1864-05-21: Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to Samuel Thoms Williamson, Letter
This document is a letter from Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to her husband Samuel Thomas "Trinley" Williamson, written from her home Bright Spot in Line Creek, Ala., on May 21, 1864. She discusses local news and family news. The Fitzpatrick family emigrated from Ireland to the Virginia...
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Auburn University Libraries
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| Online Access: | http://content.lib.auburn.edu/u?/fmw01,55 |
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Electronic |
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Fitzpatrick-Mitchell-Williamson Papers Collection |
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Auburn University Digital Library |
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Auburn University Libraries |
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Family letters |
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Family letters 1864-05-21: Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to Samuel Thoms Williamson, Letter Williamson, Mary Louisa Mitchell |
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Family letters Williamson Family; Mitchell Family; Alabama--Social life and customs--19th century; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Correspondence; Peoples -- Domestic Life; Peoples -- Rural Life; History -- 1838-1874: Sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction; |
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1864-05-21: Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to Samuel Thoms Williamson, Letter |
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1864-05-21: Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to Samuel Thoms Williamson, Letter |
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This document is a letter from Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to her husband Samuel Thomas "Trinley" Williamson, written from her home Bright Spot in Line Creek, Ala., on May 21, 1864. She discusses local news and family news. The Fitzpatrick family emigrated from Ireland to the Virginia colony in the early 1700s. Over time, the family moved from Virginia through the Carolinas and into Georgia before finally settling in Line Creek, Alabama and Verbena, Alabama. Several members of the family were active politically including William Fitzpatrick, who served in the Georgia legislature, and Benjamin Fitzpatrick, who served two terms as governor of Alabama. Sarah Fitzpatrick, a descendant of this family, married Columbus White Mitchell who was from a prominent Alabama family. The couple had ten children, seven of whom survived infancy. Three of their sons served in the Civil War on the side of the Confederacy (Phil F. Mitchell, Joseph A. Mitchell, and Columbus White Mitchell). Their daughter Mary Louisa, a central figure of this c |
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Williamson, Mary Louisa Mitchell |
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Williamson, Mary Louisa Mitchell |
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AUfmw0155 |
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http://content.lib.auburn.edu/u?/fmw01,55 |
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https://cdm17353.contentdm.oclc.org/utils/getthumbnail/collection/fmw01/id/55 |
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1705449246490099712 |
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1864-05-21: Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to Samuel Thoms Williamson, LetterThis document is a letter from Mary Louisa Mitchell Williamson to her husband Samuel Thomas "Trinley" Williamson, written from her home Bright Spot in Line Creek, Ala., on May 21, 1864. She discusses local news and family news. The Fitzpatrick family emigrated from Ireland to the Virginia colony in the early 1700s. Over time, the family moved from Virginia through the Carolinas and into Georgia before finally settling in Line Creek, Alabama and Verbena, Alabama. Several members of the family were active politically including William Fitzpatrick, who served in the Georgia legislature, and Benjamin Fitzpatrick, who served two terms as governor of Alabama. Sarah Fitzpatrick, a descendant of this family, married Columbus White Mitchell who was from a prominent Alabama family. The couple had ten children, seven of whom survived infancy. Three of their sons served in the Civil War on the side of the Confederacy (Phil F. Mitchell, Joseph A. Mitchell, and Columbus White Mitchell). Their daughter Mary Louisa, a central figure of this c[page 1]
Bright Spot
Saturday May the 21st 1864
My own dear Husband
I did not receive a letter
from you by the last mail, and I have been
very much troubled ever since, although I was
told not to expect one, and I saw through the
papers that all communication from Richmond
was cut off for awhile, that the enemy had de-
stroyed some part of the Rail Road Telegraph
[lines ?] & Bridges &c. but it would soon be repair-
ed. you have no idea how excited & worried
I have been al the week. I started every time
I heard the gate open or the sound of a horse.
I was so uneasy about you; & indeed I am very
little consoled yet. I never wanted to hear
from you as much; we got two late papers yester-
day, the news from Va is glorious, & they seem
confident we will win the fight at Dalton.
I will not dwell on the war news for I know
you are there & see & hear it all; you see so much
of the distress & suffering so much of the horrors
of war, you do not feel as enthusiastic as we
who only see the dispatches & read of a glorious
victory; If it will only bring Peace I will feel
[page 2]
that the struggle has not been in vain. If I was
not satisfied that your temporary position would
keep you out of the fight, I would not have strength
to sit here & write to you now. There is nothing
new with us. the Boys left last tuesday they
were ordered back. they supposed to go to [Dalton ?]
My health has improved since I wrote to you last
I have not had a chill now in two weeks [sat ?]
[urday ?]. but [Kennerly ?] your little fellow had a
chill yesterday. he was quite sick for awhile
suffer from nausea & vomits whenever he has
a chill but he is the most patient best child
I ever saw. talks so sweet & soft says "Mama I
want some water so bad" & ask me to rub
his head. talks like some old person. he looks
pale this morning but is noisy as ever. I hope
I can keep it off tomorrow. Mother, [Fannie ?], & Bessie
went to Uncle Clem's this morning. Julia & I are
alone. Kennerly was restless all night & I did
not sleep much. I feel stupid & bad this
morning. I would wait & write you when I
feel better, but Mr. Campbell will go to Mongom-
ery to morrow & as I have a good opportunity to
send a letter I hasten to write now.
Mrs. Goodwin & Julia Jones dined with us yester-
day, they went to Mr Barnet's to get some hats
made. Came here to dinner & spent the afternoon
[page 3]
they were very kind & friendly brought us a paper
& seemed delighted to [tell ?] the good news. I wish
you could have been here to see them admire
Kennerly; Julia came to see us, last tuesday.
brought Billie Jones to see Kennerly, she was
as struck with the constrast she says "will my
child is ugly certain", Billie is a head taller
than Kennerly & so very thin, she wanted to know
who K took his big legs from? said it was out
of all reason to suppose her child should have
anything but slim legs. Kennerly is the best [figured ?]
I ever saw & the most graceful little creature. he
is fat as he can be & his hair is so soft & fine
curls all over his head. & he is the best little
creature doesn't know any thing naughty, it
would nearly break my heart for him to learn a
bad word. I wish you would hear him say his
prayer every night. it nearly kills me; he sits
in my lap, hols up his little hands & says "Now
I lay me down to sleep" &c when I first told him
he must learn his prayers, he said "Prayers Ma-
ma, Prayers." thought he only had to speak the
word. Billie Jones knows ever so many bad words
Julia says Roxie learned him all that meanness
she admired Kennerly's clothes very much; thought
his pants were beautiful, would have all his
prettiness tried them on the boy; you have no idea
[page 4]
how Kennerly has improved, a great many say
he is just like you. Bud Josie "says he is your
living image". Cousin Ben James & many others say
he is Brother Phil's picture at his age; I think
he is more like you than any body in the world.
he is very industrious. holds the Broaches for
Mother to [illegible] & last night cried to hold my
hank for me to wind. did it very well too.
I wish I could tell you half the sweet things he
says. but I am missing too much about him.
Miss Monroe called to see us yesterday evening. she
is very much distressed about [Alvin ?] has not
heard from him in so long doesnt know
where he is. thought I could tell her about him
Mr Campbell has been home since the last of
April. waiting for a certain event at last he
has to leave before the frolic. Cousin Betsy Jane
is there & her children have measles.
I did not see any thing more of Aunt Aurelia
Mother Bud Josie & [Sallie ?] went over to Aunties
& staid with them last saturday night. Brother
Phil, Sister Mary Julia & I had a nice time at
home, spent the most of the evening playing
with Kennerly. Auntie & Tobe came home with
them the next morning. Mr & Mrs Barnet came
up to see the Boys. Brother Phil & Sister May
went back Sunday evening, we did not see
[page 5]
[written sideways across page 4]
any thing more of Brother Phil. Mr Pettie spent the evening
with us the night before Bud Josie left. He was just from
Union Springs told us the news. We have such beautiful
nights now. I sit on the piaza & knit by the moonlight &
think about you; often after every one else in the house is
in the land of dreams, I sit there by my self & think & think. it
is so still & pleasant, the whipporwill sounds so sad.
The Boys spoke of you often, when they were here, Bud Josie
was so delighted to be at home again. Brother Phil too
said there was no place like home & no matter where he lived
he thought he would always keep his clothes here. He &
sister Mary seem perfectly satisfied, there are many little things
I would like to tell you but will wait until I see you.
I wrote you Brother Phil sold his buggy to Dr M. he told [me ?] to
write & ask you if you would let him have [illegible] now at
the price he offered; said if you would I must send it to
[Town ?] by Mr. Welsh & have it repaired. I think if I were you
I would keep it for one hundred fify dollars you can
have it made as good as new & it will be better thus, than
one you could buy. for a long time after the war every thing
will be very high. you will not feel like paying so much
for a new one. Brother Phil said it was too good a buggy to
[page 6]
written sideways across pages 3 and 2]
lie here & [miss ?] if you had it repaired you could sell it I know
for $500 or more. I told Brother Phil I thought you were
out of the notion to sell it. but he insisted on my mentioning
it to you again. When you come home you will [need ?] it.
It is so dry & hot, we are needing rain very much the
crops are very backward, the corn I have seen is no higher
than my hand except Mothers little patch up here; Mothers
wheat is fine. I think we will need it. corn is so scarce.
our all [orders ?] for the year has been out some time. they have
even send that put aside for the government. Cousin Ben
James paid Mother corn I wrote a long letter to Uncle
Thomas last week. I wrote you I had received the presents
he sent me. Have you heard from any of them lately.
What do you think of Va? how do you like the country
it is a long way from home Do you think you can come
home this summer? you must, if you possibly can. We all
wish for you so often. Mother said after the Boys left
"now I wish Dr. W would come". I wonder if you will
ever receive all the letters I have written you. I want to see
you so much. I wish you could come home now. you
must write to me often tell me all the news; what
you have been doing &c Tobe improves every day. has
not had a chill in some time Cousin Sammie is still at
Union Springs; you must excuse this letter I feel tired
this morning. write to me very soon. Julia sends her
love; Kennerly sends his love & a kiss; he often speaks of you
come home soon, we are so very anxious to see you, you
know I must be; you have been gone four months.
The negroes send howdy, often speaking of you. I will write
immediately, if I hear from you Wednesday. Good bye
my own Love, accept the dearest love of you
own affectionate wife
Mollie1864-05-21Williamson, Mary Louisa MitchellWilliamson Family; Mitchell Family; Alabama--Social life and customs--19th century; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Correspondence;Peoples -- Domestic Life; Peoples -- Rural Life; History -- 1838-1874: Sectionalism, the Civil War, and Reconstruction;Line Creek, Montgomery County, Alabama, United States1864-05-21Fitzpatrick-Mitchell-Williamson Family Papers, 1850-1989, Auburn University Libraries, Special Collections and Archives, Auburn University, Auburn, AlabamaRecord Group 1223, Fitzpatrick-Mitchell-Williamson Papers, Folder 456 pages, 25 cmengAuburn, Ala. : Auburn University LibrariesThis image is the property of the Auburn University Libraries and is intended for non-commercial use. Users of this image are asked to acknowledge the Auburn University Libraries. For information about obtaining high-resolution copies of this and other images in this collection, please contact the Auburn University Libraries Special Collections & Archives Department at archives@auburn.edu or (334) 844-1732.Stillimage; Text;1864-05-21_WilliamsonMLM_to_WilliamsonST_letter.pdfapplication/pdfDeeply RootedAuburn University Librarieshttp://cdm17353.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/fmw01/id/55 |