Charles Clement Johnston to Mary Valentine Wood Johnston, July 14, 1824

[Charles Clement Johnston at Greenfield (near Fincastle) to Mary Valentine Wood Johnston (at Panecillo) near Abingdon, Virginia, July 14, 1825. Box 25, Folder 5, Robert Morton Hughes Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529.]

My Dear Mother,

As my wife seems rather slow in performing the promise I made to you for her, I feel bound to comply with it myself. We reached Greenfield Tuesday week after a journey as pleasant as could well be considering that we were melted to a jelly during the day and kept awake all night by poor little John who was quite ill during much of our progress.

The major went to the springs the morning after our arrival here in the hope of meeting with my father but learned that he had left them the day before, for home.

John has been for several days rapidly recovering from a bowel complaint that alarmed us for a time: he is now quite well and is recovering his strength & spirits very fast. I think he has been indebted for his cure to a change we made in his nurse, since he began to mend immediately from that day.

We went to the Springs last Saturday and spent the day there, leaving Sister Louisa who returned to day bringing the girls with her: I am glad to see her in fine spirits; I think that her health has improved even in this short time.

Some company has begun to collect at the springs: there are now there about 10 or 15 principally from South Carolina. Among them is Dr. Huger who has brought a letter from Major Garden to my father whom he supposed at the Springs.

I expect that we shall reach home this day fortnight. Eliza & Louisa send their love to you, my father, and the family.

                                            I remain your affectionate
                                                                 Ch.s C. Johnston 

[Mary Valentine Wood Johnston (1769-June 17, 1825). On the lookout for letters written by her. 
My father = Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831)
Charles Clement Johnston (1795-1832)
My wife = Eliza aka Elizabeth Madison Preston Johnston (1803-1828)
John = John Preston Johnston (1824-1847)
Greenfield = Preston estate near Fincastle, Virginia.
The major = Peter Carr Johnston (1793-1877)
The Springs = Charles Johnston's Botetourt Springs, only twelve or thirteen miles from Fincastle.
Sister Louisa = Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston (1800-1873)
The girls = probably Susan = Susanna Smith Preston (1805-1857) and Sarah = Sarah Radford Preston (1806-1848)
Dr. Huger = Dr. Francis Kinlock Huger (1773-1855)
Major Garden = Alexander Garden (1757-1829)]

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