Charlottesville Oct 26^th

 

Dearest Mother

            I rec'd your kind (timed) letter written on the 8^th my twentieth birth-day. I wondered at the time what they were doing & if they were thinking of me at home. I was lying down by the fire trying to keep warm & did not know that I had arrived at my twentieth year untill the next day. how differently I was wont to spend my birth-days in bygone times. I came down here about 10 days ago with the most horrible case of (whisper it not in Gotham) camp itch I ever had the pleasure^(?) to see or feel but under the influence of arsenic lye-soap & a good table & pretty girl to talk to I am rapidly mending. Aunt Jane rec'd your letter by Flag of Truce & was much gratified to get it. she (as indeed all your acquaintances) speaks of you in the warmest terms the friends of Mrs Campbell think (& I think so also) that Mrs C is a model of womanly virtue & kindness & I am proud of my relationship. So the Ethiopian still drinks his Tea. do you remember the ever memorable New Years day 1863? I shall never forget it. Gus I left at a private house in Page Co, with a / nice case of camp-itch & his beauty enhanced by the kick of his horse right over the eye otherwise he was well. Sanders & the boys were also well

 

I rec'd a letter from Hanson of the 8^th Oct. he also remembered my birth-day very kind in him.

 

Aunt Eliza is busy as a bee packing up to go through the lines on her permit. Mr & Mrs Massie are like parents to me & in fact I have so many kind friends down here it would be unfair to mention any particular one. Give my love to all the boys & to the family. Aunt Eliza will take as much love to you as I know how to send. I write to Doug by the same opportunity as this, viz by Aunt Eliza.

 

With much love to the girls & the family & the girls & boys generally

                                   

I remain Your affect son

R C Thomas

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