Florida April 20^th 1861
My Dear Sister Frances,
I have no doubt that you
receive many letters of sympathy, from Friends
much better qualified to express it than I, and
while I do not wish to compare myself with
others I may say that they are not more sin-
cere, Often while reading the exciting almost
bewildering news of the last fortnight, my
mind has ed on you in your quiet house
far from the strife yet invaded by the anxiety
and doubt,
Our national affairs are assuming a gigantic
horrid aspect, Fort Sumter is evacuated, but
the Stars & Stripes is dearer than ever, Major
Anderson was conquered not by the Confederacy
but by the treason of the late administration.
Virginia, meanly treacherous, has seceded and
now invites the battle on her own soil, how
deeply she is to suffer, not even her own Citizens
will even tell, how deeply she is to be humilated
they may feel but never express.

I think it must be very gratifying and encouraging
to the administration to see the unanimity and
alacrity with which the people of the Free States
come to the defence and support of the Government,
Much censure has been cast on the Cabinet
but so far as I can learn it is now confined to
a thick skulled and malicious Democrats or
rather Secessionist, Was not the destruction of the
Arms and Arsenal at Harpers Ferry a happy
event, 2500 men defeated in their purpose by 43 men
Virginia must believe that the Union has yet some
reliable friends and there the Secession mob has
been taught a lesson by the Massachusetts vol-
unteers, If they attack the Rhode Island Regiment
and the Seventh Regiment from New York City
which go on to day it is imagined that they
will realize that there are such institutions as
Grape shot and Revolvers, If Maryland will not
take care of her mobs and Secessary traitors, the
Freemen of the north will, and the effect of all
this is not at all encouraging to Jefferson Davis &
his creed, and it will serve to hasten more aid
and with greater determination from the north,
The sentiments seems to be that this war is
forced upon us in defense of the government and
if it must come drive it through, If Mr Jefferson
Davis lives to hold his first reception in Washington
Supose h he will be a second Methusalah

How little do we know what a day may bring forth,
less to ten o'clk last evening I was cheered with the
favorable prospect of affairs, but the evening papers
brought us the intelligence that the passage of the
troops of was intercepted by the breaking down and
burning of the bridges on the great rail road routes
to Washington and the prospect of whatever troops
should go on would be by clearing their own way
and that services and wide spread apprehension
of an immediate attack would be made on the
Capitol, Certainly from the representations made in the
papers of last evening there exist great cause of a
speedy and may be successful attack on Washington
and yet while we see affairs in this fearful aspect
it may well be supposed that the Friends of the Union
at Washington also do leave rcourse there and are not
only alert but vigorous in meeting any attack
which may be made and that there is such a
preparation made to receive the traitors at the
Capitol as will secure it and teach them the folly
of receiving it, I cannot but &c leave my fears but my
confidence in the ability and patriotism is unwavering
and yet I am chaffing with the fact that I am
here at home doing nothing, It is a duty and as long
it will be considered a great privilege to ^ go ^ support and
defend my country, Physically I would make but
a poor soldier, I have had the vanity to suppose that
I might do in some way do something and I have

even suppose that I might make myself useful
to Henry, I told Mr Grier that I wanted to go and
would go if I could and asked him if he thought
that I could be of any service to Henry, he replied
that I could not and otherwise discouraged
my going, indeed I have felt a steady wish to go
and even now if I knew that I could be of
service (For I would not wish to be there a bur-
then) I would contrive some method by which
to go, I know that dangers innured Henry and
the Capitol, and it seems a duty, aye a privi-
lege to go, I have thought that just one mo-
ment of Satisfaction that it might give him
to Know that he had a Brother who felt it anddared the danger would be all I would ask
But one thing we know and to you it is an un-
vailing ground of trust that the Husband and
Sons is in the Keeping of Him who can protect
and defend and reward.
They are g getting up a company in Goshen to go
on, Mr Haight gives $10,000 to them if they num-
ber 100 men, Mr Grier has denied me the money
on two or three different occasions but I will yet
try to get it and go, in some way and for
some (I ask only) good purpose.
The intelligence yesterday, (Monday morn) was
more encouraging, we may hear of something this
morning, But my sheet is full and it is time for
the mail to close, Give our love to all friends
Affectionately your Brother
Geo W. Seward

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Frances Seward

Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21

George Seward
April 1861