I recd a week ago your letter of the 26th ulto, & am very grateful for your remembrance on the day of Thanksgiving. I was thankful that you reached your destination in safety, & that your various adventures were only sufficiently exciting to add to the interest of your journey, & the amusement of your narration. I am very glad that you found Genl Smith so agreable. For his kindness I felt that I could answer, & knew that he would render your every service in his power. I hope now that you are with your dear Aunt, & know that her presence & the company of your Uncle & Cousin will more than compensate you for the pains & trials of joining them. I have been intending dear Markie every day to write to you, to tell you how much we all miss you, & how glad we were to hear of your safe journey, but business that called me out all day, & the presence of friends every night, has only allowed me to respond to letters that admitted of no delay. You had scarcely left before the illness & death of Mrs Mason,1 & the arrival of my brother Smith & his wife occupied my attention, & on Monday (30 Nov) Mr Childe & my little niece arrived & claimed their share of my company. You have no doubt heard of the quiet end of Mrs Mason, & her being placed by the side of her husband in Christ's Church Cemetery Alexa. One after one are taken from us, till none are left. Nannie & Mrs Jameison are still in Washington. Smith has returned to Phila.
I can tell you nothing Markie about Capt Wallen,2 more than you already know. I do not recollect ever having met with him, unless in Mexo & until I see him, cannot be certain of that, as his name will not serve as well as his appearance to recall him to my mind. But I know you will be able on your return to tell me all about him. The Genl (Smith) has appointed Lt Frank Wheaton now as one of his aids, which I presume will be gratifying to his pretty wife, & give her the opportunity of passing the winter in St Louis with her spouse.
2. Henry D. Wallen, who had a varied career in the military before and after the Civil War.