Wayne County, NC - Letters

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Nancy Smith

                                  On board Steam boat E. D. McNair
                                  Waynesboro 23rd Feby 1839
My Dear Brother
                 Before leaving this place I drop you a few lines to let you
know that my health is resolved and that I have solved the problem of 
succesful steam boat navigation on Neuse River. The River is in its certain
low marshes & logs & we found some diffuculty with the logs sand bars &
bridges but we overcame all them & made the trip from Newbern to this place
in about 40 hours runing - I've been unable to go under the said Cox bridge 
& have to take it down the rachd this place at a propitious time for 
yestirday they celebrated the arrival of the Railroad cars & I have no doubt 
that it was one of the grandest celebrations that was ever witnessed in N.C. 

Our arrival was greeted with the greatest enthusiam and is predeced the 
general wonder of the time. I suspicion that there must have been in excess
than 2500 visitors on the boat in the corner of Waynesborough.

That this boat will succeed on this river I have no doubt and I am suspicious
in the hope that at ordinary stages of the river she will make the trip from
Newbern to Waynesboro & back in a week & that 3 trips will pay for the boat.
We will start the boat this morning for Rockford when I request to have her
machinery overhaulded and every thing ready by the time it rains & raises
the River.

On my way up I stopped 2 days at home & left my family tollerable will I 
think that my wifes health improves. Our friends below are as will as usual.
Our Brother has not returned from florida we have that he has been 
grave sick know doubt his health were improving at the last date. We hear 
through him that sister Winnifred has another son. It has been some time 
since I recd a letter from you & I hope to find one when I reach home. There 
is so much confusion here this morning that I must conclude this with a 
promise to write you again soon. You will get a more minute account of the 
celebration from the news papers than I can give. Give my love to your 
family and believe me more ever your affectionate Brother James B Whitfield

Rich(?) N Whitfield                               

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