Julia A. Wilbur ALS to [Anna M. C.] Barnes, January 15 - January 17, 1863

last night from the south, & staid at the School House. They did'nt like the looks
of the place here, & they went on to W. this morning.
The small pox is raging here among whites as well as colored. The whites
stay in their houses & of course it will spread. - In the house where
our room is we found a woman to day who is getting over it. I think
there have been more or less cases in the house all the while. -
A friend in W. paid me the money on the check thee sent me.
As far as my pay is concerned, I will abide with whatever the society is
willing to do. - Expecting of course, to have my board paid. I shall
stay here at present whether the society pay me anything more than
board or not. But I cannot afford to stay long in that way, for I am
subject to other expense beside my board. This is the dirtiest, [worst?]
place to use up clothes that I ever saw, & when the warm weather comes
I must have some thin clothing; & stationery is quite an item. -
I think I can do good here, & feel it my duty to stay here this winter
Even if I had to do it at my own expense.
Saturday. Dec. 17th. {The following text is written in pencil by a modern cataloger: [Jan 17]}
Yesterday I went with Mr. G. to W. in ambulance & had a hard
cold ride. We brought back 2 boxes sent by the Freedman's Society
in N.Y. of wh. Dr. Tyng is President. They contain 40 pillows, 17
tin cups & 22 bed quilts. - Oh! what a city this is. - It appears
Alex. is included in Western Va. & Mayor M'Kenzie of this city has just
been elected member of Con. He is not considered a very loyal man.
Now, who has elected him? We have no reason to think that there are
a dozen Union men here that are voters. There are plenty of
secesh who say they are Unionists, & they have probably elected M'K, &
in a little while they will have it all their own way here. There is a very
bad spirit abroad here at present. - Many of the soldiers are angry because
they have been so long without pay, & they lay every thing to the nigger, he has
caused the war, & now he is freed, & government is helping them & the soldiers
are mad, & they take any opportunity to insult & abuse the negroes.