6

Lafourdche

July 9th, 1849

My dear Sue:

You have heard I presume through your
sister's letters to her brother's family of our late troubles
and sickness. We were during the presence of the disease
absolutely so occupied as hardly to have a moment for anything
but attention to the sick and dying and so could do nothing in
the way of advising our friends of our condition. Such a
visitation must be seen in order to be realized. Of all the
population on my place white and black amounting to between 360
or 70 I suppose not more than say 50 who did not have the
disease. Of this number we lost 70 of all ages, 25 children,
29 men and 16 women. Among them we had some of the best people
but generally they were among the old and feeble and the
young, and of all that died of what we term cholera there were
about 28 only who could be called hands. You will regret to hear
that out old friend Jeff was of the number. He died as a
Christian would desire to die, at his post. He was of great
service as a nurse and was most faithful. Amy also, Bridget's
daughter, our cook, died. She was quire feeble. None of
Diana's family died except a grand child. Hamilton and two of
our little girls were sick. I had also two or three slight
attacks at home after the attack I had in N. O. Our clergyman
who lives on the place, the gardner and his wige, the overseer
and his wife, were all sick. The overseer's wife died. It is
still in the neighborhood attacking the plantations and individ-
uals. I hear on the place of a Capt. Mina near Donaldsonville
since it left me they have lost 97 slaves, 65 of whom died in
the field three days after the attack was made. But enough of