LETTERS WRITTEN TO AND FROM SAMUEL AVERILL WHITTLESEY
Dolly Betsey Averill Whittlesey, writing to Sam Averill, her brother.
May 12th, 1863
Dear Brother and Family,
We have a letter ready to send to Samuel, and we don’t know whether to direct it to Washington or to East Berlin. James was sick with the mumps so he did not get his photograph taken till last week. I suppose it is nearly time for Samuel to return home. We have felt very anxious to hear since the late terrible battles. Brother E. of course was there. Was Samuel there? Every day seems so long because we want to hear, yet when the intelligence comes, it may fill our hearts
with sadness. We were very glad to get a letter from Samuel and to hear that he had so good a place in the army. We have not given up James yet though he has been very anxious to go. We feel sure that he would not be able to bear the hardships of a soldier’s life. He can work when he is well but cannot bear exposure without bringing on a cough. He is quite unwell now not able to work. His father hardly knows how to get along without him. ?? has to has to help plow in James place. It is pretty hard for the little fellow but he does very well. Amos is not as well, since his sickness, as usual. We have had someone sick in the family for more than three months. James & Corinne are both quite unwell now Thomas H. is here waiting for his father or Lizzie to come
and go with him to Conn. He thinks they will start next week. It is uncertain which will go. Brother Thomas sees so much that he can do for Julia that he does not know how to leave her. Besides he thinks he cannot be contented to stay in Conn. They hear often from George. He is with Gen. Grant. Thinks he has as good a place, as could be found in the army. Cousin Martin has moved back to his own house. I want to go and see them, don’t know how soon I can. Those of our family who were able to go, went to Ottawaon fast day. They hear several good addresses, one from Cousin M. and one from Mr. Barnes of Conn., who is chaplin of the 72nd Ill. Reg. He is Cousin Phoebe’s half brother. Amos spoke with him and with his wife. Last Sabbath our minister gave us a good sermon from the text to the intent that the living may know that the
Most High ruleth &etc. Dan. 4th 17th. He alluded to the providence of God in permitting such a man as Buchanan to be elected President at the very time he was. I should like to tell you more about his sermon, if I had time. Mr. Force is a first rate miinister but we are afraid he is becoming too much engaged in worldly affairs. We have an interesting S. School this season. We attend only one now, as that in S. Ottawa is held at 9 o’clock, and it makes too hard a Sabbath’s work for us to leave home so early in the morning and stay till night.
We were very happy to hear such good news from your society, and especially from your own family. Rebecca too writes good news, to the grandchildern are being gathered into the fold; thus proving that ours is a covenant keeping God. Surely our confidence in his promises must be strengthened.
I think Brother David you must be mistaken about its being so long since i had written to you. I can hardly believe that I left a letter of your unanswered. I was looking and looking for a letter, for more than a year. But we will not quarrel about it now.
Dear Brother and Family,
We have a letter ready to send to Samuel, and we don’t know whether to direct it to Washington or to East Berlin. James was sick with the mumps so he did not get his photograph taken till last week. I suppose it is nearly time for Samuel to return home. We have felt very anxious to hear since the late terrible battles. Brother E. of course was there. Was Samuel there? Every day seems so long because we want to hear, yet when the intelligence comes, it may fill our hearts
with sadness. We were very glad to get a letter from Samuel and to hear that he had so good a place in the army. We have not given up James yet though he has been very anxious to go. We feel sure that he would not be able to bear the hardships of a soldier’s life. He can work when he is well but cannot bear exposure without bringing on a cough. He is quite unwell now not able to work. His father hardly knows how to get along without him. ?? has to has to help plow in James place. It is pretty hard for the little fellow but he does very well. Amos is not as well, since his sickness, as usual. We have had someone sick in the family for more than three months. James & Corinne are both quite unwell now Thomas H. is here waiting for his father or Lizzie to come
and go with him to Conn. He thinks they will start next week. It is uncertain which will go. Brother Thomas sees so much that he can do for Julia that he does not know how to leave her. Besides he thinks he cannot be contented to stay in Conn. They hear often from George. He is with Gen. Grant. Thinks he has as good a place, as could be found in the army. Cousin Martin has moved back to his own house. I want to go and see them, don’t know how soon I can. Those of our family who were able to go, went to Ottawaon fast day. They hear several good addresses, one from Cousin M. and one from Mr. Barnes of Conn., who is chaplin of the 72nd Ill. Reg. He is Cousin Phoebe’s half brother. Amos spoke with him and with his wife. Last Sabbath our minister gave us a good sermon from the text to the intent that the living may know that the
Most High ruleth &etc. Dan. 4th 17th. He alluded to the providence of God in permitting such a man as Buchanan to be elected President at the very time he was. I should like to tell you more about his sermon, if I had time. Mr. Force is a first rate miinister but we are afraid he is becoming too much engaged in worldly affairs. We have an interesting S. School this season. We attend only one now, as that in S. Ottawa is held at 9 o’clock, and it makes too hard a Sabbath’s work for us to leave home so early in the morning and stay till night.
We were very happy to hear such good news from your society, and especially from your own family. Rebecca too writes good news, to the grandchildern are being gathered into the fold; thus proving that ours is a covenant keeping God. Surely our confidence in his promises must be strengthened.
I think Brother David you must be mistaken about its being so long since i had written to you. I can hardly believe that I left a letter of your unanswered. I was looking and looking for a letter, for more than a year. But we will not quarrel about it now.