Gustavus V. Fox to Virginia Woodbury Fox, February 6, 1861

Washington, D. C. 6th Feb. 61

D^r V.

I arrived safely last night and had an interview with the Genl who treated me very kindly and spoke of all your Pa's family with great affection. To-day I was to meet the Sec'y at 11 am, but he wrote a note deferring it until 1 P.M. the hour of closing the mail so I write to my little Y.f. Blair says Anderson's fame will be nothing to mine if I succeed.

All are well here and happy. Min knows nothing of my object but thinks it connected with my steam boating. If your ma don't want me shot she must keep mum. There are spies everywhere and upon every body.

The show baby is really good deal of an institution and looks very much like Woody. Nell and Miss Betty went to a Republican party at Speaker Penningtons. N. dressed in red, looked bravely. Mrs. B. looks better than I ever saw her. Chas is here saving the Union.

I shall leave to-morrow night and reach N. Y. next morning unless I write you to the contrary.

Love to all.

Aff.

Gus

SOURCE: Robert Means Thompson & Richard Wainwright, Editors, Publications of the Naval Historical Society, Volume 9: Confidential Correspondence of Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1861-1865, Volume 1, p. 5-6