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| Fledgling railroads, 1840. |
My dear Edward
I was in Washington
nearly a fortnight waiting for positive orders, & postponing, of course,
all correspondence with you until certain information could be given. I left
the city last night too suddenly to be able to write from it. But the sloth of
the train of cars between Fredericksburg & Richmond, by getting me to the
latter place too late for the mail train today, gives me time to compensate you
– but at the same time puts me into a fit of ill humour altogether unfavorable
to friendly intercourse. For the delay of a ¼ hour last night not only has
made me loose [lose] a day already, but gives me the strong prospect of
spending tomorrow here also. For the snow is falling at a rate which renders it
probable that the road will scarcely be passable tomorrow.
So I shall reach
Charleston too late for the boat to St. Augustine on Tuesday, &
consequently shall be compelled to remain there until the Tuesday following. As
it is very important for me to reach St. Augustine before the departure of a
vessel expected to sail to the south soon, this is particularly vexatious. So I
am vexed. Isn’t it a strong case?
I am directed to make
observations for latitude & longitude along the coast around to Tampa or
thereabouts. It will probably employ me till the end of winter. I shall keep up
some sort of intercourse with St. Augustine, so that you may direct to that
place.
I commend my little
horse to your affectionate attention. If in a month or so a good opportunity
should present itself of sending him to W. [Washington] such as a horse driver
or a servant who could lead him (any mode but being ridden) do avail yourself
of it. Directing that he shall be left at Nailor’s Livery Stable, &
informing my friend Capt. Augustus Canfield U.S.A. of the fact, by mail.
Good bye – do let me
hear from you occasionally.
Affecy
J.E. Johnston
[Addendum:]
Charleston
Christmas 1839
[Wednesday, December 25]
The foregoing was
written while I was waiting in Petersburg for the means of transportation to this
place, which was reached early enough yesterday for the weekly boat to St. Augustine,
contrary to my prognostications, but the boat didn’t go. So I am waiting for it
till tomorrow.
I should write you a new
letter (after burning this) but that it seems to me a matter of very little consequence
whether people will get their letters gratis, get them good or bad. As Wm
Gaillard and Wm Finley are just interrupting I shall say no more, except to
exhort you to a little more agricultural industry, without which your farm will
be very expensive.
A Merry Christmas to all your household
A Merry Christmas to all your household
[Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891) was thirty-two at the time, a first lieutenant in the US Corps of Topographical Engineers.
Edward William Johnston (1799-1867) at Botetourt Springs (now the site of Hollins University) on the property formerly owned by their uncle Charles Johnston (1769-1833).
My little horse = Tigertail, named after Seminole War leader Thlocklo Tustenuggee, akaTiger Tail.
Nailor’s Livery Stable was located at 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Captain Augustus Canfield (1801-1854) of the Corps of Topographical Engineers. In 1841, he married Mary Sophia Cass (1812-1882), a daughter of Lewis Cass (1782-1866), in London. Detroiters will immediately recognize the names Canfield and Cass.
Wm Gaillard = possibly related to Peter Charles Gaillard (1812-1889), later mayor of Charleston. It's a Huguenot name.
Wm Finley = not sure who this is.]
[For full map and lots of other interesting things, see University of Richmond, Digital Scholarship Lab. Link here]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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