Letters From Home

[scone]

Home, Friday eve. Feb 24th/65

Dearest Husband;
I have been wanting to you every day this week but this is [??]pare moment I have had! I [suffice?] dearest that are this, or at best fare this will reach you, you will have [ecumed?] the sad new of dear brother Hezekiah's death; I have tried to write a letter of condolence to Ann but under the circumstances it is difficult to offer my consolations; Dear Ty. At such times when your heart is bowed down with sorrow, as I know it must be now, not only in [comseprence?] of the lost of your brother, but in sympathy for his dear little family who are left so [cusblate?] at such times. I say I would be with you to brighten your burthen of grief. Try to make the [warlse?] appear [?] again, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God," says that best of books and you have the comforting assurance that he was pure in word, thought, and deed. I know dear Ty that it is my very very hard to realize that your noble brother [??] on earth, but he is not dead, but gone [befare], and let the hope of a "happy reunion beyond the [bete] of time" be a solace to you. I could say much more to you dear Ty but you know it all. You are well aware that you have my sympathy, and that I would if possible make you forget the sad circumstances of his death, and have you only remember that he is happy now now, and let me beg you to guard against a melancholy feeling, oh I want you happy, but I must be brief I only have a few comments to write. The general heath of the family is good. Charlie came home [?etary] not very well. Myrtle is better today than she has been for a week past - sometimes I feel fearfull that she is not going to be as healthy as we [??]he would. I am sure she could not be more [cerfully ?neted?] than she is, and yet she will[?ate?] cold and be sick when I can see no [accusion?] for it. Ma says I am too carfull and [?] with her; but she is so much better now that I hope she will be quite well in a few days.

Sabbath Evening.
Dear Ty I did not get my letter finished & mailed as I intended, and perhaps it is well enough for I have several bits of news to tell you, first if best is that Myrtle is still improving, & is running around and seem quite well with the exception of a little cough. Sallie received a letter from Edwards a few days ago. Mailed at Indianapolis, he enlisted in the first Minn heavy Artillery which passed though Indianapolis in rout for Nashville. They only remained there one day and he did not get to [comey]. I received a note from him today [mailed] from Nashville, he was not well he said nothing about how Ann was getting along, but she must be doing well as he would not have left her. But here I have written almost a sheet full and have not acknowledged the [?] of your last dear letter of the [???] Yes dear Ty I have [nahcess?] ever since our correspondence began I had a great sympathy and sorrowness of feeling [ex?slted] between us and that are hearts were very closely [?] but I have not much longer to write and will [?] over your letters and [?] the last pagefor a moment As you say [?] are a great many [?] who [? ?] them [?] we get more fresh milk, she is such a [???] she has learned to always give me two kisses, one for Pa and one for Ma, is [?] to talk quite [?] idly.

I must closeremember I love you dear Ty if I have not told you so in this letterwrite soon and often to your own
Cornelia

[scone]

Noblesville Indiana
May. 1862


Thursday Morning Dear Dear Ty
Your letter [#49:5 May 62] was brought in to me last night after I had retired and was almost asleep. oh I was so glad to get, I cant tell you how often I pressed it to my lips, before I dared to open it nor how often I pressed it after I did open it. I fear I did wrong in not writing you on Monday I might have known you would be uneasy about "your Cornelia" but my only excuse is want of time, you know I told you Ty I wanted to over=take the [?] Algebra class this week and in order to do this it became necessary for me to study tolerably late, the young lady who was in my class became discouraged yesterday and droped it altogether; As I an alone, and you are aware that it is not so interesting to me in a class by ones self but then I suppose this not what you are so anxious to hear about. Well after you left me last Sunday at Will's my (our's) ankle took to paining me very bad so much that they did not want me to undertake the ride to Noblesville, but I wanted to have a little more romance while I was about it. I think I never suffered more in two hours than did at that time. I smothered a good many groans and tryed to think it didn¹t hurt much but then, if I remember it did. I applyed cold water constantly during the night and by morning I was able to walk over to the Seminary but not without very [?] pain. I did not intend to tell you about it but you said to give you the facts as they were and I thought as it was about over I would tell you the truth about the mater. [?] you will pardon me for not telling you sooner do not give your=self any uneasiness about me I am well now and just as happy as can be. Oh Ty this is such a sweet morning just like the one we last spent together. like you, I do not like this way of living so far apart but we can manage to be content and a short time it wont be very long untill we will be happy together, that is if we can keep from laughing long enough. You wish to know when our school would close, there will be five weeks after this. I think I will go home in a week or two, though I don¹t feel so homesick now as I did in the first of the week. the news you sent me about the boys was so cheering. I had felt as anxious to hear from this week, yet fearing to hear least,the news would be bad. I think dear Ty we have great reason to rejoice in the hope. that treason will soon be [?]. that our brothers and friends will return safe to witness that happy "Union" you spoke of. ah blissful thought! Ty I don¹t believe we will ever become cold and unloving as some do. God forbid that we should. I went a party the other night but did not enjoy it so very well. I didn¹t intend to go and had went to my room to study. but two or three of the school girls came after me and I went but did not stay long, perhaps I would have enjoyed it well enough but most of the folks were strange.
Oh Ty yesterday I received a letter from another of the school boys. I wish you could read it I know you would laugh, it is so funny I'll tell you all about it when I see you. The school bell is ringing I must go I'll finish at noon. Noon. Oh I have had just the best time at school this morning but no better than we always have except in the parsing class I thought we had a more interesting time than usual. You say you do not know as you will write to me again this week or not. I know dear Ty that your time is almost constantly occupied and you perhaps cannot write as often as you like. I know I cannot write just as often as you can conveniently. write me a long letter on Sunday if you do not go ³courting² but suit yourself as to time you are aware that your letters are hailed with much pleasure I¹ll have to quit writing, oh oh I wish I could see you today. I¹ll let you know when I go home. Thank you darling for your kindness in wanting to come with to town I got here safe, but would have enjoyed the ride with you don¹t forget to write to your Nellie Excuse all mistakes I know they are numerous but maybe you can read it I wish I could send my love to Ned and Melissa

[scone]

Noblesville Indiana
June 13 1862

Dear Kind Ty
How I wish we could spend this day together for I feel a little lonesome, everything looks dark a gloomy out-doors. I don't feel very well and am a little homesick to see you. Now Ty do not think there is anything serious the matter or there in not not only what I have told you and I am sure it would only take one look and word from you to set all thinhs right. It would drive away every gloomy feeling and make me feel just as happy as I did when we were last together. pardon me dear Ty for coming in such a strain and I'll do my best to write a cheerfull letter. Yesterday Afternoon while I was very busily engaged performing some domestic labor, a sweet little girl came in and handed me two letters, one from you, and of cource I read it first I was expecting it and would have been sadly disappointed if I had not got it. oh it was do good and kind I read it over a number of times, but while reading I was impressed with the idea, that you did not feel well. that you were either sick or had something on your mind that troubled you, perhaps this is all imagination with me. I hope so but your letter seemed to be writen in a huried restless manner and you did not even say, 'write to me soon Cornelia", but I knew you had forgoten it , and therefore did not delay on that account, as perhaps some "ladies" would would have done , thinking their letter would not be acceptable. I feel as sure that you will be anxiously waiting a reply from me, and will send it with the same kind feeling in which it was writen. There was one thing in you letter that I did nt understand. What did you mean by saying,' the short [?] I took is the sweetest thing and the page of memory"? I must be something important,and I think it strange that it has sliped my memory. don't forget to tell me when you write again what it means. School passed off very pleasantly last week only it seems to one I did not get as much accomplished as usual, and half as much as I wished to. My dear in regard to our wedding, I can say that it will suit me better to postpone a while, although I would have said nothing about it had you not mentioned it first. I will have a great deal of work to do after school is out and if you think best we will postpone that happy time, untill we get a good [?] what think you? Monday evening. I suppose you think I am a little negligent or I could have finished writing sooner, but I felt do bad yesterday, that I thought I would not write untill this morning. And when that time came I was not able to go to school and of course did not feel like writing. I went this afternoon, but did not study much and only wrote the lessons, the (Algebra and Arithmetic Our society met after school and I begged for an excuse (as this was the week for my company to perform) but Mr Grissle said it would not do for the [?] to ask for an excuse so I had to go right out and perform, a very poor performance by the way. I came near getting a little *****y at Grissle. he excused several other young ladies but not me. but I'll moch him for it yet. he belongs to my company and I just now remember, he did not perform so I'll keep him in some night this week and make him declaim, don't you think it will be a good way to get revenge? Our society does not seem to proper so well now as time goes, but I trust it will improve as we have a new president and one that will make things move. You would have thought so if you could have heard the speech he gave us that evening but enough of this, and least you might be a little anxious about my health I will say that I feel quite well this evening so much better both in body and mind than I had yesterday. oh Ty I am affraid the next four weeks will be so long but I guess we can live over it. Mat and Melisia knew nothing about how early we returned that night. Mat did not at least for I pumped her good next day, and she seemed perfectly ignorant. She asked me today if I had heard from you since. I told her"of course I had she sends much love and everything good to you. Now dear Ty what good thing shall I say in conclusion. I cant just now think of anything half good enough but if I could see you, I know I could say something that would please you. Then you would kiss me for it and oh wouldn't we be happy, pardon me for indulging in such reveries but I can't very well help it . I'll promise to quit if you will. If I had time and felt like it I would burn this and write another letter for I have very serious doubts as to whether you can read this all, but I have some work to do tonight and can't write any more, I have so much to tell you when I see you Good night My dear write me a long letter soon and I know how good it will be think of your own Nellie for she is ever thinking of you

[scone]

Fall Creek Indiana
July 27th /62

Dear Dear Ty
your sweet little m[ ] of love reached me this afternoon. I need not tell you that i was glad to get it and that I perused it over again and again and that each time it seemed to grow in interest untill I almost imagined myself talking to you. you know all this so I will proceed to tell you something else if possible. I was expecting either you or a letter this evening and oh how sad I would have felt if I had not heard from you. I am sick have just got up and think perhaps I can remain long enough to write a letter but I trust you will not feel bad about me though I know you will. I have not been well since the day you were here ,but was so very busy all week working for "us" that I tryed to not be sick. I had to give up today and go to bed my head aches awfull this evening oh I want to lay it on the old resting place so much I am sure I would feel almost well. Kate has been sick all week but seems to be better this eve. Sebe has just returned from Fortville. Rosie Dobens is dead. Leunt Akerman has not resigned but is only home on sick furlough and will return to the reg. soon. I believe is all the special news he brought. Sebe starts back on monday oh! it seems so hard for them to part when Kate is not well. Ma just now came up to see how I am and was surprised to see me writing. I asked her in regard to our wedding. she said she would tell me tomorrow then dear Ty I¹ll tell you all about it. Oh Ty we had such a long sweet conversation about you the other day I am sure Ty the knowledge of your engagement was quit a surprise to them all especially to Ma and of course she thought it was new arrangement since I returned from school. She commences by saying she was affraid the attachment was not strong enough. That I did not love you as I should to become your wife. Ty I tryed so hard to tell her how much and how well I love you but I know I failed in the attempt. however she seemed satisfied with what I told her. My dear it is so dark I will be under the painfull necessity of laying aside my writing utensils for the present. There is nothing I enjoy so will in your absence as writing to you

Sunday Morning
Dearest one I feel some better this morning though not altogether well I wish I was for then i could write you such a cheerful letter and one that would make you feel so. I know you are spending a lonesome day away out there among strangers. I am glad Sam is with you for you would be so very lonely with out him. Oh Ty I received such a sweet long letter from Cos Milt' yesterday, he talks of joining the army sometime this summer. If he does he will not visit us, as he intended to. I do not think cos ought to leave his children now that their Mother is gone. Cos Milt says he has two very serious objections to my manner of writing. one is that I blarmy

[On top of 1st page]
[?] excuse me this time for writing such a messed up kind of a letter I don't believe you can read it at all, and remember I will be almost imashent to hear from you

The sick folks all seem to be better this morning Good bye I can't write any more now I kiss my hand to you my dear

[scone]

New York Augt. 3rd 63

Dear John,
I have just received a letter from you and am sorry to find you are
sick in the hospital although it is no more than I expected for few constitutions stand the southern climate and I think you have done
well to keep so long on duty as you have, I hope you will soon get better and begin to think of returning home again. I received your
letter from Algius and answered it immediately, directed to N.O. as you told me and Teddy wrote you one before that directed to Brashear City. I have also sent newspapers, which I suppose you have not got. New York is all excited now about the draft we expect there is trouble ahead we have had the tallest kind of a riot in this City, houses and private property burnt, plundered, smashed up and destroyed to the amount of more than a million of dollars.


The mob for four days had possession of the City and did pretty much as they ****'d please. Killed nig-ers hung them to the lamp posts, robbed white folks or any other man who ran in their way. I tell you it was a bully time for old New York City.

The fire bells were ringing general alarms all the time. Brooklyn was very quiet, with the exception of running down nig-ers and breaking the windows of nig-er dwellings. All the militia regiments was away at the time and the police was not a match for the mobs. It is expected the draft will be carried out this week for there is plenty of troops arrived and some parks of artillery to protect the City.

We are all well at home. The weather is killing hot. Yesterday the thermometer ranged from 90 in the morning to 102 in the afternoon, pretty hot that, hot enough for New Orleans I guess. Do you find any old Banjos in New Orleans to practice upon. Henry Sweet is at Fort Federal Hill, MD comes home next Saturday after 30 days service. There are 3000 Sick & wounded Rebels on David's Island, many of which they say, although dying, shout out for 3 cheers for Jeff Davis. You must excuse this short letter as I want to get it posted at twelve o'clock and I have just received yours and write it in the midst of making mucilage (glue). Your mother is lookig forward for your return shortly.

I Remain Your Affectionate Father
George Seacole

[dawna]

Steven:

Thank you for starting this new thread...these letters are wonderful.

Dawna

[scone]

Most welcome, I will have to see if i can rember wher i found them at..
With theses we get to see what thee felling of thoses left are home felt..

they also make wonderfuil letters from home to those in the feld at reenactments.. With a word change here or there i have recopied a few to use when out in the fileld.

The last one is a little diffrent as it covers the NYC draft riots of 1863 which anv was yesterday 13- the 17th if I rember correctly.

regards, steven