Joseph E. Johnston to Eliza Mary Johnston Hughes, June 30, 1860

Closeup of Joseph E. Johnston, late 1850s, US Military History Institute, Carlisle Barracks

[Joseph Eggleston Johnston at Washington City to Eliza Mary Johnston Hughes at [Richmond, Virginia], June 30, 1860. Floyd-Johnston-Preston Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary, Series I: Mss. Acc. 2002.37, folder 29. These are my rough notes and transcription, based on images made by Sue Davis, who graciously made them available. Extra paragraph breaks added, and "long s" modernized for easier reading.]

My dear little Lizzie,

You have probably seen my recent promotion published, so I write just now, not to tell you of it, but to tell you what, connected with it, is most pleasant to me. So great a professional advantage is of course gratifying in itself, but the circumstances attending this have given me more pleasure by a hundred times, & the chief of them was the proof of the Governor's friendship & favorable opinion. Worth more to me than all the military rank in the army.

The officers of the Qr M'rs dept., wishing to keep the generalcy for themselves, by their opposition gave a good deal of trouble, & delayed the president's decision for a week. The governor, however, was indefatigable, & at last prevailed, but the delay brought it so near the end of the session that another effort was necessary to get a quorum of the Senate.

I am confident that your uncle has not labored so much in any case that has occurred since he became Secretary of War. The vote on the nomination was 31 to 3. The latter being the most rabid of the black republicans. It is reported that much was said of me in the Senate that would have been pleasant to your ears.

Lily is happy as possible, & with reason for we have as good a prospect as can [be] in time of peace, for living pleasantly. She is relieved from apprehension of the vagabond life & long separations to which we have been subject, & we are neighbors to you, thanks to the Railroad, with a certainty of commencing the habit of visiting you this summer.

This promotion of mine has been inexpressibly gratifying to the governor & cousin Sally, of which I am as proud as man can be.

Cousin Sally & Mary[?] have just left us: all are well.

With cordial regards to your husband,

                                                             as ever
                                                              affectionately
                                                               J. E. Johnston     

[Brigadier General Joseph Eggleston Johnston, US Quartermaster General (1807-1891) 
Lily = Lydia Milligan Sims McLane Johnston (1822-1887) 
Eliza Mary Johnston (1825-1909). After the death of her father in 1832, she was taken in by the Floyds until she married Robert William Hughes (1821-1901). Her brother was John Preston Johnston (1824-1847), who had been another favorite of Joseph's.
Her living children at the time: Margaret Preston Hughes (1854-1861) and Robert Morton Hughes (1855-1940). 
The governor = John Buchanan Floyd (1806-1863), married to Sarah "Sally" Buchanan Preston Floyd (1802-1879). Governor Floyd served as Secretary of War under the James Buchanan, Jr., (1791-1868), administration, which commenced on March 4, 1857, until he resigned on December 29, 1860.
Mary? = possibly Marie Preston (1808-1873), one of Sally's sisters.]

[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]