George S. Patton Jr.
Mobile, AL; Charleston, WV, November 15, 1853; January 21, 1859
Letters by General George S. Patton Jr.'s Grandmother
ALS

[GEORGE S. PATTON JR.] Susan Thornton Glassell, Autograph Letter Signed, to her cousin, November 15, 1853, near Mobile, [Alabama]. 2 pp., 6.5" x 8". Expected folds; very good.
With: Susan Thornton Glassell Patton, Autograph Letter Signed, to her grandmother, [Eleanor Brown Thompson Thornton, January 21, 1859, Charleston, (West) Virginia. 6 pp., 5" x 8". Expected folds, very good.

General George S. Patton Jr.'s grandmother Susan Glassell wrote these letters both before and after her 1855 marriage to his grandfather and namesake, George Smith Patton, who died as a Confederate colonel during the Civil War. She wrote the first from Alabama to her unnamed cousin, probably in Virginia, and it describes the death of her brother John Henry Hobart Glassell (1833-1853). He had graduated in 1852 from the University of Alabama.

The second letter is to her maternal grandmother, Eleanor Brown Thompson Thornton (1787-1861). Susan Glassell Patton already had two children, George William Patton (later George Smith Patton II) and Eleanor "Nell" Thornton Patton, and discusses the challenges of managing a household with servants in Charleston, Virginia, while her husband George pursued his law practice.

A third letter is from Eleanor Stuart Thornton Gibbs (1806-1888) to her mother Eleanor Brown Thompson Thornton, with no date, but a discussion of enslaved African Americans. The writer was the aunt of General George S. Patton's grandmother, and the recipient was his great, great grandmother.

With: Eleanor Stuart Thornton Gibbs, Autograph Letter Signed, to her mother, [Eleanor Brown Thompson Thornton], n.d., n.p. 4 pp. 5" x 7.625". Small tears on folds; very good.

Complete Transcript
Near Mobile, November 15th 1853
My beloved Cousin,
This is the first time since my darling was torn from me that I have endeavored to pen a line to any one. Even now I feel that I can perform the office of scribe but very poorly having but just recovered from an attack of that dreadful fever. My nerves are in a most awful state. G.ma and myself were both taken together, she would be well now but for a very bad salivation. Oh cousin how can I describe to you the anguish that we have felt. How can I tell you of the last end of my Hobart my brother my only companion the sharer of all my griefs and pleasures. Oh Cousin how can I ever reconcile to let him go without murmuring, he who was so affectionate and gentle. It is very very hard. I watched him through all of his illness and I never heard a murmur of complaint. He told Mr Massey that he was perfectly willing to die but for leaving his friends in distress. he said that he believed in all the leading truths of Christianity, and all this was said with the most perfect composure. He was conscious of his approaching end three days after he was taken. Once he raised his hands and exclaimed "soon the great mistery will be disclosed." He retained his senses to the last and then went off without a struggle like an infant going to sleep. You have the last lines that he ever penned, you all had much of his heart and thoughts but now he has gone and there is a vacant place round the hearth and void in our hearts that can never never be filled. I received Cousin Hellen's letter and intend answering it soon. Father wishes me to tell you that we have taken rooms and will board in town this winter. I am very weak and feel that I can write no more. My love to all.
I remain your affect. Cousin
Sue Glassell.
PS I forgot to mention that Cousin R Grinnans was here today on his way to N. Orleans. Dannie is going to live with him. She will come out with cousin Robertine who is coming with Cousin J. Morton. Yours Sue.

Charleston Kanawha Co. Jan. 21st 59.
My dearest Grandma
I received two letters from you last night, one dated the 7th the other the 9th inst. I can not tell you how much rejoiced I am to think that you will return sooner than I had at first expected. The fact is that I am quite apprehensive that the event may come sooner than I calculated on. I judge so from various signs, but still I may be mistaken.
Owing to some irregularities in the mails I did not receive a letter from you for more than a week, but by the last three mails I have received all of the missing letters but their dates were very old until last night when I received the two I before mentioned. Cousin Bob went down to coal on day before yesterday, he will return today. He expects to leave for the south in two weeks from this time. He is going to send Fanny to cousin Mercer. We have not yet hired any one to supply his place. You ask why I don't keep her? She has become so dishonest that she even stole some of Mag's underclothes, and she is so hardened that nothing makes the slightest impression on her. Neither of the children like her. George especially can not bear her, which shews very plainly that she is not kind to them. I am at a great loss to know what to do, for there are very few or no servants for hire at this time. I could do very well with the servants I have, if I only had a good nurse. Mary and Henry and a good nurse. I have my washing done out, which saves me no little trouble, as I can call on Mary to do any thing I choose, and the truth is I don't believe that cooking and washing can go comfortably together, better to have the cook do the house cleaning which is no interruption to the cooking department, and I intend as long as I have young children (& can afford it) to have my washing and ironing done out. Mary cooks delightfully now, and I have no trouble about it. she keeps the children with her whenever I go out or choose to send them out of the way, and they are never tired of being with her.
Mag has not yet returned from Coal. I saw Uncle Ben yesterday, he looks very much depressed and broken down. The death of his little Nettie was so very sudden that they feel it very much. I hope you will write to Aunt Lizzy, for I hear that she is in the depths of distress. Uncle Ben thinks of living near Memphis and having a kind of market garden.
Mrs Lewis came to see me yesterday. she seemed very much pleased at the idea of your returning, and desired me give her best love when I wrote to you. George is going to Putnam tomorrow. The Randal case has been decided in favor of Mr Randal. George and Nell are both fat and rosy. You would be amused to see the aprons that you & Charles made, the bottom part of the skirt only comes to the place where his waist terminates. I am trying to make Nell some clothes. She too has out-grown her little old flannel diaper. Children are certainly dear darling little angels, but they do certainly require the most never ending attention of every kind.
I am sorry to hear that Aunt Eleanor is not well, but hope it is nothing serious. I am quite impatient to know what you think of our house since it has been painted. You asked me in your last, what kind of dress I would like you to bring me. I do not expect to take off black until next fall. Therefore I would like a chally and [baraige?] with enough to make a bow and high neck waist, with some kind of black [Musim?] capes. The low neck would suit warm weather. I wish you would get Mary [Vimm?] to make me two kind of black capes or one cape and one spencer to wear with a low neck. You see I have no idea of being an old woman yet, if I have nearly three children. I object to white capes or spencer as they soil so soon with a black dress. I [?] you think it rather early to be informing you of what I want, but as you desired me to do so I thought I would not wait until the eve of your journey.
It is now snowing very hard but very little lays on the ground, it being so very wet. I was in hopes that we should economize this winter, but alas I have not been able to do so at all. Cousin Bob, being a stranger I could not bear to sit him down to "short commons" and the consequence is our expences have been very great. I have no doubt that good living suits me better. I have a very fine appetite and am as fat as you ever saw me.
I will leave this open, so as to add any thing more I may see fit.
Jan. 22d
I left this open to add to, but as nothing has transpired since yesterday I will close with love to all. Believe me dear Grandma as ever your affect. daughter, Sue

Excerpt [Gibbs to Thornton, n.d.:]
"Mr. Gibbs's [the writer's husband] will probably keep it as long as he can, if he cannot get a certain sum which others think more than it can be sold for, though he sometimes talks of selling out entirely, and removing to a more healthy climate, the sail of his lower farm would free him from all debts and leave us the land we lived on and 3 old negroes superannuated nearly, and 5 others, that is a valuable woman with 4 children the oldest 11 years this would bring about 12 thousand dollars, now the question is how could this be invested so as to support a family? I confess I am at a loss to know. The land here is so productive and now we shall have a market for all we can make at our door, but it requires an active managing person, and as that is the case I know it would be best if we could have our property in some stock that would increase by the management of a partner, but of this we cannot talk so well on paper."

Susan Thornton Glassell Patton (1835-1883) was born in Virginia. Her mother died in 1836, but her father moved to Alabama, where he was a cotton planter. In 1855, she married George Smith Patton, and they had five children. After he died in battle in 1864, she moved her family to live near her brother Andrew Glassell in Los Angeles, California. Her son George S. Patton II (1856-1927) became a prominent lawyer and was the father of General George S. Patton Jr. (1885-1945). In 1870, she married Colonel George H. Smith, a first cousin of her first husband, who practiced law with her brother. They had two children.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.
6.5" x 8"; 5" x 8"; 5" x 7.625"