Page 222 - People & Places In Time

Addendum
east and southwest one perfect glassy silvery sheet of mist or fog, it was apparently as a sea of glass as of the color of silver with dark but long strait lines in it were extending as far as my vision could reach southeast and southwest. It seemed as if I could have stepped upon it and walked horizontally from moun- tain top to mountain top. I was so forcibly impressed with the beauty of the view that I would have given anything [it seems to me] I had some person to have enjoyed it with me. I have traveled over hill, vale and mountain all my life and never have and perhaps never will see it again. After some minutes rest it occurred to me that perhaps the other side presented the same beautiful view but to my great surprise the view to the north presented as dark and dreary a prospect as the southern view was delightful. The grey moss-covered timber as far as I could see north, then the high and towering butte of the Powell’s Mountain terminated my vision north. Never have I witnessed such a contrast to the south of where I stood while north looked as if it were fit for nothing save the abode of the finally impenitent and the dammed. I hope you will forgive me for this lengthy digression, for though some years have elapsed since I saw it, its appearance is as fresh in my memory as though I were standing there but yesterday.
I am now soon to close this communication. I can only say to you that all our family and connections generally are in good health as far as I am in- formed without exception. I have enjoyed at all times as fine health as any man my age. My wife Nancy has for a number of years not enjoyed good health. She seems to have inherited the constitution of her father [very nearly] and should she live to an advanced age will in all probability be invalid as he was
for a number of the last years of his life. We should be truly thankful, for out of all our own children twelve in number, we have lost but two and out of ten grandchildren we have lost but one. Stickley’s oldest daughter died with flux at twelve years old. Elizabeth Stickley has had six children, two sons and two daughters. Stock of every kind is high in this country except hogs; they are worth three dollars per 100 lbs. gross. Good horses from $100 to $150 a head from $75 per head, good cows from $12 to $20 good three-year-old steers from $16 to $22. Grain and goods about the same as your country, salt $1 per bushel of 50 lb. weight. Mother wishes to be kindly remembered to you all. I shall be at Rogersville on the 28th of this month as one of the examining com- mittees of the female call on that place under the direction and control of the independent Order of Odd Fellows after which I will write you again when
I may learn something more interesting for you. Guessing you will be tired reading as I am a poor, slow writer. I will close by hoping you will write more frequently.
L ~ Letters from Capt. William P. Duff (Brother to Joseph Duff & brother-in-law to my 2nd GGF Lewis Mitchell) The first two letters were written toward the end of winter camp while William was stationed near Orange Courthouse, Virginia, along the Rapidan River. The third letter was written during the Battle of the Wilderness, May 5-7, 1864, which was fought in central Virginia. Spelling, punctuation and word placement in the letters have been preserved as originally written.
Camp of 50th Va. Regt.
April the 8th, 1864
Miss Eliza
I know you will be surprised to receive a letter from me, although it is contrary to rules of politeness I hope you will not be offended, and excuse a few lines of friendship only.
To-day is a day set apart for fasting and prayer by the Rulers of the Confederacy, every thing is quiet in camp, no drills, inspection nor any work to be done that can be avoided or postponed until another day. The morning very pleasant, the Day exceedingly fine, and the first that has appeard to me like Sunday for some time, of week days we have drill and of Sundays Inspection unless it is bad weather, so we generally have something to do, but noth- ing at all today, not even breakfast to cook.
Thought I would amuse myself by writing a letter or two but when I took up my Pen and Paper, bethought my- self that a letter would not go to my home by mail, Thought I would write to some of my friends and upon a mo- ments reflection determined to address a few lines to your worship. Our acquaintance is slight but hope we may be better acquainted some day, I beg that you bear with my intrusion this time for it is a great pleasure for me to write to my Friends and greater to receive long answers.
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