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Bright Spot
Tuesday August the 12th 1862
My own dear Brother
I am troubled about you and Bud
Josie, I feel sad, by no means in a humour for undertaking
the greatest pleasure to me, that of writing to my dear
brothers, but Ben will take a letter to Montgomery for
me to morrow, and I write knowing you are anxious
to hear from home. Ben arrived home saturday, he came
over yesterday and spent the day with us, we were
glad to see him and delighted to find some one who
could tell us particularly about you and Bud Josie.
we had company all day yesterday uncle Clem and
Billie Joe came early in the morning, then Ben, and
[Finkey ?] Goodwin was here with Julia. we all sat in
Mothers room a perfect home circle but for the void
your absence made; Uncle Clem leaned against the
back door, the old silver sugar bowl and blackberry
vine sat on the table close by, we talked about you
all Ben answering a thousand questions; I thought if
his coming revived us so, what rejoicing there will
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be when you all get home. we examined the yankee
tricks curiously, read the letters and poetry, brought
my little Williamson out and showed him his present
I have put them all away, in years to come we will
look at them, they will remind you of the greatest
era in your life. In the evening Cousin Mary Baldwin
Cousin Martha and Cousin Ann Hinson came to see
us, we all had a real talk, Ben was a hero, they were
lively, I laughed and talked but I was sad; my impul-
ses are, as of old, but not the same light heart I
used to have, when I really could enjoy a laugh it is
checked by the thought my dear brothers and [scratched out: away]
Husband are away. Ben seems delighted to get home,
he doesn't look so well as he did in the winter
It grieved us so to hear Brad Josie was sick again
I am afraid he will be a confirmed invalid if he does
not come home; we are do distressed about it, it grieves
Mother nearly to death, she is right sick to day; it
is unreasonable, that they will not give him a furlough
he would get well if he was at home where he could
be tenderly nursed, if that rupture has returned on
him he can get a discharge, it will exempt him
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sooner than anything in the world. Mother says you
must make application for a discharge immediately
Uncle Clem said he would write on, if we had any
one to attend to it. I know he could get off. Ben says
you are so troubled about Bud Josie, I know you
are, and it nearly breaks my heart, I wish he was
at home, bless his dear soul; I wish you were both
up in Tenn with Trinley, he is delighted with the
Country. I get letters from him every mail. he writes
in good spirits, is anxious to come home though,
his is nearly crazy to see this baby boy. he sent him
a little canteen filled with water from the Chatta-
nooga, and pebbles from Lookout Mountain; I wrote
to him this morning, sent him a lock of the baby's
hair, Mother cut it off; I wish you could see this
little nephew, he is the sweetest fat thing, has
got a great double chin; he has eyes like Trinley, but
they all say he is the image of you and Me. Mother
says he is your picture when you were a baby; he
has had a number of visitors, Sallie Bethal came to
see him the other day. he creates quite a sensation in
the neighborhood, frequently in speaking to him
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I say "come to Sister" before I think, I wish you
could see him, Brother Phil I want to write you a
long letter, I've got so much to tell you, but I've
been interupted this evening by company, and White
bustling around me, the baby too has claimed
my attention, it is night now, Sallie White has
just come, I must close my letter and next week
I will write you a volume, I've got so much
to tell you, about every thing, I would write to
night, but uncle Joe is waiting for the letters
Ben will start very early to morrow; oh I am so
anxious to see you, I could talk to you for ever.
Mother says do not be uneasy about us, and take
care of yourself; says she will deposit your money
in the Bank if you want it. the wagon will
take cotton down to morrow. Brother Phil they
have taken the Conscripts from this neighborhood
I feel sorry for Mr. Sam Rutland, it nearly killed
him to go, his brother is exempt. Charleston has gone
Jim Hodge, Elsie and Caleb Smith are at home on
furlough. Nick Barnet has a substitute, Cousin
Martha Baldwin is very much mortified, says neither
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neither of his sisters want to see him come home
Aunt Celia, Lou Vickers, Joe Meriwether, Mary Maria
and all the children, Auntie and the girls
spent a day with us last week, there was a
crowd of them, I had just received your last
letter, I told Mary what you said about "making
her promise to have you" but I would not tell
her the rest, they seemed delighted to hear that,
Uncle Clem too; I must close Brother Phil but
I do not want to, I never wrote a letter under
more inauspicious circumstances, I thought
when I began I'd take my time and write you
all the news, but I cant help it now, this will
assure you that we are all well, and as ever think-
ing bout you dear boys, lamenting the fate that
keeps you so long away from us; "Life is real
life is earnest"; Mother is up to night, she and
Sallie are in her room talking; Mother and
the children all send love to you both; write
to us as often as you can, I hope Bud Josie is
convalescent, I send you both a kiss, freighted with
a dozen from your little nephew; give my love
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to Tobe, Ben thinks he may be home soon, I
hope it is true; you all miss Ben I know; Brother
Phil you see, I can scarcely tear myself away from
you, good night, my dear brother, would you were
both at home with us, I think of you every
night when I stand on the piaza, the moonlight
falls as softly as ever at Bright Spot, it always
makes me sad; I remain as ever your
affectionate Sister,
Mary Louisa
Fitzpatrick Mitchell Williamson Papers
