Washington Feby 8. 1861
My dear wife
Your letter was duly received last night, and I send you a 30 $ draft which our Mr Stanton has just received.
I had received a letter from Sam about the same date as that of yours. I am glad to see he is re elected warden of the church and have so written him. Such an office is not only very honorable but it will act as a restraint on him.
You say my letters do not give details That must be so I am much pressed with care private and public, and I am kept so busy I have no time to look at any one subject any considerable length of time. Sadie is busy with her school and with company and I feel too poor to hire help; so I work incessently. The Convention is becoming a very important matter. Most of the States have now appointed delegates except the Seceding states and I want to attend that body as much as I can–Since the election in Va and the assembling of that Convention things look a little more hopeful but they are hard enough yet1
Do not fail to write very often. I wish you was here to assist in sending off seeds and documents. Mr Stanton helps me considerable but he expects nothing and I shall not pay very much I can assure you. I fear we will be sold out yet. Still let us hope on they cannot hang us for being poor. I am possessed of good health also and can perform a vast amount of work. I am glad also to see our boys have good health. If Henry does not go by Keokuk you will no doubt be much disappointed. I kept him longer than Pa seemed to think he ought to stay ; and yet he only remained 11 days
I want you to write them often. Kiss my dear little Caddie. Kate Sturgis is spending a few days with Sadie Mr Sturgis however is down spirited and insists on going home very soon
Sadie is very well. It is awful cold just now I fear you will find it much more so.
Affectionately yours
Saml. R. Curtis
1. The “Peace Convention” or “Border Slave States Convention,” convened in Washington February 4, at the suggestion of the Virginia legislature, with representatives chosen either by state legislatures or state conventions. Only 21 out of 33 states were represented. Iowa was represented by Harlan and Vandever. The Peace Convention. doomed to failure before it met, came to no acceptable conclusions, for the Crittenden Compromises were not acceptable to many of the North, and less was not acceptable to the South.
The same day commissioners from the seven seceded states convened at Montgomery, Alabama, to draw a provisional government of the Confederacy.