Col Samuel C Gleaves or any friend
Emory & Henry College
Va
Eden Ridge Sept 6th 1841
Dear Friend
Your letter of 1st of Sept came duly to hand. Your excuse for not attending to my request was a good one but I have again sent for the remainder of my things I have sent my trunk in order to put my books and other things that was not sent in. I believe I wrote to you to leave some of my bed clothes in my first letter but as I suppose there will be room in my trunk for them you can send them also, I will give you a list of the clothes that was sent. I received all my pants I believe 2 coats 1 shirt 2 vests (2 sheets and their is two more behind) 2 pair of drawers. (1 pillow slip and there is one more remaining) my name is on my sheets and on my pillow slip. I have two collars new ones dimly marked, I suppose you have my letter and the list of books that I gave and a list of other things. You can compair it to the list of things that I have received be sure and put all my books in and my over coat my books you know are in John A. Kelly's trunk, I suppose I have written all that was necessary on that subject. I suppose Cousin Thomson is inclined to do what is not write Samuel do you not think it is rather dogish I was to have his horse four weeks but instead of that I only had him about five days having used him abut 2 1/2 days comeing down and sending him back. the rest of the time he did nothing, the reason why I send him back as soon as I did was because he told me he wanted to go to Russel Cty and he would have to hire a horse and if it was not for that he said that is (Mr Thomson) he would not
charge me anything but it seems that I sent his old hag back rather too soon I wish to act honestly as near as I can according to my judgement. I can not tell you what I will do concerning Mr Thomson but you migh grasp, Sam I hav not time to write any more as there is just in the other room five or six as pretty girls as Tennessee can afford do not consider this as a letter giv my love to all my fellow students and tell about a cart load of them to write to me I am your most respectfully
James S. Gaines
Maj. Samuel C. Gleaves
Emory & Henry College
PS you can see from the way I have writh this that I am in a hurry
JSGaines
See letter 243, dated 1841-08-19 where James Gaines writes to Samuel to request that he pack up his clothes and books for him.