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Union Cavalry Steal Tobacco From Destitute Virgini

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A great war-date Southern woman's letter, 2pp. 8vo., written in ink, Fall Hill [Fredericksburg, Va.], March 8, 1865 concerning the thief of property near Falmouth by Union cavalry in early 1865, reading, in part: "…what have you decided about the Bank. There are so many applications for houses that Dr. Wallace is anxious to hear from you…the Yankees may come and of course make it headquarters. Others think that no objection as they would take in my house what rooms they chose and the officers are a protection. Maria Wolfe has written to me…is very anxious for you to take her house…if you choose to have someone to occupy the bank with you Mrs. Mason would be delighted…she said she would give any thing to live in the house with some friend. She has gone with her husband to Richmond…Mercer and I went over [to] the Bank on Monday. It is in very good repair…it has 3 private rooms below stairs and eight above, some of them very pleasant…the Yankees having landed six steamers at the [?] about dusk. It was thought…they came for tobacco that has been brought here to sell to them for bacon, but when [the] cavalry landed all the men in town scampered. We had a house full, but during the night all went off to the woods…with their horses…Temple and James, I fear, have gone too far to hear the joyful news of the departure of the Yankees. They with Frank went towards Richmond, but…will be back to finish their furloughs. Temple…looks thin and more quiet…the Yankees…force were put here to seize the tobacco, that which they could not carry off they burnt…they took all old Manees horses and all the servants in the place except two very old women…the carried Dr. Rose and Clay Rowe to Fortress Monroe…strange we should have believed they would give us bacon for our tobacco. It was a;; an arranged Yankee trick. I wish the tobacco had been thrown in James River…night before last…we were in a most anxious state. Now if my poor boys can only get back, we shall be thankful…Bussie is not well today we both took cold watching the Yankees yesterday…". Light soiling, else very good.

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