From Mary Savage to Dear Mother and Sister

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Lawrence Oct. 10th 1863 Dear Mother and Sister,

I have been looking for a letter from you so long that I have got tired waiting and thought I would write again. I hope this time with better success. I feel quite anxious to hear from you we learned from Mr Hoods letter that Mother is with you at present and so I thought it would be a good time to write to you both together hopeing that one of you will write as soon as you can and believe my anxiety concerning your welfare. I am glad to hear that Robert has got such a good place and likes it so well also of Thoms prosperity in his new undertaking. I hope Mary has entirely recovered from her sickness. I had a long letter from Jane Simpson which I intend to answer the first day I have time but I have been very busy since the raid of the bushwhackers into our town. the first week our Minister and family stayed with us as they were burned out and lost every thing. and then the soldiers camped near us and I had to bake for them for three weeks until the bakery was started. and now I have one of the soldiers and his wife boarding with me so you see I have not had much time to write. I suppose you have read a great deal about the but you cannot begin to get an idea of it as those us can who have seen its horrors and the fiendish pleasure they took in witnessing the death agonies of our best citizens Murdered in cold blood without any chance of resistance as in the case of Mr Fitch in whose death we feel more personal loss than in any other one man killed. he was awaked on that fatal morning as were most of the town by the yells and shooting of the gurillas. who were so near the house that there was no chance of escape, they saw through the blinds that they were spareing some houses and hoped they would pass theirs. but in a few moments there were twenty or more rushed up came in and called for the man of the house. Mr Fitch was up stairs he walked down to them and as he got to the bottom they shot him in the presence of his young wife and three children. they then set fire to the house refusing to take out the body or to permit her to. also refuseing to permit her to take any thing out of the house not even some cloths for her baby who was not dressed. but this is only one of the many tales of suffering in this place. but I have not time to write more now. as it is time to get supper. I wish you could get a box and send the things that Dear Sister Maggie left me by express as it is getting quite cold and I would like them soon. we will pay the express when they come. I will send a little money to pay for the box also to buy me a few little articles such as handkerchiefs pins needles thread and such little things as every one needs all of which cost a good deal more here than there. if you send the box be sure and write us soon as possible and let us know so as to be expecting it. Dear Mother I have written this letter in a hury and have not said half that I wanted to, but you will excuse it all, and believe me your affectionate Mary


Oct. 12.

As I did not send this away I will write a little more. Last wednesday there was a report that the rebbles had again invaded the south east part of our state and nearly all the troops here were sent in pursuit. leaving only part of a company (40 men) of infantry and taking with them both the cannon. so that we feel quite exposed. as there is a posibility of an attack from the west by some of the gurillas bands that are becoming so numerous in this part of the country. we live in a state of constant excitement and I watch from the windows many times in the night, whenever I hear the least noise, and I dont allow Joseph to go to the door if any one comes in the evening prefering to know who is there first as the gurillas have not killed any women yet. still we dont know what they may do if they should come in here again. but we hope they will not try it again, our citizens are all armed and are trying to be ready for them if they do come. but there mode of warfare is so treacherous that we cannot have a fair fight. their advantage is in the swiftness of their horses and their perfect knowledge they have of all our affairs. they seemed to know every house and who lived in it, and who had money. they took all the money and jewelry they could find even to the wedding rings from the fingers of the wives whose husbands they had butchered.


I never thought it possible that we should see such fiendish actions in this Christian land. but I fear we have not seen the end. yesterday we heard of the attack and capture of Gen. Blunts staff and body guard. by the reb. a short distance below fort Scot. George Ella a cousin of Josephs and one of the Gens. Orderlys was killed. Robert will remember him he was a first rate good boy and we all feel very sad about it


Sister Mary

[ .] Love to John and kisses to the Children from Sister, & aunt Marie


[ .] we know the same heavenly father is able to keep us through the dangers of this terrible time. and we desire to leave ourselves and all our interests in his hand – knowing that all things will work together for good to those that love him


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