M.H.S to Thomas J. Goree, November 12, 1865
[Goree Family Papers MSS. - LS.]
Nov 12th 1865
Dear Captain Tom,
I suppose, by this time, you have fully made up your
mind that you are forgotten by your friends in Va. At last, by
that portion of them, represented by the S. family, but no, you are
not forgotten. We often speak of you & I, to whom the task of writing
had been delegated have written enough letters in imagination
to fill your portfolio. The truth is I have had no time, that is,
not time enough to write you, the nice long letter I wished to send to
you. Every moment of time since we parted has been fully occupied
and I have not taken time for a single friendly letter.
You see by the size of my paper, that this time my intentions
are good and I shall beg you to have patience as I expect to give
you a pretty full account of our doings.
When you took leave of us we travelled on until we came to
Tye river, where the bridge had been burned. We walked some
fifty yards & then down the steepest hill it has ever been my
fortune to descend. It was very dangerous, but we finally reached the
bottom in safety & there two or three at a time got into a little canoe
& were pulled across by means of a wire stretched across the river.
We went up the steep embankment on the other side & then to a
house a few yards off, where we rested until 1 o'clock when a won-
derful team made its appearance. It was a dirt flat fixed in
the rudest manner, to which a mule was harnessed. We got in &
went on without even an awning to shade us from the burning sun.
fortunately I had an umbrella. When we came to a downgrade the mule
was put into a place built for him in the middle of the car. Of course, about
an hour was consumed each time, persuading the beast to get in who
was imbued with the full share of obstinacy to which his race entitled him.
When we reached Rockfish gap, we had another frightful precipice to descend
another stream to cross in boat half filled with water, this time the string transit was
varied, by being pushed across with a paddle. After a long time the baggage
& passengers were transferred & we took another flat $ mule & went on till
we reached Covesville 17 miles this side of Charlottesville, where we were
dumped on the road side, the man who had beguiled us so far, saying with
the greatest nonchalance that he did not know when, or how, we would
get farther! This was a sweet situation to be in! Beside, our pretty Mrs
Gen Hunter, brother-in-law, & little son, three servants one having a baby, & two
gentleman were our companions in misery. Not far from the road was
a very nice looking house, an old woman was waiting our arrival on
the road side letter in hand, for us to take to C. from some lady sick at
her house, & who had been trying for three days to get on!!
This old woman at last consented to give us lodging if we wd [sic] take the
floor but said she had no food, the yanks having destroyed nearly every
thing. Of course we were thankful for shelter & Jack knew a gentleman
who lived two miles off to whom he sent a note detailing our forlorn condition.
The result was that at 12 oclock we were roused from sleep, wagon at door
into 10h the baggage was put, we on top. It was 17 miles of the very worst
road I ever saw. To describe the journey would require a more skillful
pen than mine, enough to say, we reached C. at 10 oclock next day
too late for the train, & in a state of body that prevented our traveling
farther unless on feather beds. The 3 darkies walked all the way, the
gentleman at least half. You know J is not much of a pedestrian so when
knocked up, he would mount the infernal machine called a county wagon,
without springs. When after being jolted into a jelly he wd try walking. I
had, thanks to him, the best seat in the vehicle. Mrs H & I resolved to put
the best face on the matter & when the feelings of the men were too
deep for words, we laughed, laughed till they wished we were
We reached C. too late for train, & too wretched to visit friends so we went to a
hotel bathed our bruises & to bed. That evening, J & I crawled to Alexander's but
soon returned & retired the next morning we went on, took central train &
reached Richmond that night, the rain pouring in torrents. We took a hack & drove it
over to boat & went on board.
I must tell you that we saw Col Holliday in C. he had been very sick-
After reaching the boat, we were all right & in due time reached Balt. Thence to
Phil which we reached in time to take the 2 oclock line to N.Y. On the boat
contrary to custom, I saw no one I knew, but when he we entered the cars on the Camden
side saw several acq. At Burlington when the train came up there was Pa
on the platform & with him his dear friend , Hon Jus L.N. Stratton. You never
saw such wonder & delight, you know they have had no intimation of our
coming & were joyfully surprised. J. remained until July 5th. We had a
very nice time went to N.Y. &c &c. The day he left, yours written on the
eve of your leaving Campbell was received. I would have ans at once but was
too sick, for two or three days ere J. left I had suffered greatly with my
head but determined to keep up. After he left I was really sick & there we
had some intensely warm weather which lasted till one day, J suddenly
presented himself again, had come on, on business & wanted me at home.
I was very willing to come, for I was anxious to be settled once more,
but I doubted the propriety of bringing the children in while the
weather was so hot. However, we did come, stopped a night in Balt, where
I had the "felicity!" of seeing "dear Cousin S." We took the Bay line & got to R.
where we were detained another day, & I improved the time by going to see
my dearly beloved Mrs Patton. We came up on canal boat & arrived Saty
morning Aug 6th. You never saw such a house! dirt & is comfort supreme.
You dont know what kind of housekeeper I am, for I only stayed last
Spring & left everything to E. without money, & without servants, I for once
let things take care of themselves, but there with three children & one servant
it was a Paradise compared to what I found on my return.
You know I was very anxious for J to stay with me North. This he wd not do.
So then I wanted him to stay here till he had enough of mother & Sisters & to think
I was the best manger for him & his, instead of this, he stayed here a week
long enough to be fretted to death with them, wanting me, yet confirmed by their
foolery in his some time ideas of my extravagance. I must say, during
the few days that he was in Mt H last time he was cantankerous!
I was an angel! You know I have plenty of temper, well admit it. I
did not show it then, I just went right straight on!! When we got back J said
he wd carry purse & see where the money went. I told him, that was the very thing
I want if he would see all the ways of spending money that it was
impossible to avoid, he would do me a personal favor. He got tired in
a week. I went go on got all that was needful for the comfort of family
but was careful to get nothing that was not. He soon got over his fit
and is just as sweet & kind as possible. One thing Auss had moved
cabinets & everything else, so forlorn I spent a small fortune cleaning
& whitewashing, of course, I pointed where that went to, after his model
of economy, his favourite Sister. I am now quite fixed & very
comfortable. Since gold wh weather I have carpets down, stones up & am
as cosy [sic] as you please.
Jack went North soon after our return saw Andy & got his
pardon. Since then he has been quite himself. One thing made me
good was my sympathy for him I could well understand his anxiety
with his large family, it was certainly worthwhile to get something ahead
& with the prospect of his Mother's family to support he could not
help feeling blue. Since his pardon he has been to St Louis &
is now off again to Indianapolis. I have been very busy fixing
the children comfortably for winter & am not through yet.
Charlie is going to school to Major Blackford & likes it very much
he does as well as boys of his age usually as I imagine. J & Robbie
are going too.
It was very funny at first when they were all together. They had been
parted so long, it was hard to yield to one another as I soon discovered. It
wd not do to have each following his own sweet will, I gave out, I was the
head. They have now a tolerably clean clear understanding of this & we ar[e]
quite an orderly little kingdom. Ella is very, very lovely. She has v[ery]
caressing ways & the most tender & beautiful eyes you ever saw. She
has been sick two or three times since we came back, but since the
cold weather has set in, she is quite well. I too, have been quite
sick, but am not perfectly well. Never in better health, or spirits in
my life. I look much better than when you were here & hope for the future I may
be as happy as I am now. My visit home was so charming.
In the midst of the discomfort of getting there I told J I did not regret it.
When he was there first, everything went on pleasantly. He & Mr S. beca[me]
quite well acq. & I thoroughly enjoyed being with them I feel I have made
an honest & sincere friend out of one dear to Pa- for this I am thankful
I think, in every friendship hours of trial come- never two alike- some
-times a slight thing may prevent its growing, again a severe test that
may either shatter or else firmly cement the friendship,- I thank
God, for every sincere friend I make.
I have just lost one of my dearest & longest, Louise, my preciou[s]
darling, died Sep 4th. I saw her when in N.Y.
We had a pleasant time with the Courtneys. Mr C. had spend [sic] Sun[day]
with us, in Mt H. & when we went down Tuesday morning Mr S. wen[t]
with us to the city, then Mr C. met us & both went to Broad St depot with
us. In Balt. we were met by Mrs Courtney & Cous D. & went home with the
former. Altogether the memory is haly-con [sic] to heart.
I am not always so happy, dark hours will come to even the
most cheerful, I suspect, I know, I am most watched when
I am sad. If every body had a conscience to torment them for sin
as mine does, for the follies of my life, I think the world would be
better than it is. I have the courage to look at all my sins full in
the face, & call them by proper names.
I never talked to you about the church policies & nonsense filled
[the] time. I dont mean to write to you now about it, but belonging
to that church is the joy of my life, & will be my salvation. It is
there the fountain is open for me. I know enough of the sects
& the churches of this unhappy country to know that is the only
one for my heart & mind. Not only for my own sake, but for
my children do I consider her services an inestimable blessing.
I am hoping to have my Sister Sue, come spend the winter
with me. I dont know yet whether Ma will consent.
I recd your second letter with the photo. Many thanks. Every one
thinks it very good. I think it might be better. Your letters were
very interesting. I was glad you wrote again without waiting to hear
from us. Write often we will always be glad to hear from
you. Tell me in your next if I gave you a photo of Robbie. I have
a good one of C. I will send you. James has never been taken.
Aunt Edna has rented her house to Mr Cobbs. She & Coz A board with them.
Miss S. is near her dear McA. Aunt Mary will spend winter in R. & has
[rente]d upper part of her house to McA's who will stay there, Mrs Smith
[MS. torn] are going to the country. She has lost almost everything. Mr Edwards
[has] the house next to us (You know her teaches at Wm Munck's. Julia M.
has gone to Ellicotes Mills to school. Pinkie Norvell & Maria Walker with
her. Wm L. Spence takes Mrs Smiths house. So you see, we have many changes.
Write soon but dont expect such another volume from me though. I dont
promise that I wont. Jack enjoys your letters & ought too, as he generally has
the first reading. I hope you found all well. How is Ed? Tell us what
you are doing & that soon. & think of us as your sincere friends
M. H. S.
Special Collections - Thomason Room
