Excerpt from letter to Lt. M. B. Ruggles from a family member. Believed to have been written in the Fredericksburg area. The writer provides a bleak description of the situation- no shoes, food is scarce, and supplies expensive- typical of the civilian experience in Virginia during the war.

Nov 2d

My dear child

In your letter 20th Oct you say you will not start home until you ascertain whether any yankeys are about. Surely there are none in this part of the state & god forbid they ever should be seen.

At this time, Garnett, Tom Ball, & Aleck Pratt are at their homes, & you might visit us with perfect safety. We all feel & believe that the wretches will make another attack on Richmond, but upon what quarter is hard to tell. We heard today they had been fighting for two days at Manassas, but cant vouch for the truth of it. We heard distant cannon all the time.

Bess is at Dr. Ashtons. Cousin Martha sent the carriage for her with the girls, all of whom sent love to you & hope you have not forgotten them. The family from here except myself & fellow have gone to stay at Bloomsberg. We will go over tomorrow. Wm.[William] has gone to Richmond to try to get authority to raise a company of Partisan Rangers. Oh how I wish this war was over, what is to become of the poor people I cant tell.

Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center