Letter to Lemuel Chenoweth

Scope and content:

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life and family news.

Language:

English .

Other descriptive data:

V.M.I.
Dec 30th 1857

Dear Father
Your very kind letter is at hand, I would have answered it sooner, but I thought I would wait until I could inform you with tolerable certainty where I will stand in my class (on Mathematics). The contest for the highest "honor" that will be awarded to my class at the Jan. Examination, has been quite animated and grows more & more exciting as we approach the end of the race. At present the chances are greatly in my favour. To-morrow is the last day that we will recite on Mathematics and I have the "first mark" independently of several "extras" that I have "handed in" and which have not as yet been examined. All that is now necessary to render my success complete is for me to pass a good examination. This I am preparing to do, and from present appearances, I think that you may rest assured that I will stand at the head of my class (on math).

I hope that Mother is not dangerously ill, and am pleased to learn that my surviving brothers and sisters are enjoying those blessings, which health always confers upon those who are so fortunate as to escape the "ills that flesh is heir to." I received Mothers letter written just after John's death and answered it. I can not divine how it is that she did not receive my answer to that letter. I also received Mary's letter, (the one in which she speaked of your illness)and as well as I recollect, I am pretty certain that I answered it, and expressed my solicitude for your recovery.

Accept my thanks for the $10 note enclosed in your letter. It is a nice Christmas gift and I will not forget your kindness should fortune smile upon me in future. Give my love to Mother, Mary, Harriet, Chris, Taylor, Ella, Blanche, & the baby. Tell Mother to write to me soon. I need not tell you that I was relieved of a great deal of anxiety when I received your letter and learned that you had recovered. I had not received a letter from home for so long, that I really thought that something dreadful had happened. Tell Mary to write soon. I have the manuscript of my speech (11th) and will bring it home with me next July. Our question was, "Which form of government is best -- adapted to the present state of society -- the Monarchical or Republican?" I was on the [illegible] is the Republican side, write soon

Your Affectionate Son
J.H. Chenoweth
V.M.I.

Subjects:

Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1850-1859
Correspondence

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