Brother Henry is eating rats at Johnson's Island Prison!

The Yanks got in Georgia & took everything we had!

I hope the vile wretches who took my negroes, burned my home & left me nothing will go to everlasting torment!

4 pages, 4 1/2 x 7, in ink, written by Lou W. Lumpkin to Rena McDowell.

Danville, Jan. 29th, 1865

My Dear Mc,[Dowell]

I feel in quite a loving humor this bitter freezing day & therefore write my heart's own Darling again. Why my many letters have never been answered I am unable to say yet. I know that you are as true to me as you were the first happy hour that you told me that you loved me. Nothing can change you my Blessing! You are the star of my life, the flame of my soul, all sweet names in one my treasure. I have written to you at Charleston. This I shall send to Ella & she will send it to you. I feel anxious to hear from you. You have not written in an age. Where are you Pet & what are you doing? I would give anything to see you my darling. For the last two or rather one week I have been quite sick, for one day in bed. This is the coldest weather I ever felt. Bro. Henry is still at Johnson's Island [Prison]. He was very well when we last heard from & wanted nothing but something to eat, rations were very scarce. He was eating rats. Just think of that! & sleeping under 9 & ten blankets. They had to keep their heads covered up to keep from freezing & under all that cover the breath of each would freeze & become a thin sheet of ice by morning. We have tried every way to have him exchanged & yet hope to get a special exchange for our darling. Mother has been very ill for a long, long time. She has broken a great deal. She takes trouble to heart & has almost grind herself to death. I cannot bear to look at her. She is so changed. I have had a great deal of trouble since I last heard from you. The Yanks got in Geo.[rgia] & took everything we had. These are gloomy times in Va., nothing to eat or to be had. It is almost impossible to live. I hope the vile wretches who took my negroes, burned my home & left me nothing will go to everlasting torment! I see your sad look of surprise darling at such awful words but I cannot help it. Are you not afraid they will get your home? Dearest why not come on here. It is as safe if not more than So.[uth] Ca.[rolina]. Mc I am almost blind. Mother told me to stop writing a dozen times since I commenced this letter but my heart's heart wants you darling. My darling, I must write, my comfort, my solace, my all. Rena, if the Yankees take Charleston as every one thinks, where will you go? Ma received a long letter from Emma Bailey this morning. I have not written to her in a long time. You must tell me all the news & write me a long letter. Mother sends her best love to you & is very anxious to see you. Mc where is your Father? Remember me affec.[tionaely] to him. I can scarcely wait for an answer to this letter. I am crazy to hear from you so do pray write. I have written to you so often & received no reply that I have almost given up all hope of me getting a line from you. Seal up your letter well. God bless you always my Pet is the heart felt prayer of your loving devoted,

Lou

You must answer & write me a long letter for I would do the same but think it doubtful that you ever get this.

Well written letter with excellent content.

The recipient of this letter was Philippina "Rena" McDowell. Her brother, George A. McDowell, was a member of the 6th South Carolina Cavalry. He was killed on John's Island, S.C., in February 1864. This was the second great tragedy of the war that Philippina would suffer. Her fiance, William F. McKewn, a member of the Palmetto Sharpshooters, was killed in action on Dec. 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg, Va. These two young, dead Confederate soldiers, George A. McDowell, and William F. McKewn, were best friends and former classmates at the Citadel Military Academy of Charleston, S.C.

Louise W. Lumpkin, also known as Lula, and Lou, the young lady who wrote this letter, was from a prominent Georgia family. Her mother Isabella Wilson Lumpkin, married her cousin, Henry Hopson Lumpkin, who was the brother of ex-Georgia Governor, Wilson Lumpkin.