Saturday. March 14th 1863.
My dear Aunty,
Your hoped for letter
was very welcome. I received it Wednsday
evening, together with a nice, natural
one from Mary Titus . I am always
so glad to receive letters that two at
a time are quite a windfall. —
Tuesday morning. — Having begun this
letter Saturday I had to go up
stairs, and being busied there, I laid
it aside. Sunday after church I felt
very weak and tired (because, I suppose,
it was the third day since I was
vaccinated) and yesterday I was
hurried all day.
Mother has written you all that
has been going on. I know you
must have been much surprised
to hear of the death of sweet Susan

Ward. Except for the letter the day
before, saying that she was very ill,
we it was entirely unexpected by us,
and very sad news. It seemed, &
indeed was, a very short time since
she visited us, and went away with
her father, promising to write often,
and in the expectation of often seeing
us again.
I have been out very little, except to drive
or on business. Friday Dr Verdi
vaccinated the baby, Mary Shiel
and myself. Mother has probably
told you of Dr Verdi's being called
to dress Father's hand — as I know
she wrote you all about that, lest
you should be alarmed by reports.
Father is now able to use his hand
a good deal, though it is still
bandaged — it is doing very well.
The vaccination is "taking" in
all three of the cases.

Friday evening a number of persons
were here. Some had heard alarming
rumors of Father's accident. Preston
King , Major Austin, Judge Goodrich &
Gov. Ramsay, the new Minnesota senator,
Mr Risley, and General Ord. ^called.^ The
latter is Sam Seward's general, to
whom he is strongly attached. He
is one of those men whose [ through ] ,
energetic way of speaking seems to
mark a fit man for a soldier. I
like him very much.
Saturday, Anna, Jenny and my-
self, accompanied by Judge
Goodrich, attended Mrs Lincoln's
reception. Mr Lincoln does not
appear at these now. Sunday
we had the strangest combination —
a severe thunder-storm with a
snow-storm. We have a delight-
ful prospect of seeing Will every
day at present; as he has to come

in to attend a Court Martial, in the
city. He was here yesterday — looking
very well.
Last week I received a letter from
Amanda Schooley, who has reached
her new home in California
safely — and thinks she shall like it.
Her mention of those California names,
and the "Ranches," recalled "John
Brent," and made her travels almost
visible. By the way, the Capt. Parker,
who told us of Winthrop, is an officer
on Gen. Martindale's staff. The papers
announced a short time ago that he
was to be Judge Advocate of all im-
portant Court Martial here — and
spoke of him as a member of the Boston
Bar, a lawyer of high standing.
A later paper said that he was
seriously ill of fever.
Today I have to visit with Anna, the
Dixons, whose reception day it is. Then
I must go to Mrs Ropes, who is making
me some spring and summer dresses,
which the present weather seems
to indicate I am not likely to want
for some time. Mother says she
has written you about sending
a barrel ^box^ of clothing for the

contrabands, to be forwarded at
her expense. Will you put on the
top my dark green calico dress, and
drab moreen f petticoat, (it has
a flounce on the bottom.) I think
Eliza can find both — they are
probably either in the clothes-press
or my wardrobe — I had the I dress
about when I was packing, trying
to make room to bring it. Should
you have an opportunity to send
them by somebody coming down
it would be well. I shall need
them when the weather grows
warmer.
This evening we have another dinner.
Among other guests the Haytien
Chargé is to be here. I have
not met him yet, but hear him
highly spoken of — I enclose his
card for your benefit. A pretty name,

is it not?
Nelly is growing so remarkable that
we do not know what to do with
such a prodigy. She and Augustus
are on very intimate terms.
Please write me another letter soon,
and believe me
Your loving niece
Fanny.
P.S. I'm going to dinner with Mr
Sumner.