| Title: | Robert Peel Dawson, England to his mother. |
|---|---|
| ID | 2111 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Peel Dawson, Robert/196 |
| Year | 1838 |
| Sender | Peel Dawson, Robert |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | army officer |
| Sender Religion | Protestant |
| Origin | Winchester, England |
| Destination | Ireland |
| Recipient | |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | son-mother |
| Source | T 850/1: Obtained from Mrs Brackenbury, Moyola Park, Castledawson, Co. Londonderry. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 8950001 |
| Date | 30/03/1838 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by JM 22:10:1993. |
| Word Count | 398 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Winchester March 30th 1838 My dearest dearest Mamma I expected to receive a letter from you to-day, and it was with feeling of the greatest gratitude and affection I read the one which arrived from you this morning. The tone of it is so kind that I cannot sufficiently express my thanks for it, and the advice it contains I shall carefully store up & follow to the extent of my power. For my sake dearest Mamma you must keep up your spirits and anticipate the time, however remote, that we shall meet again. But I will dwell no longer on these subjects but tell you all that has passed since we parted on Monday morning. The whole of that day we marched steadily on. The weather was fine and the air refreshing and we reached Epsom at half past one in the Afternoon without any accident. Tuesday morning at seven we again commenced our march and went on well till breakfast. At eleven the sun became so powerful and the dust so oppressive that the most horrid scenes of fatigue and suffering met my eyes. The Privates were fainting in all directions, and their exhausted looks and the dirty melancholy languor which prevailed throughout the detachment made me heartily glad to find ourselves in Guildford at half past two o'clock. There we slept and proceeded on Wednesday in the same miserable plight to Alton. On Thursday we again started and for the poor men's sake I was delighted when at four o'clock we arrived at Winchester. Nothing could exceed their misery during the three days, particularly on the last and I am justified in dating my Campaigning from Monday. The Officers enjoyed themselves much during the march. I carried a soldier's knapsack for two days - the tired man could not do it himself. Colonel Lyster carried both knapsack and musket during the four days' march. He was most amusing during the whole time, and the way in which he rallied and encouraged the men convinced me that in Service he would prove an excellent Officer. I am all the better for the exercise I have taken. I will write when the day of our embarkation is fixed and send you the lock of hair you desire. God bless you dearest Mama. Think of me and love me always as you do now. Ever your very affectionate Son Robert Peel Dawson. |
