last Friday to her own home but she seemed too feeble and they agreed to stay longer & will leave tomorrow if / she is well enough I invited her to come & take tea with me but she has many relatives here in & around Phil^a & she has not the strength to visit any of them with her cold and therefore she thinks she had better not come here. She has a very bad cough just now I did not see her when I was at the Continental Hotel she was lying down asleep. I have not had a line from Prov for some time now but I hope you are all well & that little Eddie is progressing in the standing movement it was such a good idea of yours after you have read Edwards letter will you enclose it to Laura & as Ellen may like to see his handwriting ask Laura if she will enclose it to her asking her to send it back to me again. it will be all told to Ellen of course by Mrs Candler & / Miss Chandler but she may like to see what good spirits he has with all the care & business that falls upon him Fannie Chandler said he often had not even breathing time until late in the evening when they would meet in their tent make chocolate & toast tongue & crackers we are all well & Emma commences tomorrow with riding lessons at the same riding school where Lillie Bache and I used to go she is going with the Hanes and is as happy as she can be with the idea. I believe I must say good night now with best love to Sister Mary & Minnie Walter Edward "Spins" May & my boy for I am wofully sleepy I have been to church twice today & walked beside and it is now late Ellen Wood had been quite sick with a sore throat that almost amounted to Dyptheria but she is now well enough to go out and was at church twice today too Miss Sallie Cary was in our pew this morn Mrs Thom Carys daughter she is visiting Mrs Field

                                                                                               

Your loving daughter

Susan

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