Accession Number: XX84:63:13
U.S.S. Mohawk
Fernandina Fla
Nov 25 1862
My Dear Parents & Sisters
Sunday seems to be our news day, for last Sunday about noon the "Water Witch" came in bringing only one letter from you; that was written by Clara, while she and Libby were at Syracuse, of course I was glad to get one letter, but more would have been very acceptable. I was intruding to go to church that morning, as I understood there was to be service for the white people, and a sermon by Rev Mr Kennedy who came here three weeks ago with Mr French, but my desire for early news overcame my devotional spirit, and so I remained on board. Fernandina still continues as charming as ever, and today there has been a very important accession to society here by the animals of two or three Ladies, wives of some of the officers here. I have not seen them, except through a glass, and that is not favorable to a close study of the countenance. By it however, I judge that they are not very handsome, but beauty does not make a man, although it has a good deal to do with woman. Tomorrow Evening there is to be a "social gathering" although some people are so vulgar as to call it a "dance" down at old Fernandina, and a party of us intend going down, to join in the festivities. It's a pity if we can't do something towards having a Thanksgiving, and this being on Thanksgiving Eve, will be part, and the rest we will have to imagine. Those who on that day are blessed with fertile imagination, are to be envied- I have just sent our Steward ashore to see if he can buy, steal, beg or in any way get a couple of chickens for the day. Turkeys are out of season here- If you could send me some of your fine cranberry sauce in time to go with them, I should be obliged. I should not be surprised if we remained here all winter, and yet any day we may be relieved, and ordered elsewhere. The place grows pleasanter & ditto every day, and we can get every thing here, that is to be got on the Southern coast. I wish Clara you especially were here to spend the winter. If you would come, I would promise you a home, servants & every thing as nice as circumstances would allow. I notice in my papers that the first of this month was decidedly wintry with you, snow & cold weather. Here it is perfectly charming. We have had a few cold nights & cool days, but most of the time it is warm and pleasant; beautiful moonlight nights just now too. You would enjoy this weather I know, and I can only wish that you were here to enjoy it. We don’t have any fires upon ship, and I often go ashore Evenings just to get before some cheerful open wood fire, which the officers have in their quarters. Capts Baker & Granger, have just changed their quarters to a very pleasant home, which was entirely unoccupied, have got a fine colored woman to cook, and every thing is as pleasant as could be desired. I went up the other Evening & took tea with them. A little round table covered with a clean white cloth, a cheerful wood fire, and every thing showing a womans presence, made it look home like, I assure you. There the biscuit were of Mothers run make. The applesauce & stewed oysters, also tasted as though they had seen Troy. There is a kind of taste to things that women cook those of mens cookery don’t possess. Although we have a good steward & cook, yet things of their manufacture don’t taste homelike. You see I never write a letter but it ends or closes with eating. Well we live to eat. The only way a great many people have to shew their love for others, is to make something which will tickle the palate, and it’s the only sure way to a great many peoples hearts, of course to you, there is no need of my saying that I am not one of the latter class.
I am exceedingly glad to hear of the improved health of Marcia and that little Charley is so much better. I am in hopes to hear from her soon. How is Henry Shankland. I presume you saw him when in Syracuse, although you said nothing about it; or has he gone to war? I fully agree with you Clara in your desire to live in the City. The Country is a very fine place in which to raise corn & potatoes, and for other purposes, but not to live in. Give me the City. I hope then after the winter has gone you will go back to your old anchorage and moor there, so that I can range up alongside of you. That's nautical. I see in the Troy papers another decision of Judge Barnards in relation to the Manhall Will Case. I notice that he orders a sale of the Looms to pay curtain debt. How will that will affect you Father? Off here so far, I cannot form any idea how it will affect matters. I hope you will do whats best. Would it be policy under any circumstances to buy them? They cant be sold for a great deal to any outside party, and if we could get a lease for a long time of the Mill upon favorable terms, it might do for us to buy them. If they should go out of the Mill, it seems to me, that the Mill would be nothing but an in cumbrance to the Estate. Things may look different to you who are on the spot. I suppose Father you have been to Troy since your return. I see goods are very high 20 to 22 cts I judge. What a pity ours were not kept on hand till this time. Do you really intend buying wheat this winter. If you do, don’t get stuck, and I hope you will make a good thing out of it. Mother, Mary in a letter I just received from her, speaks as though I had not received letters you had written. I have not heard from you directly since you left Syracuse for the West, except the letter you wrote from Catherines. I am very sorry if I have not received any others that you wrote. Don’t let the girls do all the writing, but put in at least a few lines yourself.
I am very sorry to hear the result of the Election in N.Y. I was in great hopes to hear that Wadsworth was not elected Gov. He lost two good votes by the absence from Troy of Father and myself. The old Third Ward didn’t cast her usual large vote. The fire threw into other wards & towns a great many people. I hear from Andrew that building is going on rapidly, and that Troy is bound to be a place again as of old. Mr Bendett is building a nice house on his old lot &c. Does Father regret having sold his lot. How much you all enjoy to get again in a home of your own. I want you to be nicely settled by the time I get back, which I think very probably will be about May next. I must confess that I should prefer staying here till warm weather comes again- I would like to experience one winter in the South. I am greatly in hopes that this winter will find us in possession of Charleston and Savannah. When our Iron Clads get out, they will make short work of it I think. The most they will have to contend against, is the rough weather coming down at this season of the year. Its apt to be very stormy off Hatteras, and they are not the best sea boats in the world.
Libby have you got a good girl? I am rejoiced to hear that Florence is still good natured and "sweet". It seems strange to me to hear that she commences to walk a little. Don’t let her walk too much when too young, for "bow legged" isn’t apt to improve the personal appearance of people. It doesn’t make such a difference with girls as it does with boys however.
I presume that Clara refers to a Major Russell instead of Major Rogers, to whom Anna Wilkinson was engaged. I met him in Washington while there last winter, on that trip down the River. He was very lively and agreeable, and I liked his appearance much. I was very much surprised to hear, through the papers, of his suicide. I will see Col Rich as to the possibility of sending a letter through the lines to Mrs Mumford. We'll try and see him before I send this letter. If it can be done, I will take pleasure in doing so. I presume it will have to be sent open. That's not very agreeable, but better that nothing- I sent you a picture in a letter Sunday last, I hope you will get it. I did not direct it to the Lincklam House, as I supposed it was not necessary. If you don’t get it, you better enquire at the P.O. for any letters for "Geo Andrews".
Is the school prosperous this term. I am inclined to think that they will feel the effects of the War, but I hope not seriously. Does Edward have any definite plan or idea of leaving the school, and entering the itinerant rank. If he could go to New York I should not object. When in New York I met a couple of young ladies, whose Father was a wealthy member of St Pauls. Their name is Quinian. Several times I called upon them. If E should go there, it would be mighty fine, as mother says "Merit will find its level" but I think merit will sometimes bar a little crowding.
I see that "Whiskey" is 37d. The Distillery of Libbys must be doing a fine business. Isn't it so? How is Frank and his family.
28th. This is the day after Thanksgiving, and of course you must excuse all irregulations in composition and writing for it don’t come but once a year you know. Wednesday afternoon all the Ward Room officers received an Invitation to dine with Catps Granger & Baker, which we of course accepted. About 6 P.M. Dr Woods & myself recd an Invitation to dine with the Col. We hardly knew what to do, but at last decided that one of us should go to the Col's, we drew lots who should go, and it fell on Dr Woods. I sent my regrets, &c, &c. In the morning we organized a base ball club, and had a good game for about three hours, and the effect upon me is, that I can hardly get up or down stairs, legs are decidedly stiff, arms and hands ditto. That’s what I mean by my first sentence. We had a fine dinner, consisting of Mock Turtle soup, Roast Beef & Chickens, scalloped oysters, Tongue, Potatoes, Corn, Peas, Tomattoes, Jelly &c, Lemon and apple pie, Blancmange, Brandy peaches. That’s about enough, after Dinner Capt Baker & myself took a ride down to the Fort, all in all I had a remarkably pleasant day for this latitude. Although not like the Cold samp & Milk which we poor mortals eat while Mother was at the mission giving good things to the poor children, yet it was good. The day only needed the presence of you all, to make it delightful. The sun shone brightly & warm, and every thing wore a rosy hue. We all remarked that it needed a Cold Air, with snow & Ice sufficient for us to ride and skate upon to make it homelike. How did you spend the day? Pleasantly I’ve no doubt. I believe in having a good time Thanksgiving day. We intend to celebrate Christmas and New Years in like manner if we are here.
30th. This morning the steamer "Ben Deford" came [illegible] here this morning bringing Brig Gen Terry and some papers of the 20th and I hasten to close this letter so as to send it by the mail which goes back in The Deford.
I can send a letter for Mary Palmer across our lines by a flag of truce. If you will write to her to send it to me unsealed, I shall take pleasure in doing what I am able to forward it by the first flag of truce.
But I must close this long letter. Write often. Give my love to all my friends.
Your Aff Son & Brother
George