DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | McDowell family papers, 1857-1863

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09_1861-11-23-Page 01

Nov 23 /61
Good old Friends, it is with deep sorrow I sit down to write you a few lines to let you know the state of affairs here we are all well at present and hope you all enjoy the same blessing We just received a letter from Alexander confirming the death of a dear son of yours we had two letters from H C after the battle but he was not certain whether John was dead or not he said he was among the missing and I still had hopes he was not dead and it is with heartfelt sympathy that I sit down to write you a few lines and hope you do not sorrow as those that have no hope and pray that you may be supported under every trial and resigned to his will in all things it seems to be a sore trial when we got the word of the battle we did not let Mother know of it until we got word from Hugh for she feels so badly it was five days from the word come in the paper until we got a letter and I need not tell you for you know the state of anxiety we were in it seems that Co has very bad fortune but let us hope for the best in the end It is a very dark time now but it is an old addage that it is the darkest hour before day 0 just to think how many a parents heart and wife and fatherless children are made to bleed and 0 Peggy (for I can call you nothing else that would be familiar enough) when you compare your own case with others do you not see others far worse think of a wife and fatherless children and our greates trials if we look around we will see great cause for thankfulness that we are not as bad as others it is a true proverb that the heart alone knoweth its own bitterness we got several letters from John and was well pleased

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Nov 23 /61 Good old Friends, it is with deep sorrow I sit down to write you a few lines to let you know the state of affairs here we are all well at present and hope you all enjoy the same blessing We just received a letter from Alexander confirming the death of a dear son of yours we had two letters from H C after the battle but he was not certain whether John was dead or not he said he was among the missing and I still had hopes he was not dead and it is with heartfelt sympathy that I sit down to write you a few lines and hope you do not sorrow as those that have no hope and pray that you may be supported under every trial and resigned to his will in all things it seems to be a sore trial when we got the word of the battle we did not let Mother know of it until we got word from Hugh for she feels so badly it was five days from the word come in the paper until we got a letter and I need not tell you for you know the state of anxiety we were in it seems that Co has very bad fortune but let us hope for the best in the end It is a very dark time now but it is an old addage that it is the darkest hour before day 0 just to think how many a parents heart and wife and fatherless children are made to bleed and 0 Peggy (for I can call you nothing else that would be familiar enough) when you compare your own case with others do you not see others far worse think of a wife and fatherless children and our greates trials if we look around we will see great cause for thankfulness that we are not as bad as others it is a true proverb that the heart alone knoweth its own bitterness we got several letters from John and was well pleased