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C O P Y
Tallahassee, Florida.
Mr. G. H. Fairbanks, Deer Sir:
I recieved your of 22 was pleased to hear from you as usual. there is noe grate change of I te hear on the mountain your House is safe, & wo be to the one that tryes to destroy it. I am keeping A close wach of your House at Night, Franklin & I take it in turns for not knowing who done the deed I don't feel easy so I wis to be up and ready for them if they stemp to burn this. C.R. Barney ( ? ) also has A gard up therefor we wish to solve the secret if we can. Miss Polk has left with her Family Destination Clumbus, 40 miles below Nashville & with them I think that they take the House burner ( ? ) for I bleve that it is one of there men servants that done the deed he has bn vert ansious to go to Orleans but hes b in refused 7 I suppose thet he though thtat the only chance was to burn them up. The War excitement reges hear warmly Secession Flages are fling in mos of towns that I know of there hes bin one Regment reised in this Vicinity they left Wincheser lest esvining Detination Linchburg Virginia. Mr. Van Vleok has joined he Regement & has bin elected Captin of a Company. The whole Country is up & doing camp any or farming for . . . . . . gards. Governer Haris has call the Legislator together on last Thursday but there are in secret sesion, & I have not heard ther decision if it was left to the Peple it would be our I think at once. I don't think that we will be foriners much longe now. Biship Green I lern intend still to come to the mountain also Biship Ota fer awhile. Biship Polk is still in Louisianna yet have not heard at this plece from him since the fire but is expected hear the lest of the this month. This I think all the news at present.
Wm. P. Ensign.
I shuld be pleased to have you bring me A Cols repeter if it could be obtained for there is none to be had in this vecinity not in Nashville & if you have plenty of powder a litle of that would be desirable for that is as heard to obtained as postols. & I will it wright with you when you come.
Wm. P. Ensign
I don't wonder that you feel snsious in regard to Fort Pickens capture. We hear some times that it taken & then contradicted & I find out that there is but little confidence plaed in what you hear. & you need not feel uneasy in regard to your House for I shell tske care of it as well as if it was my own till you return but I had as soon wait till you come for I dont need the money at present. & I think that Smith wil wait till you come for I have Paid him 20 dollars towards the Lumber & if you have not sent the check yu need not till you come.
Yours with respect Wm. P. Ensign University Place.
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Survey of G.R. Fairbanks Premices marked Rainsford Place Nov. 1861
Have showed this to Chestern
There is a third letter from Ensign to Fairbanks July 2 1861 about Fairbanks house.
In the Glass collection there is a long account of Fairbanks in his own handwriting. It describes both his first home on the brow of the mountain North westerly from Green's View. Reference is made to all the cabins on the mountains before the war.
In 1863 my residence and all the University buildings were burned by the Federal troops.
He describes his return to Sewanee after the war and the building of his second home on the site of the home built by Bishop Polk by Otey Spring.
Fairbanks also states the he with Barney and Bishop Green, during the year 1859, had named the springs and views. record of which was preserved and appeard on a map made under the direction of Bishop Hapkins in 1859-60. Now preserved in the archives. WE have this map well identified and the brow of the mountain west of Green's view is marked Fairbanks View.
Think you should have this in case I die suddenly S.H. Torian