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Danville June 27/65 [June 27, 1865]

Dear Mother,

You see that Kentucky still holds me. If Martha and Carrie had a prosperous journey they reached Bethlehem [Connecticut] last Thursday or Friday. I heard from them when six hundred miles on their way, and they were then all right. They had the company of three other ladies to Bridgeport, Ct. [Connecticut], and of Mr. Warren, one of our teachers, more than half way. There is still of possibility of my going north in a week or two, but it

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is very improbable. I hoped to have heard from you before this time and to have learned whether there were any special reasons why you wished to see me this summer.

Mr. & Mrs. Sloan and some half dozen others with myself returned yesterday from a visit to Crab Orchid Springs [Kentucky], a place much resorted to by Southerners before the rebellion. We spent three days there, and had a pleasant time except that I was very sick the last night, but I am all right again now.

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The examination and closing exercises of our school passed off very finely, and won us all great praise. It was much the most brilliant thing of the kind I ever attended. The last evening, when an admission fee was required, $460 were taken in, so you see the people were quite interested. We had had three weeks of very hot weather till yesterday when there was a change, and it is now quite cool enough for comfort. There is to be a very great celebration of the 4th at Camp Dick Robinson, six miles from here, and many distinguished

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military officers and others are expected to be present. I think I shall attend.

I don’t know exactly when Martha and Carrie will visit you, but I hope you will hear from them by letter soon. Elizabeth [Elizabeth Bird, Martha's sister], who is now in Bethlehem, was to remain till after Martha got there. I am busying myself principally with reading. It is the gayest season of the year here, this being the week of College commencement. There are also numerous weddings and parties about this time.

Please let me hear from you at your earliest convenience.

Your aff [affectionate] son, Augustine