January 8th, 1863.—Cousin Sam Donelson came last night. I have not seen him since the summer of 1859 and I would never have known him. Instead of a slender, pale boy, he is a splendid looking man. He is on Uncle Daniel’s staff, with the rank of Lieutenant.
Aunt Margaret left her home at the beginning of hostilities in the West. She had the farm wagons packed with belongings of the negroes and they walked behind and drove a herd of fine cattle uncle Daniel had raised. Old Aunt Purdy rode one saddle horse and Grace another and so on, until all the numerous riding nags were safely on the road and all the old and feeble negroes had a means of transportation. It is a wonder they got away but she managed to locate them in middle Georgia, where they are still waiting for the war to be over.
Cousin Sam is young and daring, he is having a good time in the main and he doesn’t care how long it lasts. He says Uncle Daniel has grown thin; they are pleased, as, indeed, we all are, at his promotion to be a Major-General. I am sure he deserves it. I love him dearly. He was so good to me when Father was so ill at his home in Tennessee.
