White Sulphur Springs: Letter from John McLaughlin, 1814

White Sulpher Springs (Alias) (Fountain of Health)
5th August 1814
Dear Madam
I am happy in having the oppertunity of writing by Gen.l Minor who promises to send you this Immediately on his arrival at [unclear] which I presume will be nearly as soon as you will get my letter of the 28th July from the hot springs from which place we started on sunday morning and arrived here the same evening – Cap.t Doswell Harriet & myself Jno. A Sukey are all of the company that started from Mr. Claybrook’s at this place Just now — We left Mr. Anderson at the Warm Springs. And I have heard from him this morning at the hot Springs, he is mending fast and [unclear] left us yesterday for the Sweet Springs where we intend to start for on Monday next Harriet I think is much mended and I am entirely Clear of the Cholic but in Cloudy weather feel the pains in my nees, and you will perhaps think when I tell you that there has been but two days without rain since we arrived at the Warm Springs that I am seldom without those pains but still we have had sunshine every day but two. Mr. Wm. Byars came here on Tuesday and brought Harriet a letter from L. T. Minor which was a Treat but would been much greater had it been from her mother who I hope will be favored with an opportunity of gratifying her & myself, which I flatter myself she will not overlook – there is about one hundred whites here for the benefit of the waters and more coming in every day – I hope you have had rain a plenty ere this. and will make use of the opportunity to fallow we have [had?] news of the militia marching from the [unclear] part of the County to Westmoreland also of the Hanr. militia orderd out to Richmd. If Mr. Johnson and Mr. Noel has been taken off I presume your Trouble has increased considerably but perseverance will surmount difficulties. We pass our time as agreeably as I expected. We have a cabbin and the Company consists of Capt. Doswell Majr Rob.t Crutchfield (Brother to Stapleon) and myself – Harriet is in a Cabbin with a Mr. Carter and his wife who are both very genteel people and Mrs. Carter is a Lady of uncommon Cleverness. Capt Doswell writes by Genl. Minor and you. will send his letter to his house by some speedy conveyance, and if you write direct your letters to Capt. Thompson, at the Hot Springs who will send them to your affectionate Hus[b]and
John McLaughlin
P. S. Harriet writes by the Genl.