Dr. Robert Peel Links to A. L. Peel Diary |
Dr. Robert Hunter Peel Pre-Civil War Letter Surgeon, 19th. Mississippi Regiment Letter From Robert to "Sister" Letter from Robert Hunter Peel to Alice Maud Matthews New Orleans March the 20th/60 Dear Sister, I fear you will never forgive me for my apparent negligence in not writing you sooner, and since I have no reasonable excuse to give you for my long silence, I will appeal to your generosity for forgiveness. Two weaks since, I wrote you, and just now, while thinking of Home and all the dear ones there, I find that I have the letter still in my pocket, having neglected to mail it. Don't put now Sis, for I shall be back soon, and shall expect to find you in your usual good humor, but if you insist upon scolding me, I prefer taking the blessing at this distance, and will consider your arms a limbo for a moment, while you proceed to inflict the merited punishment. There! you are satisfied now, I know, so I will go on with my letter. But first let me ask why you all have forgotten me; I have not received a line from home in a month, and if I have any where else to go, I believe I should not come back in twelve months. I have only two weaks longer to remain here however, and shall be glad enough to get away, for I have been closely confined and constantly engaged the whole winter, and long for a return to my old home, and the loved ones I left there. I am in fine health now, but have suffered some for want of exercise since my labours commenced. How are you all, and what is going on in H. S. In a letter the Doctor forwarded to me some time since, he stated that his own and mothers health was bad, and that Sis Julia was not as well as usual &c. But I hope nothing serious is the matter, and that the genial warmth of spring will restore them all. How is Sis, Martha? I wish she would write me oftener, for such letters as her's give a new charm to life, and realy make a better and happier man. Give my love to all Dear Sister and believe me ever ["Sister" is a nickname Robert used for Alice Maud Matthews. Robert was courting Alice after the death of his first wife, Virginia. Alice was Robert's Sister-in-law. Robert Peel was in Medical School in New Orleans.] |
