Peter Carr Johnston to Joseph Eggleston Johnston, December 8, 1831

[Peter Carr Johnston at Panecillo, Abingdon, Virginia, to Joseph Eggleston Johnston at [Fort Monroe, Virginia], December 8, 1831, folder 55, Trigg-Floyd Collection, Special Collections, John Cook Wyllie Library, The University of Virginia's College at Wise (formerly Clinch Valley College), Wise, Virginia.  This is my rough transcription. Extra paragraph breaks added for easier reading. Spelling in the original text contains use of the old-fashioned "long s" -- i.e., when the letter "s" is doubled up in a word, the first "s" looks more like a lower case "f."] 

Penecillo, Decr. 8th 1831

My dear Joseph,

Our excellent father is no more -- he died this morning 20 minutes after Eleven. His illness had lasted for twelve days and a half. On the night of last Friday week, he was assailed by the gravel, which for the last year has distressed him much. That disease soon produced a fever, which, united with the keen pain of the other, and a condition approaching to a dysentary, reduced him fast. The fever at length obtained the ascendancy, and, for the last four days, he was comparatively free from pain, and complained chiefly of the unquenchable thirst he felt.

Yesterday morning he was able to walk from his bed to a chair a few steps from it; and although I was then satisfied he would not recover, I had no expectation how soon he would be overcome.

Yesterday evening, about sunset, he took leave of our family, and requested that some of his Abingdon friends should be sent for, and Capt. Baugh. When they arrived, he expressed his gratification. I have sent for you he said, that I might see you once more. There are some of the persons in the world whom I love; you are of the number, and I was desirous to see you before I die, to tell you so, and to take you by the hand & bid you an affectionate farewell. I do not fear death -- I know he is near me; -- but he has no terror to an honest man. He went through these distressing scenes with a calmness which was unbroken.

Soon afterward, his fever rose; he became incoherent in what little he said; and some time after midnight he fell into a disturbed lethargy, from which he woke only for one instant, when he was told this morning that Capt. Baugh was with him. Poor Baugh's own infirmities prevented him from coming over yesterday evening; he came this morning, & did not leave him to the last moment.

Frequently in the course of his illness he spoke of death as an event which he expected that attack to bring; and the same composure was evinced by him as if it had been in his well days.

I am unequal, my dear Joseph, to writing more, worn as I am by watching and suffering. You shall hear from me shortly.

Affectionately your brother
Peter C. Johnston 

[Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891)
Peter Carr Johnston (1793-1877)
"Our excellent father" = Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831)
Capt. Baugh = Valentine Baugh (1775-1851), who would afterwards help appraise Peter Johnston, Jr.'s personal estate. The Valentine Baugh house still stands in Abingdon.] 

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