| Title: | Hannah B. Longstreet, Augusta, to Isabella Allen. |
|---|---|
| ID | 1633 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Longstreet, Hannah B/5 |
| Year | 1868 |
| Sender | Longstreet, Hannah B |
| Sender Gender | female |
| Sender Occupation | middle-class housewife |
| Sender Religion | Catholic |
| Origin | Augusta, Georgia, USA |
| Destination | prob. Belfast, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Allen, Isabella |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | friends |
| Source | D/1558/1/2/212: Presented by F. D. Campbell Allen Esq, London Road, Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex, England. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9804171 |
| Date | 21/03/1868 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 08:04:98. |
| Word Count | 881 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Augusta March 21 [18?]/68 My dear Friend, It is not surprising you are "vexed with Hannah Longstreet" whose short comings have reached a point where only silent indignation is deserved, but one look at your kindly face and your message of remembrance, give a welcome in advance, to a letter at last". Those photographs are as true as life, even Bella's, with with which you found fault and yours I was glad to see without a cap, for over here you are only known as very young and over there you should not think of caps, for ten years yet. Aunt & Uncle Campell, Emma & I feel as if we had almost had a visit from you. Emma sent her children yesterday to be taken to send to you, but Mother like, she thinks justice has not been done them. After parting with you in October my Uncle's health became weak and all the way to Augusta, I was in constant dread of a serious change for the worse. On landing in New York, he was obliged to go to bed and remain there ten days. He was then too much exhausted to travel by land, so we were obliged to venture on the water again in a small coasting Steamer. We encountered stormy weather, but met with nothing more serious than a long voyage and a rough way. Charleston was a welcome sight to us and home more cheering still. I think when Uncle found himself in his own large bed, he quietly resolved to be satisfied with it for the rest of his life. He continued for several weeks very feeble, but after remaining in bed three without rising, a sudden change for the better, showed that Ireland was in him still and he is now comparitively [comparatively?] well. We found Aunt & Uncle Campbell in good health and spirits. They are soon to make a change to their mountain house, where they now find more to interest them than in town. Uncle Campbell reads incessantly during the winter, but in summer looks after a small farm and is benefitted by the open air. We tell him he is allowing politics to take very strong hold of him in his old age. He has no patience with the persistent rebellion in the hearts of the Southeners. He thinks the only way to peace, is in quiet submission to our Masters. He invites the Yankee teachers to take tea with him, visits the negro schools, commends the wise proceedings of the "coloured and un coloured Convention" and takes only loyal newspapers. He is certainly the most consistent man in Augusta. True to his principles through the war he feels now, he may crow over us a little & compel us to take his views, but we claim the privilege of making wry faces and protesting a long time, before we swallow our bitter pills. We have a Fenian Father Ryan in the Catholic church, who is using his influence to advance Catholicism by advocating the side of the appressed South. He is very eloquent and a great favorite [favourite?] with the people generally. On St Patricks day, the "banner of green" was followed by a long procession and quite a political address was given by the Rev. Father. We have been shocked today, by the death of one of our best citizens, Mr. Slarnes (whom Mr Allen probably remembers). His little son, a lad of eight years old, caught hold of a gun which his Father held carelessly. The gun went off and caused instant death. A widow and three sons are left. You have probably seen in the newspapers how hard it now is to support a family at the South. Though there is much suffering along the Coast, (reaching in one instance to death from starvation in a family with whom we were personally acquainted) there is in the South, a gradual improvement in the condition of the masses. I cannot but think, if the family above named had made known there [their?] dreadful condition, there would have been no need to let two children die, but they had been amongst the proudest & wealthiest of the land once, and they would not beg. Relief is sent from the North very freely and of course our suffering people take it, with a few rare exceptions. On the hundred islands which line our coast, remote families suffer dreadfully. A cousin of mine told me that the first cow which was brought to John's Island since the war, was received this winter with the wildest joy. He added that ten dollars would not have been enough to get him a pint of milk. In this county, and throughout the interior of Georgia, no one need starve who works, but every one must work to live. Our busy lives are no disadvantage to the rising generation. Children will not see their Parents work and remain idle, and since nothing is more unfashionable than to croak, you would say that with all our political disabilities, we are still a very happy people. My Uncle unites with me in kindest remembrances to Mr Allen and yourself. Our kind regards to Mr Campbell & Sisters and with love to the children, beleive [believe?] me dear Mrs Allen Yours very affectionably H. B. Longstreet. |
