Henrietta Webb Letters

March 2, 1862

My dear Niece Maurice came home last night + speaks of leaving for NC in the morning So I will violate my rule + write you this The holy Sabbath day. Bettie gave birth this morning to another Son. The little fellow comes into our world in a dark + gloomy time in our countrys history. May God in His mercy + goodness preserve him from the evil of the world, [ ] [ ] his parents to consecrate him this day soul + body unto the Lord. Bettie is apparently doing well. I wrote you more than a month ago but [?] have [?] so fast upon our [?] is that I have neglected to stand by [?] [?] is extremely doubtful about your getting it. We are in the midst of exciting [south?]. Fort Henry + Donelson together with Nashville have fallen + it is now rumored that Columbias on the [?] . [Rain?] is evacuated, if this he so Memphis is [doomed?]. Refugees for our [?] the county are [forming?] upon the Cotton States + the Southern army also falling back to ourborder. The supply question both of food + clothing is becoming alarming. In our [?] [?] have food enough for home consumption. South of us they have not + [?] our others to be fed is more than I can [bear?].