A Rare Confederate States Letter Concerning Her Only Lunatic Asylum

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013

A rare war-date Confederate home front Western Lunatic Asylum letter, 2pp. 4to., written by Jenny B. Somerville (1827-1896), Somerville, [Va.], Oct. 1, 1862 to the superintendent of the Western Lunatic Asylum concerning the care of her husband Samuel Wilson Somerville (1811-1876). The Western Lunatic Asylum was one of the nation's first institutes that cared for those considered insane. Founded in 1828, it was located in Staunton, Virginia. Dr. Francis Taliaferro Stribling (1810-1874) became an early superintendent and pioneered many ground breaking methods of care for the asylum's patients. Dr. Stribling ran the institute throughout the Civil War years and evidently returned Mr. Somerville to his wife since Mr. Somerville fathered a large family following the war and died at his home in 1876, in part: " I herein enclose a letter to my husband which you will please hand to him…he expressed a great wish to hear from me…I was pleased to hear that he was so…comfortably situated…I hope & pray [that] under your judos treatment he may be speedily restored & I return many thanks for your kindness already bestowed…I have one request…if a patient from this county should be sent to the asylum by the name of…Isaac Winston. You will not allow him to have any intercourse with Mr. Somerville whatever…my object in making this request is that…it will…have a bad effect. This young man is one who has led a very intemperate life &…is not a suitable associate. Should it be necessary for my husband to remain any length of time…I will send over some clothing…altho he has been surrounded with every thing he could wish…yet he [? had a distaste for dress & would always wear the plainest clothing, not from…economy for he is noble & generous…to a fault every ready to aid those who stood in need…". Original transmittal cover remains on verso. VG

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