Culpepper, Va. Sept. 20^th/63

 

Dear Priscilla

                                                                                                            It is with pleasure that I sit down to tell you that your letter written one week ago to day has been received and right glad I am to hear you are quite well and I hope you may continue so a long time. I presume you have got my letter telling you what I thought about your going west and telling you what to do with our place so there is not much need of telling you again though you might not get the letter so I will tell you again. Dont you think it is best to sell it. I do if you can get $225 dollars and I have thought sometimes it would be best to take 200 and I guess it will be best if you can get the cash. I will write to Mr Stilson and ask him to help you as he / travels about the country a great deal and has a good chance to find a buyer. No Priscilla I do not want you to live with such mean neighbors as yours are proving themselves to be. If Mit has done what you think he has & Chauncey to I think they are very small patterns of men and the sooner you get away from such folks the better. You did not tell me when you are going to start for Michigan. I suppose before long as the roads will soon be bad and make the journey hard for you. When you answer this you must tell me so I will when to stop directing your letters to South Barre. I did not think when I wrote last that we would move so quick. Just after I carried the letter to the office we received marching orders and got all ready to go that night but waited till the next morning at 5 oclock following / the troops. We crossed the Rappahannock at Beverly Ford about 4 in the afternoon but for some reason did not stop for the night till one oclock. In the morning we were off again at 6 and at 9 we stopped again and rested till 6 at night and had to march again in the dark After we got onto the turnpike one of our waggons tipped over and it begun to rain so we stopped till morning right in the road. We were not over half a mile from here and in the morning we came here and camped. We are close by the town and I have been in there once but did not see much but soldiers and niggers The Rebs have a hospital of wounded there and I saw their Doctor. I do not know how long we shall stop here but I guess till Lee makes another move. If you can get Mr Stilson to take the bees I think on shares or sell / them for you I think it will be a good plan if you cant sell them before you gone go. They ought to bring $8 apiece bees and hive together. So you have been learning to be a poet. I did not think it of you but I think a great deal of those verses. You did first-rate. I wonder why Sue and Mother dont write to me. I have been looking for their letters some time but have not seen them yet. Is the weather cold there yet. Yesterday and to day has been quite cold and I have put on my drawers But I must bid you good day for this time sending you and the children much love and best wishes to all who may inquire after me

 

So good night Dear Wife, this

from your affectionate husband

                        Z Larivier

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