Record Data
Source citation
Varina Anne Banks Howell Davis, Letter from Varina Anne Banks Howell Davis to Jefferson Finis Davis, November 15, 1860, Jefferson Davis: Private Letters 1823-1889, Strode, Hudson, editor New York, NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1966, p. 580
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Letter
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Exact
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Michael Blake
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Transcription
The following text is presented here in complete form, as it originally appeared in print. Spelling and typographical errors have been preserved as in the original.
Washington
November 15th 1860
My dear Husband,
I am very anxious to hear from you. I trust from the News Paper accounts you are quite well, and Mr Wigfall tells me you were in good spirits when he saw you, and looking well.
By the time this reaches you, unless you stay till the opening of the extra Session the Gov. has convened, I suppose you will be on your way home. Your last letter was dated the fifteenth of Oct.
There is intense interest felt here to know what you are doing or will do. I always say I don't know, and can't guess -- that there is but one thing we do know, and that is that we quit here the 4th of March. Not one of your speeches has been reported, not even a digest of them. People talked so impudently of disunionism before me that I hunted up my old white satin flag: "If any man call me a disunionist I will answer him in monosyllables. Jeff. Davis," and declared to hang it up and quarrel with the first person who said a word. Mr Buchanan has taken it, however, and vows I shan't have it again. There is a settled gloom hanging over everyone here. Duf. Wallack has gone for Lincoln and is as fierce as a buck rabbit on Southern seceders -- I say gone for Lincoln, he thinks he will make a strong, impartial, conservative President. Everybody is scared, especially Mr. Buchanan. Wigfall is talking to the bitter end. Hunter opposes secession. Jacob Thompson is prepared to go with the majority for everything. Toombs blathering about a resignation (in future). No one rings like the true metal so much as Constitution Browne who is enthusiastic and thoroughgoing, repudiates Mr. Buchanan's views openly, assuring secession responsibility. Good bye, dear Husband, I hardly think you care to hear from me since you don't write, though you have been so busy I won't stick to that. May God direct you right prays
November 15th 1860
My dear Husband,
I am very anxious to hear from you. I trust from the News Paper accounts you are quite well, and Mr Wigfall tells me you were in good spirits when he saw you, and looking well.
By the time this reaches you, unless you stay till the opening of the extra Session the Gov. has convened, I suppose you will be on your way home. Your last letter was dated the fifteenth of Oct.
There is intense interest felt here to know what you are doing or will do. I always say I don't know, and can't guess -- that there is but one thing we do know, and that is that we quit here the 4th of March. Not one of your speeches has been reported, not even a digest of them. People talked so impudently of disunionism before me that I hunted up my old white satin flag: "If any man call me a disunionist I will answer him in monosyllables. Jeff. Davis," and declared to hang it up and quarrel with the first person who said a word. Mr Buchanan has taken it, however, and vows I shan't have it again. There is a settled gloom hanging over everyone here. Duf. Wallack has gone for Lincoln and is as fierce as a buck rabbit on Southern seceders -- I say gone for Lincoln, he thinks he will make a strong, impartial, conservative President. Everybody is scared, especially Mr. Buchanan. Wigfall is talking to the bitter end. Hunter opposes secession. Jacob Thompson is prepared to go with the majority for everything. Toombs blathering about a resignation (in future). No one rings like the true metal so much as Constitution Browne who is enthusiastic and thoroughgoing, repudiates Mr. Buchanan's views openly, assuring secession responsibility. Good bye, dear Husband, I hardly think you care to hear from me since you don't write, though you have been so busy I won't stick to that. May God direct you right prays
Your Wife V. D.
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