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Signature

3¢ dull red (26) tied grid and EUFAULA / Ala. // APR / 21 [1861] cds on small black-bordered MOURNING COVER (4 ¼” x 2 ½”) to Arba Sternes, Columbia, SC, UNLISTED Confederate Use of U.S. Postage, heavy contents file fold at right; small 8-page letter to dated April 21 [1861] with Julia Lowman’s 8-page letter dated the evening before and relaying sad news of both her brother and divorced husband. At the lower left of the envelope is penned “In haste” and, indeed, the stamp was torn off at bottom and seemingly hastily affixed. She calls her brother’s death an “unexpected event,” but prior missives seem to belie that assertion. She notes that he was buried with full military and Masonic honors. Of perhaps even more importance to their relationship, she relays: “Mr. Lowman [her former husband] died a happy death, was converted to God before his spirit took its flight from the world, exhorted his children to be Temperate, Virtuous and above all to put their trust in God and meet him in Heaven. He exhorted all his friends in the same manner, inquired about me and told the children to tell me that I must forgive him. Oh, that I could have been there just to have told him that he had long been forgiven…the children got home on Tuesday just in time to see their uncle before he died…what is there now to prevent your coming? Can we not arrange everything satisfactorily between us? I am satisfied I have your love and sympathy and what more need I care for. I forgot to mention that Mr. Lowman left his property to George & Thornton (her sons by Lowman). It consists of 5 Negroes and I believe 2 or 3 Thousand dollars in money left in care of Mr. John Lowman to manage, as I have a great deal on my hands to attend to.” Thus, the tide seemed to be turning for their love-match, albeit by reason of sad events. Pivotal piece in this correspondence. SOLD as part of the Sternes correspondence. Kept on the website to tell the story.