Dear Brother

I wrote you a letter from home quite a short time ago and gave you all the news, or as much as I knew--I now write from Hanover and I fear that I will be as tiresome and as uninteresting as I was before--but however the intension should be approved of though it fails.

The boys have erected a splendid Flag of Secession. Mr Boyle, as I am told, I myself was not here, made a very find speech indeed followed by several of the Students all of whom did very well except one who made a complete failure and after standing up for five minutes, without saying anything, was obliged to get down amid the laughter of the whole assemble--. What an awful position!

We have had for the last week the worst rain you ever saw in the whole of your life--. The Appomattox and James are higher than they have been before for twelve years--so the old folks say--a great many bridges have been washed away and not far from here even a mill has been carried off.

I suppose you are having quite a dry time upon your plantation--I do not expect you have many very sociable and nice neighbors. I have not the slightest objection to your having the money you spoke of--but as to selling ChesterField, I think you will find that quite a difficult task, as all lands have greatly decreased in value.

I have just heard of the surrender of Fort Sumter to the Army of the Confederated States. I can assure you nothing could give me more pleasure than such news--. I suppose that Fort Pickens will fall next, at any rate I hope so.

Virginia looks as if she will not go out under any consideration and her actions will materially affect the course of all the border states.

I must now close by begging to write soon
to yr devoted bro

J.W. Gilliam