Of course! At least I'll try my best...
Home Nov 28th 1895
My Dear Son Lee
I find the Bank
closed and every one connected with it
absent having Thanksgiving in
Atlanta. So I can't get the letters
until tomorrow.
Please send Mrs Plummin's
bill and settle for washing left out
by me and include that with Mrs
P's bill and I will return check for
the whole amount. I think you had
better Express the washing to Gainesville
C.O.D. as soon as it comes in.
Lulu and Et are well and
join in love to you and Jim.
Affectionately
J. Longstreet
I believe Lulu is his daughter Maria Louisa (1872-1957), and I would suppose that Et (not entirely sure about that one) might be her husband Jasper Esten Whelchel (1868-1924). And I assume Jim would be his son James Longstreet (1865-1922). Recall that Maria Louisa Garland Longstreet passed away in 1889, and he didn't marry Helen until 1897, so perhaps that's why all the fuss about the washing...
Et is often used as "etc."
General Longstreet's wound left his writing arm and hand rather useless, after the Wilderness but, Longstreet kept working on his arm as to write again. He also was self teaching himself to write with his left hand. It is 'believed' that General Longstreet held his pen in the left while his right rested on top of the left, as to work his muscles and perhaps help learn to write left handed.
His handwriting wasn't all that great to begin with, if General Longstreet's message back and forth between Colonel Alexander (Artillery at Gettysburg); concerning the artillery--the artillery train having been ordered back by General Pendleton and not informing Alexander of it, foiled Longstreet's tactical plan to bombard the center as to cover the advancement of the troops.
Chirography used in the "Lee to Longstreet" letter is handwriting. I was very impressed that Lee encouraged Longstreet to write in his own hand, not have another to write for him.
Just some thoughts.
M. E. Wolf
Bringing the