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Danville, Kentucky Sept. 27th, 1864

Dear Mother,

I have written to you once since I arrived here, and have also directed Martha to send you the first letter that I wrote her, and which may contain some things which will interest you. It was quit long and if it can be made to answer a double purpose I shall be glad.

I am very well indeed, and I presume we shall all find the climate suitable to us. I see no reason to think the place any less healthful than any place in Connecticut. The

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climate of Kentucky is proverbially beautiful. If the weather we have had the last seventeen days is a fair sample, it has not been over praised. I have never been to a place where I have felt so little homesick as here. This may seem singular to you, for, like a people generally in our part of the country, you probably consider the people here only about half civilized.

You would doubtless be right in thinking so of some parts of the South and even of Kentucky, but Danville is an exception. It is a more cultivated

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place than one town in ten of Connecticut, and even if it were not so, it would make little difference to us, as we have the best of New England society under this roof. We, as far as teachers are concerned, are a regular Yankee community, all being from New York, Massachusetts, and Ct. [Connecticut] We have four natives of Ct. here and about the same number each from New York & Massachusetts. These are all decidedly northern in their views – not a [George] McClellan among them, and Union victories are nowhere rejoiced over more than around our teachers’ table.

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Many of our girls are of course daughters of rabid secessionists, but they never say a word to teachers or teachers to them on such subjects.

I have heard from Martha twice since I came here. She and baby are very well indeed. I expect them here in about a month.

I hope to hear from you soon. I sent you a catalogue of our school yesterday. Our room is on the lower floor in the corner towards which the horses’ heads are directed in the engraving. As the parlor and dining room are on the same floor, it will be convenient for Martha and baby.

Your aff [affectionate] son, Augustine