Richmond Libby Prison 6 August [1863] My dearest Mary, I am still here with but a little hope of getting out until the difficulties existing between the two authorities unsettled. I am badly in want of underclothing as it is 56 days I am using the same shit washing it now and then and remaining without sheets until mine is dry our confinement here becomes […] although[ough] I am by no means impatient. You must think plenty of […] at your meals and the milk will return and in a abandonee. I advise you not to feed the baby with the New York milk at it is adult […] and it will kill the baby soon or late, you have better to take a vet nurse with you. Other colonels have been appointed brigadier generals and I have lost mine. I am here shut up with 300 other [...] all opportunity to become brigadier. Col. Duffié whose regiment was taken […] all prisoners except some 35 and himself was made brigadier! He was major in the Harris Light Cavalry when I was already Colonel of the 4th. You know who is the Waiter[?] of the Richmond […]? John Mitehell your acquaintance. It is said that his paper is governmental organ here and he has a great deal of influence. I would have written him about your bother, but the paper is too […] so I did not do it. The weather here is very hot and suffocating, yet my health is pretty good comparatively. Write to Dr. Verdi that I give him “Carte blanche” about the selling of my horses except Prince. You speak about using influence to get me exchanged. There are many Colonels and two Generals and if they cannot get exchanged, how can I? Your letters of course are sent before delivery, but they will all faithfully be given to me if writing about politics is in them. I really do not know why our Government agreed to exchange enlisted men but refuses to exchange officers of both armies are suffering very badly on their confinement with this weather and many will lose their life by fever or other illness because the two Commissioners cannot agree in their meetings. This is cruelly ridiculous! Oh, how I long to get a good bath and a good dinner. Will you send me the name the […] officer of my Regiment? You must try to get a good boarding place in the Country and go there at once as soon as you receive the money from […] in the meantime will sell some of my horses and you will have more and when I come out from here, I will get my pay of July which is due to me. Good bye I am not allowed to write now. Your Luigi Il s’agit ici d’Emanuele P. P. M. L. Palma di Cesnola. Il était pris prisonnier par les Confédérés après la bataille d’Aldie (juin 1863) et y restait jusqu’à printemps 1864. Pendant ce temps, Duffié était nommé brigadier général le 23 juin 1863 après son engagement dans la bataille de Middleburg qui était une bataille simultanée à la bataille d’Aldie. Il a perdu deuxtiers de ses hommes et les Unionistes avaient perdu, mais cela n’a pas empêché sa promotion. On sait de Farid Ameur que le général Pleasonton avait placé Duffié derrières les lignes confédérées pour qu’il y trouve la mort. Il était effectivement attaqué par le major général confédéré Jeb Stuart, mais s’en sortait même si Chambliss avait coupé son issue de secours.
