In Virginia. 365 



I am personally interested in the Army of Vir- 

 ginia. I signified my willingness to receive contri- 

 butions for the hospitals there, and finally resolved 

 to take on the car-load of provisions and clothing that 

 I had collected. I left for Virginia, accompanied 

 by two ladies who were in search of a wounded 

 son and a nephew. My cargo was perishable, and 

 we hurried on to Staunton. Here, my cargo was 

 distributed to the various hospitals between that 

 point and Winchester. 



I inquired for you in Richmond, but no one could 

 tell me exactly where you were to be found, and we 

 were in haste. My companions were hurrying on 

 to find their wounded relatives. One, we learned, had 

 died on the battle-field, of the other there is hope of 

 recovery. I was equally hurried on my return, and 

 regretted that I could not stop to find you. 



I saw my son William, who commands the German 

 Artillery of Charleston, and has passed unscathed 

 through nearly all the terrible battles fought in 

 Virginia. Amid the blood and carnage around him, 

 he seems to have led a charmed life. He has been 

 away from us for eighteen months, and amid our 

 anxieties for his safety, I am cheered with the be- 

 lief that my beloved son is discharging his duty to 

 his country. His wife has engaged the looms and 

 spinning wheels of the sand-hillers around Columbia, 

 and she has a loom of her own, and is often at the 

 fly shuttle herself. 



One of my son's lieutenants, Rudolph Siegling, 

 was struck by the fragments of a shell and pro- 

 nounced mortally wounded. The army was ordered 

 to cross the Potomac into Maryland ; my son re- 

 mained that night with his wounded lieutenant, and, 

 before joining his command, ordered a coffin to be 

 made for him. Siegling has however, almost mirac- 

 ulously recovered ; he was brought home, and I 

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