Item Description: Letter, 20 January, 1864 from Archibald Hunter Arrington to his wife, Kate. Arrington was a planter from Nash County, NC and served in the US Congress from 1841-1845 and then in the Confederate Congress in 1861. In his letter, he gives instructions to his wife regarding a brandy sale, updates her on the condition of a friend “Baldy” who is ill, and mentions cotton prices. Arrington would live until 1872.
[Item transcription available below image]
Item Citation: From Folder 9 of the A. H. Arrington Papers #03240, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Item Transcription:
I sent you “Cassette”? and “No name” by yesterday’s mail.
House of Rifes? Jany 20
1864
My Dear Kate,
I have just red your letter informing me that Mr. Morris had not sent for the Brandy – I wrote you to let him have Seventy five gallons (75-) ? to permit the Barrels to pack it in. I wrote to him to send the money to me by Express and to send to you for the Brandy and I have this moment recd by Express pay for? $4,500 from L. L Moore for the brandy so I should be mortified if he should send without the money and you should not have recd my letter telling you to send it collect the money. I hope though you will get my letter before he sends for the brandy as it is paid for I would hate very much to disappoint him. I received a letter from Baldy Williams this morning informing me that he was at Hospital No. 4 quite sick. I went ? directly to see him – he is very sick and I fear it will be some time before he gets well. When I first saw him he looked so bad that I was alarmed but after staying with him a while he looked better he has not ate any thing he informed me in a week and his stomach is much disordered and he is quite thirsty. I have written to H. G. Williams stating his condition ?.
I have not heard a word from you ? (Judge Taylor I think) told me he sold the cotton for $1 90/100 per pound. Don’t let him hear the balance of the cotton for I hear to pay the govt: a part and I want to attend to that and also to ? what I want for my own use.
My love to all and a kiss for the little ones
Your affection husband
A.H. Arrington
Baldy here yesterday or day before from Orange Court House I did not know he was here until this morning.
