Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, August, 1861
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, August, 1861
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:mmd
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1861-08
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, August, 1861
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Washington D.C., US
receiver: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
location: UnknownUnknown
transcription: mmd
revision: ekk 2015-07-01
<>
Page
1
Sunday morning
My dear Sister
It grieves me that you
got none of our letters. I have
written every day until yesterday
(when I was too sick) - Wills
of Tuesday or Wednesday says you had
not then heard from us. I have but
one letter from you though I know
you must have written. Mental
disturbance brought with it as it
always does for me, bodily illness.
I am better today – and will be
able to take breakfast with the family.
We go to bed every night expecting
a battle across the river before
morning – but thinking of the prob-
able fate of Augustus
banished apprehension ^here^ . There is
much less confidence about results
than there was previous to the battle
of Bull Run – perhaps this is
just as well. Jenny
[top Margin] see that I have much left but to hope that God
who has protected him for 18 years will shield
him now. Love to Clara
Sister –
Page
2
Fanny
Ella Marrin
She will not return with us. We
shall leave here Thursday or Friday
if Will comes. If he does not
I presume Henry
other escort, so that I think we
shall certainly be home Saturday.
I am not now afraid to undertake
the journey in 2 days, as I am
better when traveling than with
any other exertion. I wish I might
tell you much that is interesting
but must not write. Mrs
Smith
try to see here next ^this^ week – es-
pecially as I went to see her husband
Mrs Bates
not see her, as she is an old lady
her visit was supposed to be intended
for me. Sanford
come almost every day. Wilkeson
having been denied twice does not
come again.
Page
3
I have seen no one else. I hope Mrs
Schoolcraft
sympathies are of course on the
secession side. She has two brothers
in South Carolina. Mrs Schoolcrafts
son
is here – was in the battle of Bull Run.
Captain Benton
to be too ill to see Andy when he called.
Mrs. Peale
day when we had gone to drive – but
I missed seeing her. This Sunday
morning is more quiet than other days.
The drums beat early in the morning
and wagons were rumbling along all
night – all is still now – the bells
ringing for church. Henry is much pleased
to hear that a new regiment is forming in
Cayuga – all the soldiers that can be
had are needed. The improbability of
getting arms and supplies alone prevented
the acceptance of those offered early in
the war. The appropriation made
Page
4
by Congress was deferred until the later
in the session and an approval of the
Presidents course was not adopted
until the last days. It is very
easy to stay at home and rail at the
action or want of action in the government
while the impetus to put the wheels
in motion is not thought of, or
withheld. The people of this world
are very unjust and uncharitable
towards each other. When the
springs of the action of each individual
can be seen I presume all will be
more leniently judged. Afternoon –
I have your letter of Wednesday – still you hear
nothing from us. I cannot understand why.
Fearing Will may not get my letter in time
Fred
this morning into Maryland on a secret
expedition. I know it is not safe for him to
travel in this way – but he says he can in no
other manner to do much service to his country.
I hope he may come home safe. Captain
Palmer
they say many encouraging things about Augustus
& yet when I reflect upon these I do not
Sunday morning
My dear Sister
It grieves me that you
got none of our letters. I have
written every day until yesterday
(when I was too sick) - Wills
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
letterof Tuesday or Wednesday says you had
not then heard from us. I have but
one letter from you though I know
you must have written. Mental
disturbance brought with it as it
always does for me, bodily illness.
I am better today – and will be
able to take breakfast with the family.
We go to bed every night expecting
a battle across the river before
morning – but thinking of the prob-
able fate of Augustus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
for a timebanished apprehension ^here^ . There is
much less confidence about results
than there was previous to the battle
of Bull Run – perhaps this is
just as well. Jenny
Birth: 1839-11-18 Death: 1913-11-09
and [top Margin] see that I have much left but to hope that God
who has protected him for 18 years will shield
him now. Love to Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
– your ownSister –
Fanny
Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29
went yesterday to seeElla Marrin
Unknown
at Mrs. HotchinsUnknown
She will not return with us. We
shall leave here Thursday or Friday
if Will comes. If he does not
I presume Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
will suggest some other escort, so that I think we
shall certainly be home Saturday.
I am not now afraid to undertake
the journey in 2 days, as I am
better when traveling than with
any other exertion. I wish I might
tell you much that is interesting
but must not write. Mrs
Smith
Unknown
is home again. I must try to see here next ^this^ week – es-
pecially as I went to see her husband
Unknown
. Mrs Bates
Unknown
called last week. I didnot see her, as she is an old lady
her visit was supposed to be intended
for me. Sanford
Birth: 1823-06-15 Death: 1891-05-21
and Tom MillerUnknown
come almost every day. Wilkeson
Unknown
having been denied twice does not
come again.
I have seen no one else. I hope Mrs
Schoolcraft
Birth: 1815 Death: 1878-03-12Certainty: Probable
will not come – hersympathies are of course on the
secession side. She has two brothers
in South Carolina. Mrs Schoolcrafts
son
Unknown
is in the U.S. Army. Andy Webb
Birth: 1835-02-15 Death: 1911-02-12
is here – was in the battle of Bull Run.
Captain Benton
Birth: 1820-09-15 Death: 1881-08-23Certainty: Probable
is also here. I was sorryto be too ill to see Andy when he called.
Mrs. Peale
Birth: 1814-03-08 Death: 1889-02-03
waited an hour to see us oneday when we had gone to drive – but
I missed seeing her. This Sunday
morning is more quiet than other days.
The drums beat early in the morning
and wagons were rumbling along all
night – all is still now – the bells
ringing for church. Henry is much pleased
to hear that a new regiment is forming in
Cayuga – all the soldiers that can be
had are needed. The improbability of
getting arms and supplies alone prevented
the acceptance of those offered early in
the war. The appropriation made
by Congress was deferred until the later
in the session and an approval of the
Presidents course was not adopted
until the last days. It is very
easy to stay at home and rail at the
action or want of action in the government
while the impetus to put the wheels
in motion is not thought of, or
withheld. The people of this world
are very unjust and uncharitable
towards each other. When the
springs of the action of each individual
can be seen I presume all will be
more leniently judged. Afternoon –
I have your letter of Wednesday – still you hear
nothing from us. I cannot understand why.
Fearing Will may not get my letter in time
Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
will telegraph tomorrow. Henry wentthis morning into Maryland on a secret
expedition. I know it is not safe for him to
travel in this way – but he says he can in no
other manner to do much service to his country.
I hope he may come home safe. Captain
Palmer
Birth: 1809-04-15 Death: 1862-06-18
and Mrs WilkesonUnknown
have both been herethey say many encouraging things about Augustus
& yet when I reflect upon these I do not