New Orleans, La.

November 1st 1853

My dear Sister,

Your letter of the 13th [returned?] enclosing Will & Be[cky]’s letter from their distant home in the Pacific, has been rec’d & I read with feelings of brotherly love warming towards them, their deep expressions of sympathy with us in the loss of our dear Father. I return you the letter. It is well worthy of their warm hearts & I trust we may all be influenced by the same filial love which we know has every been a striking trait in the character of both Will & Be. & I look forward to the pleasure of meeting them & you all, once more under the family roof, as the greatest time has in store for me.

I have been quite well ever since my attack of Fever. The City has become quite healthy, even more so than places in the vicinity. There are now no fever cases reported except a few in the Charity Hospital, & it is perfectly safe for strangers to visit the City.

The Gen’l & his family came from over the Lake about the 20th of last month & he has since been ordered temporarily to Arkansas. Col. Freeman at the last accounts was awaiting at San Antonio the disappearance of the Fever from the coast of Texas. He was well, when I heard of him last.

You have doubtless heard more fully of the particulars of Capt. Alden’s wound. I have heard nothing more than what has been in the papers.

Mrs. Ashbridge has been spending the summer in the vicinity of Natchez & is coming down the River __ soon. She was taken with the fever after she arrived in the City; also her little daughter who was _____ was taken with fever & died. Mr. A. is [here?] convalescent.

With much love to all at home, believe me.

Yours truly & affectionately

John F. Reynolds

Miss Ellie Reynolds,

Lancaster, Pa.