October 10th, 1861.—War has come home to the Bradford neighborhood! . . . Last night, October 9th, Captain Richard H. Bradford was shot in the breast and instantly killed, while leading his men in an attack on Santa Rosa Island. He was everybody’s darling. We were so proud of him, too. Father went to bear the sad news to Uncle Richard and Aunt Nancy. May God help them for this is hard to bear. Cousin Edward Bradford, his brother, is bringing his body home. The telegram said they would stop over a few hours in Madison and the casket would lie in state in the court house there, that Madison might do him honor. Then they will come on and he will be buried in God’s Acre at Pine Hill.
Mr. William Routh was killed also, he was engaged to be married to Cousin Sallie and she fainted dead away when she heard the terrible news. Oh! War is worse even than I thought.
