Har'g [Harrisburg Dec.[ember] 8th 63 Tuesday

Dear Callie,

I received your letter yesterday. I thought your muff would cost about $25. If only about 5 why get them if you wish, but your sister thinks if you would get a set of, grey, I think she said: then Martie (1) could wear them afterwards.Yesterday I had a letter from Hampy (2) & one today. On the day (1st Dec.[ember]) he wrote the first, he received one from me & answered it. One night at 10 they had a hard thunderstorm & the next morning a snow storm & on Sunday week then down to 15 degrees. In these letters he says nothing about guerillas or an attack on Memphis.(3) I suppose you heard of your new cousin on Front Street at Uncle Willy's.(4) Mrs. Cottrell (sic) (5), who was at Troy, is a daughter of Mrs. Alward (6) of Columbia, who was raised here, & owned Ensmingers Corner (7) & sold it about five years ago to Mr. Ensminger. Mrs. Alward, I think, made bonnets here. Mr. Cottrell (sic) was a merchant & died about a year ago. Hampy in his last letter says he has a government pony now, that turns out ot be the fastest pacer even in Memphis. I suppose they did not find it out until Hampy began to ride him. He brought his fast qualities out. Hampy sent Martie five dollars for Christmas & she is greatly delighted. The weather here is clear and fine but very cold. I think we may expect snow soon. The ice is nearly ready and Martie goes daily to see it. They have damed (sic) up the water and are building a house 30 feet long for the ladies. Alex (8) says he will take Martie but Willie is a subscriber. Cousin Boyd (9) says codfish are very wholesome food. You may grow fat. Do you get buckwheat cakes and sausage?

The saddest thing we hear is the death of Rush Alexander of Lewistown, killed at the Rapida (sic) (10). He was Captain of ? & was a constant visitor at Aunt Jane's-(11) he has one brother and no sister. He graduated at Yale & was first rate. We are all well. The town is healthy.

Yours truly,
HA


1. Martha Orth Alricks (Alricks Family Genealogy, p. 83)
2. Hamilton Alricks (Ibid)
3. The Union forces in Memphis, Tennessee were harassed by the Confederate Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forrest. (Foote's Civil War Narrative, p. 65)
4. William Buehler lived at Front and Locust. (Harrisburg Business Directory 1863, p. 139)
5. Thought to be Mr. and Mrs. Cotterel, a confectioner on Market Street. His store was listed in the 1860 Harrisburg Business Directory (p. 55) but not in the 1863 Harrisburg Business Directory.
6. Mrs. Alward not identified.
7. Ensmingers Corner was owned by John T. Ensminger of Ensminger & Adams and was located at 34 Second Street. (Harrisburg Business Directory 1863, p. 152)
8. Alex Thompson not identified.
9. Thought to be A. Boyd Hamilton of 15 Front Street. (Harrisburg Business Directory 1863, p. 163)
10. Rapida is the Rapidan River located in Northern Virginia where Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart clashed with Union General George Meade on Oct.[ober] 9, 1863. (Foote's Civil War Narrative, p. 787)
11. Jane Alricks, sister of Herman Alricks, married to Ovid Frazier Johnson. (Alricks Family Genealogy, p. 73)

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