Edward William Johnston to John Warfield Johnston, December 29, 1847

[Edward William Johnston at Washington, D.C., to John Warfield Johnston at Richmond, December 29, 1847. Box 26, folder 9, Robert Morton Hughes Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529. This is my rough, annotated transcription from a copy graciously provided by William Myers. Extra paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.]

Washington, D.C. 29 Dec. 1847

My dear John

Your letter, though delayed by that profound stroke of economy which makes the delight of Cave Johnson & the wonder of the Democracy – the stroke, I mean, by which he now gets the Mail carried for three days (from here to Richmond) at no more than he formerly gave for carrying it [in] one day – has been received & attended to.

I have visited the war office; procured there certain documents which you will see; and found the two officers who will be able to give the best history of Joseph’s campaigns & his other services.

The latter may take some days for its preparation: meantime, I wrote merely to say that you will, by the end of this week, have all that you want.

About a week since, I received from Joseph. Though Col. Andrews, the sword & watch of our dear & gallant boy, Preston, which he wore when he fell. It might be possible to mention, in your proceedings, the poor youth, than whom none stood higher in the army. The watch is that which his father had on, when he too perished in the public service. As for a sword, Jo wields another – that which his father used with so much honour at Eutaw Springs & when he led the Forlorn Hope at the taking of Fort Watson.   

                                                affectionately yours

                                                 Edward W. Johnston

[John Warfield Johnston (1818-1889).

Edward William Johnston (1799-1867).

Cave Johnson (1793-1866), Postmaster General. Introduced postage stamp into the US mail system. 

Joseph, Jo = Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891).

Col. Andrews = Timothy Patrick Andrews (1794-1868) of the Voltigeurs.

Preston = John Preston Johnston (1824-1847).

His (Preston’s) father = Charles Clement Johnston  (1795-1832).

His (Jo’s) father = Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831).

Eutaw Springs = September 8, 1781.

Fort Watson = final assault, April 23, 1781.]

[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration; in this case, specifically to William for providing a scanned copy of the original document.]