Accession Number: XX84:63:15
U.S.S. "Mohawk"
Fernandina Fla
Feb 14 1863
My Dear Sister,
I received yesterday per Steamer “Flambeau” your letter of Jan 20th together with others from Hatter Sears, Hatter Ware, a beautiful young Lady from Providence, Rev Mr Potter, & four or five from the Navy Department, besides a dozen papers from Andrew. I also was glad that you enclosed the letter from Mary. She appears to be in much better spirits than when she last wrote, but she speaks the truth about Father and his wheat speculation, when she says that he was not born to be a speculator. I don’t believe he will make a cent out of it, but I hope so. I am very sorry to see that you speak so unsettledly about your future movements. I hope that you will go back to Troy in the spring. I am selfish in regard to the matter I know for I should not probably have over two or four weeks leave of absence. I want to spend three all in Troy, so that I could kill two birds with one stone, another I could run up from New York every Saturday. I hope you have not discontinued writing to me for I expect to get a good many more mails before being relieved from this place. Father will be with you before I shall. Since writing last to you nothing exciting or strange has happened to this ship or cargo. We lay quietly at anchor, passing the time as best we may. Last Wednesday we went down to the Fort with a party of Ladies on board, amongst whom were Mrs Hawley & Sister, the "school [illegible]" & Mrs Lauder, widow of Genl Lauder, & late Miss Jane Davenport, an actress of great merit. She is exceedingly pleasant & social, and we all enjoyed the trip much. The day was warm so that we sat under awnings to protect us from the heat of the sun. Mrs Lauder is in the Department as a general superintendent of the nurses in Hospitals, and was here for the purpose of seeing the Hospital of this post. I wish I could tell you some thing of the doings in this Department, but I do not know any thing, but that large and extensive preparations are being made at Hilton Head for attacks upon Charleston & Savannah, and that they are to be made soon. In all probability before this reaches you, they will have been commenced. There is force of 50,000 or 75,000 men at the Head, and five Monitors besides the New Ironsides. How I wish I could be there and witness the fight. Wouldn’t it be glorious. I wrote you last that I had received my box all right. The slippers are beautiful, and highly prized, and all the eatables were in perfect order, except one can, which had [illegible]. I think Libby bids fair to make an excellent cook, judging from her ginger nuts, for they are really the finest I ever saw.
I suppose that you have ways of having the news from Troy, but I hear from my correspondents about matters & things which maybe you do not. Susie Bontecon is married. Cora Filley is not. Mary Bamiced is married to that Hubbard, and they live in Syracuse. Fanny Burdett is well and happy. Well she ought to be, and Jenny Bristol is married. You remember her as the daughter of Mrs Hopkins. In a letter a short time ago, Libby asked if I heard any thing from Helen Landon, and I will transcribe what Hatter Sears says – "I saw Helen Landon in New York, she is at the Cooper institute taking designing, poor Helen, her circumstances have changed sadly, and she feels it deeply, oh how I can sympathize with her sad heart, she looks very differently from what she used to. She has her hair cut off, and looks intrusively sad. God bless her, and make her future very happy, for she is a good girl and deserves it." Now Clara I have returned your confidence. Do not any more accuse me of being reserved and secret about my affairs, for I have allowed you to read part of my letters from my lady friends – something no one else ever did. Hatter is a excellent correspondent, and as fine a girl as ever lived. It is strange to me, that none of us have been more intimate with her than we have been. If you go back to Troy, I would recommend you to cultivate her acquaintance. Now don’t put any wrong construction on these remarks, for as far as regards any young Lady of my acquaintance, my heart is my own.
I guess I will change the subject, for I do not know what proportion of our extended line of relations see and read my letters. You cant imagine what a hubbub I am surrounded by. Walter (my boy) took a notion to have house cleaning this morning, and consequently the Ward Room is filled with my traps, while he is vigorously scrubbing the paint, & changing things generally. Bedding, Clothing, Books, Sword, Pistols, and all my various "nick-nax" lay in, around, upon, over, & under. The Boy I have got is a perfect jewel, and I am going to buy and keep him for the next voyage. He is clean, neat, good natured, & honest. I am never afraid of loosing anything from my room while he is around. Did I tell you I met Dr Bontecon in Hilton Head when I was there two weeks ago. He is on Genl Seymour’s staff, is well, and looks the perfect picture of contentment. His family are not with him.
18th. No news yet from Port Royal about the attack upon Charleston. We are anxiously expecting news from the commencement of the bombardment, and hope when it does come off, that it will be successful. If it is we shall be inaudibly relieved I expect. Last Evening the Minstrel Band of the Regiment gave another concert, which I did not attend, but I heard that it was very good. I spent the evening calling upon Miss Merrick.
By the last mail I recd a letter from Rev Mr Potter in which he included a photograph of the Christmas Decorations of St Johns chancel. It must have been very beautiful, judging from the imperfect picture, which I will shew you when I get home. I notice that Mr Potter has received a loud call from a church in Cincinnatti, but that he declined it, and I am very happy to hear it. Mrs Potter sent her kind regards, because she knew my Mother, and to know was to love.
I met the Paymaster of the "Flambeau" when she was in here, last Friday, a Mr Horton from Skaneateles, who knew Theodore very well, but he has not seen him since last July. I am anxious to hear from Theodore about the business. I wrote to him about, three weeks ago. I am in hopes that before Congress closes, I may get what I want. Do you have any idea when this war is to close. I see that Gruley is urging the recognition of the Southern Confederacy, provided that they are not conquered before. It seems that that is a very strange position for him to take. Where will all the slaves be, if that occurs. Not free certainly, and I supposed that that was his wish, and object.
It is raining this morning, but it is a real warm April shower. For the last two weeks, our Thermometer has not varied 3° from 70°, Day and Night about the same temperature. Our stove stands useless and in the way, but we still keep it up, for fear that we may yet have a few cool mornings and days, when a little fire will be comfortable. I imagine you do not find them uncomfortable yet. I am exceedingly glad to hear Clara that you are so well this winter. I was very much afraid that you would find the cold air of Cazenovia very hurtful to you. Maybe the pure Mountain breezes are rather beneficial than otherwise. I should like to [illegible] them this morning myself. I somewhat dread the coming hot summer in this latitude, but then there is no knowing where I may be ordered next.
19th. Yesterday afternoon the Neptune came in from San Augustine, and leaves for Port Royal this afternoon by which I send this letter.
Last Evening I was ashore, and we commenced getting up a party for the 22nd, so as to celebrate the Anniversary of Washingtons Birthday. There are Ladies enough to get up a nice dance, and the only things wanting are lights and refreshments, and they will be forth coming. Wont you attend or are you satiated with gayety and tea parties. How many of those have you attended this winter, or has Cazenovia been dull and lifeless. I found out yesterday that Dr Jarvis of the 7th Conn Regt is a cousin of the Skiltons, but knows Julius better than any of the others, having had many good times with him when he was at College. He wanted to know what James was. Whether Lawyer, Minister, or what, I told him what, as I did not know as he had any settled profession. Remember me to him Clara when you write. Have you been to Albany yet to visit Mary, and if so, did you have a good time.
I guess I will bring this scrawl to a sudden close. Much love to Mother Brother & Sisters – and Kitty.
Your aff Brother
George