Washington April 30th 1861

	Dear Janie
		I feel as though I must write to
night though it is a very unusual thing
for me and rather an important venture
but as I intend to be out all the morning
I feel as if I might venture to try my eyes
to night_ I will talk of our family news
first as I know when I get on our city and
the times I will think of little else_
   Uncle James is well and as handsome as ever
somewhat worried Aunt Eliza & children are
well, the former is nervous & frightened but
one can scarcely help it_ Aunt Annie & babies
are well except father who is slightly ailing
Edith grows like the Barclay family. Uncle
Barclay looks sober and fears we must have
a fight and perhaps not have as good a chance
to run as at Bladensburg_ Aunt Hannah
has been sick all winter but she is now a

little better. Aunt [Shaw?] is only tolerable.
  Brother John & wife are well the last
is in Virginia her family having seceded.
Jennie is only tolerable indeed she has been
quite sick for sometime Jimmie is worried
about the times   Anna is well   Mrs Dent
is still with us   Johnnie is very interesting
and I doubt if Hoosierdom could scare up
such a nother boy_  as to myself I am well
for when was I ever otherwise.  You said
in one of your letters that I might get a
winter school but I would have a set of 
rough boys   I would not care  kindness
and patience rules a savage.  I hope if I
can procure a school to be able to do for
myself and also improve my mind_
    I wrote the above last night but I had to stop for
I could not go farther my eyes were so bad.
     You said in your letter that you liked to see
the blue coats  I never did care and I care still
less to see them now just to think our city which is
always as quiet as a village when congress is not in

        session filled with soldiers 20,000 troops and
with the exception of the seventh & Boston regiment
all are of the rag tag & bob tail of society the
hardest looking set you ever saw, mostly boys the
citizens are already complaining of them they have
killed 3 or 4 men one woman and insulted several
of the latter, as to my part when I meet them
I give them a wide berth and pass quickly
by but soldiers you see on every corner a whole
company passed here yesterday so your soldier
loving propensity could be easily settled as to
music a whole band was playing all yesterday
evening but as a general thing they march with
out music except a drum & fife_
   The Barclays can not go into the country this
summer as the way back and forth may be
stopped so they could not pass back & forth
which would not suit cousin John. Cousin
Sarah is anxious to visit her Mother this summer
but I do not know wether she will go or not
Give my love to all tell my Uncles & Aunt
I am glad they persuaded Willy to stay at

     home and I hope he will stay all together
many of the troops here say they never would
have come if they had understood things as
they do now   Maryland is true to the Union
May she long be so my hope rises. I hope she
will be one of the means to preserve peace  God
Grant we may all have peace & quiet_ My
love to all write soon to your cousin
			Janie E Peabody













		Miss Jane B. Cathcart.