Chapel Hill. Apl. 17^th 1865

 

My Dear Uncle;

                        A long long time has lapsed since I wrote you last, but you are still remembered by us all Father received a letter from you last spring, and we were pleased to hear that you and Aunt Lucy were still enjoying as good health as in your younger days old people are seldom so blest as you have been. Father has broken a great deal. he looks quite old I think that the state of our country has done much more towards breaking him than five years of labor could have done he has grieved a great deal over the dissolution of the old union. The Federal troops occupied this place today, but expect to leave tomorrow in pursuit of/ our retreating army, which by the by numbers very small the main body having surrendered. We have been in a state of unpleasant excitement for the last five days the larger portion of Confederate forces passed through here while some remained to engage the Federals and we were fearful that a fight would take place in the edge of town but all quiet now. We asked for a guard and received protection as early as a guard could be sent he before Gen Atkins had established his Head Quarters some of the troops took advantage of the moment and came down to plunder a little, a half dozen I believe came here, breaking open all the doors that we had’nt opened they had time to do but little damage however for we had/ no provision in hand in fact, the two armies have consumed nearly all the provision in this section of country and I fear that the privations which we have endured are not to be compared with the suffering in store for us.

 

Business of any kind is prostrate, our currency you know is almost worthless. Father has been doing business for a [paper fold] Hillsboro just twelve miles from here and the Confederate Pickets would not allow him to come out so he is absent from us now we expect him a little tomorrow as the Federals have doubtless reached there and I trust will allow him to come home.

 

Mother enjoys tolerable health for an old lady. my health is better than in former years tho’ I am very delicate/ now and have been for two months at present I am scarcely able to sit up. I suppose that Father wrote you of my marriage as well as of sister Zoa’s Yes Uncle I married one of Mississippi’s brightest stars one of the kindest husbands with which woman could be blest. I was happy too, but hear what the war has done for me! just at the [paper fold] happy months he was [paper fold] and soon died was far from home and loved ones oh! it makes my heart blue to think how the innocent have to suffer with the guilty. my husband was innocent, thank God. he was ever opposed to this cruel war and often wished that he could get me out away from this country where we might spend our days together [?]

         

about six years ago Aunt Joanna has been married nine years to a Mr. Hill. he is an attorney at Law and Oscar speaks very highly of him. Aunt has three little girls. Oscar has been studying Law for twelve months and will enter the Bar next spring. I would judge him to be a very smart young man. he has promised that in his next letter, he will write us all about father’s relatives with whom he has communication. it will be quite a gratification tyo hear from them, after so long a silence. I am gratified to hear Oscar speak so well of his step-father. they seem to be doing very well indeed./

 

I intend writing to Cousin Zoa Noyes soon I guess she is probably married. I should like to see her. I imagine her to be quite an intelligent lady.

 

Morning. I did not finish my letter last night as my hand grew very tired. Brother Tom and the little one are both better this morning. We are having real frosty weather had rain twice lately, which was hailed with joy by every one for the drouth had caused much scarcity the potato crop was badly injured father’s were almost entirely cut off tho’ his patch was very small Corn was injured a good deal. Brother Tom thinks that next year will be harder than any/ previous year in this section of country. I trust however, that the same kind hand which has heretofore upheld us will still supply our necessities, as in times of war. I do not expect to see the time when our people will be happy there are too many of us sighing for the loss of our beloved treasures now sleeping in some distant land who were sacrificed like brutes for the gratification of those who desired office and authority and now that the Confederacy failed they same men come into our convention and unite with others in stygmatizing our noble dead as traitors when they were the ones who passed laws to/ force our innocent loved ones to battle in a cause which to them seemed wrong and unholy. Oh! you can’t imagine how I loathe such men Uncle the world may say what it chooses about me but let my Precious Dead sleep in honor to the cause in which he was forced to die. I will send you a copy of some poetry, published on his death when I write at home.

 

I wish you would send us a Photograph of yourself & Aunt Lucy, ‘twould be such a gratification. I have so often tried to imagine how you both look. I hope to see you at no very distant day. I am very fond of the company of old people, can content myself under almost any circumstances, can be either lively or sedate, as the occasion

 

may require. I did not think of writing so long a letter when I began and if you get tired of reading before you get through just put it to one side with other worthless papers you may judge by my letter that I would have a great deal to say to you if I should see you. I hope, however, that my conversation would be more interesting and important. I shall look for that long letter from you soon as haying must be over by this time in your cold climate Zoa and family all send love Father, Mother and Sisters each wish a remembrance I must apologize somewhat for the long disconnected letter, for/ I find that my long protracted illness has rendered me unfit to write well or hold an intelligent correspondence.

 

Accept my best wishes and dearest love for yourself and Aunt Lucy. May the Lord bring peace and happiness to you in old age.

 

                                                                        Your affectionate niece.

                                                                                    L. K. Lewter

 

Mr. Asa White,

            Lincoln,

                        Mass.

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