CASSIUS M. CLAY, "LION" - The Filson Historical Society

136 The Filson Club History Quarterly [Vol. 31
I thought you would be pleased to hear it therefore write you--the
postscript is dated 23rd March.
Yrs. Truly,
Ben Warfield
B. J. Clay, Esq.
Bourbon Cry.
April 25th 1847. The Farm
Dear Brutus,
I rec'd a letter from Mr. Clay near a month ago giving me a minute
account of his captureY He was well & treated as well as could expected
to be. I am looking anxiously for another letter hoping he will
tell me he will be with us as soon as possible after the 6th of June. I
saw that foolish letter of H. Marshall, in the Louisville Journal, saying
the prisoners "can get home in a few days after you receive this letter."
Of course it inspired a hope, although I tried to convince myself the
man was not thinking about what he was writing....
Wilkerson has bought a few more cattle since you were here. He
will have planted his corn by next Thursday, 140 acres. I have not
yet rec'd the money for the carriage but it is now promised in May.
Tell Ann she must come by to see me when she comes over to Richmond
either coming or going. I expect to go up [to Richmond] in
a few days & will see Martha
Adieu
Yrs affectionately
M. J. Clay
I saw Vallandingham & Kimball about their leases. Vallandingham
was willing to say that he would shuck the corn to be put in the crib,
but was not willing to shock it so as to secure it from rotting as he
does not understand shocking. He also insists upon raising hogs for
his own meat. Kimball says he had the land he rents two years free
of rent for clearing the timber. So I did not close either of the leases
until I could hear from you.
The Farm, May 3d. 1847
Dear Brutus,
An hour-or two since I received a letter from Mr. Clay & your letter
too. He says he is coming home that "the probabilities are that no
letter from you will reach me before my final return." But Brutus my
great joy is damped by the date of his letter 28th of March, St. Jago,
Mexico, and he also writes, "The revolution continued here till the
arrival of Santa Anna who had the address to reconcile both parties.