Newbern N.C.

Saturday July 18/62

 

Dear Sis.

                        Your two kind letters came duly to hand and I now undertake to answer them in fact that is a bout all I do, but send along your letters as fast as you like and I will try my best to keep square with you. You cant get me tiered of receiving letters. I wish you could see some of the country females that come in heare from the other side of the river they come heare to do their shopping. let me see if I cant discribe one of them. immagine a tall lank female about five foot and half high about as big a round as a good stout bean pole and just as fat. some with one skirt and some with only a dress on bare leged the dress made out of some old faded calico. an old cape bonnet that / looks more like an old fashioned chise top than anything eals. immagin all this and you will then have a good speccimen of our country friends. when they go shopping they have to go under the escort of a guard and the guard has to heare all that is said so as to be sure that they do not bring in or carry out any information that might injure our caus. how do you think you would like to go shopping that way. how I would like to have half a dozen of that kind under an escort march into Als store. I think I can see just how he would act if theare wouldent be a sensation created in JB&SDs store their I am no judge. I think I can see this same crew a marching up and down Essex St.

 

since I have been writeing theare has passed my window a negro funeral. it was a child about nine years old I should think. the coffin / was of hard pine unpainted. the hearse was a donkey cart such as we use at home to haul gravel in. the driver sat on the front part the Farther walked beside it and behind was four negro woman. what would our folks at home think of such things. talk about the South, if it had been left alone ten years longer it would have died an natureal death and would neaver have been heard of again. give my regards to all inquireing friends my love to our folks. Write as often as you can. I wrote to Mother this weake, it left heare last Thursday morning.

 

we are in hopes to get a mail in a day or two. I must close with much love to all.

                                                                                               

Your Bro

Richard 

 

 

Louisa

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