Richmond July 23/62

Dear Ma
                                         I have been intending to write home for a week or
two, but the absence of any certain means of sending a letter encouraged me
in thinking the weather too hot for the exertion of writing, or else I have
been taken with a lazy fit I don’t know which. Yesterday, however
upon going to dinner I discovered a quantity of magnificent apparel
lying upon the bed, & upon examination discovered that it was of Felgner’s
make & f rom the “loved ones at home”–My conscience immediately smote
me for having neglected writing & I resolved to repair my error as
soon as possible & send home my thanks for the thoughtfulness & kindness of
all at home.  I had been grieving that morning, over the thought that
Felgner was a Union man & that therefore it would be impossible to send
to you for any clothes, & as it is almost an utter impossibility to get
anything made here, I was beginning to get desperate.  The articles
have been here for some time–that is in Richmond–but Capt. R
not knowing where Com Hollins lived, (to whom they were directed) they
have been lying here idle ever since he left, and it was only two days
ago that Capt R’s family discovered where the Commodore was living.
& sent the bundle to him.  They were received in the very “nick of time”
& Felgner deserves a compliment on their superb fit.  Willie immediately
put on one of the shirts (they being the articles that had taken his eye)
& a pair of his pants & strutted off down street, he was unable though
to sacrifice his epaulettes & therefore was obliged to defer the pleasure
of wearing his new coat–probably until one of the days on which
     decides as he does
he ^ periodically decides to “resign his commission & go into the ranks at

[page 2]