Name/Title
Letter from HAR to Mr. Rhett(?)Entry/Object ID
2009.016.1tScope and Content
Letter to Mr. Rhett(?) from Etta
Transcribed by Elise Haremski, Dec 2010
Dear Mr. Rhett(?),
Both of your
letters have been received and
it is now time for me to ack-
knowledge their arrival. You
ask me if I have written
and I am obliged to confess
I have not done so from
a feeling of unwillingness
to have my engagement made
public. My object in seeking
an ________ the evening you
left here was to tell you of
my determination to become
your wife should your life
be spared to ________ after the
war. This knowledge I felt
I ___ would send you on
[side 2]
and (sic) I decided you should
hear it from my own lips.
All I intended was that an
understanding should exist
between us. Known only to my
parents. During(?) our last meet-
ing you seemed so _________
that this understanding should
become(?) an engagement that
I yielded and promised
to write in a fortnight ___
th___ing (?) you to _______ is
whether you have done so
or explained this hearing from
me I do not positively know --
I can only now say again
that I pray you to allow it to
remain a secret. I have not
mentioned it to any of my
relations excepting Mrs. Singleton(?)
nor do I intend doing so at
present. This engagement will
[side 3]
in all probability be a long
one as from all accounts the
South Carolina regiments(?) are
expected to do _______ of the work(?)
and whilst these months(?) ____
times you should be satisfied
with the knowledge that I be-
long to you without communi-
cating it to others. When you
______ should it be said months
or a year you will find
me here a little older and
with perhaps a few more
silvery strands - voila-____!
Do you think me very
________ but only ____ ____
commonly (?) _____ _______with
creature who will require a
great deal of managing
to be kept in order! I do
not intend writing again
and must be satisfied to
[side 4]
hear of you through the paper
this last session(?) you will
think ________ but none-
theless I wish it.
Goodbye -
The father
in heaven protect you and
after a faithful performance
of duty bring you safely
back to -
Your affectionate
Etta
Charleston June 28thCollection
Aiken-Rhett HouseAcquisition
Accession
2009.016.Source or Donor
Maybank, ThomasAcquisition Method
GiftCredit Line
Gift of Thomas MaybankLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
LetterNomenclature Primary Object Term
CorrespondenceNomenclature Sub-Class
Other DocumentsNomenclature Class
Documentary ObjectsNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsSearch Terms
Correspondence, Personal Papers, Rhett, Henrietta Aiken--Correspondence, Aiken-Rhett family, Aiken-Rhett family--CorrespondenceArchive Details
Archive Size/Extent
1 pageArchive Notes
Date(s) Created: June 28, 186-?
Date(s): 186-?
Level of Description: ItemLocation
Location
Room
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentDate
February 7, 2023Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Rhett, Henrietta AikenGeneral Notes
Note
Notes: Transcription by Elise Haremski, graduate student in the Clemson Historic Preservation program, Dec. 2010; revised by Karen Emmons, HCF Archivist.Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
August 4, 2009Updated By
sferguson@historiccharleston.orgUpdate Date
May 24, 2023