30 June 1861, Carter Henry Harrison to Janetta Harrison
Dublin Core
Title
30 June 1861, Carter Henry Harrison to Janetta Harrison
Subject
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Description
Includes information about conditions in Richmond and Camp Pickens as well as news of the death of an infant.
Creator
Carter Henry Harrison
Source
Carter Harrison Papers, 1834-1861, Mss. Acc. 2012.040
Publisher
Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary
Date
30 June 1861
Contributor
SCRC Civil War Transcription Project Volunteer
Rights
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Relation
The finding aid for the Carter Harrison Papers can be found at http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/index.php?p=collections/controlcard&id=9881&q=Carter+Harrison
Language
en
Type
Text
Identifier
Mss. Acc. 2012.040.03
Document Item Type Metadata
Text
This transcription has not been verified by Special Collections Research Staff. Please also consult images of the document.
Camp Pickens
Sunday 30th June 1861
My dear Mother,
Writing is an unusual occu=
pation for sundays with me; but it is one of the
least harmless occupations in which I can engage-
situated as I am. To day was appointed for the
first muster on Pay Roll to be made out, & the Col
is now going through with that – and as I am
quartered with him in a small temporary “shanty,”
I can’t get much quiet. That is one of the
greatest [pivations?] I have – often longing to with=
draw for a little from the crowd and confusion
and noise around me. In fact my dear Mother, I
confess I now [ ] long to get back once again
to the [ ] all the dear [ ]
I love [ ] is not right to indulge [such?]
feelings that [...is?] the post of duty – & wherever that is
we should be contented & happy. I know too that
my Heavenly Father sends chastisement to show me the utter
vanity of those things which engage so much of my thoughts
& affections.
Tuesday 2nd July. Since I commenced my letter, I have
been supplied with a tent & was occupied all day yesterday
in fixing it up. I am now regularly established in it,
& am greatly pleased at having a place to myself. If
I was supplied with a horse & a donkey to wait on me,
I should feel quite “set up”! Randolph of EH left
his at Farifax Court House, & I have been trying to get
them but can’t hear from him. I take my meals
with the Officers’ mess in a very nice shed.
[Pg 2]
wonder if you’ve experienced the change in the weather
we have? It turned cold in the night, & after vainly
essaying to sleep, I got up & put on nearly all the
clothes I had, but still suffered too much with cold feet
to be able to sleep. I couldn’t help shuddering at
the thought of that we might possibly be out til cold
weather set in!
I wrote you a few hurried lines from Richmond.
I spent only two days with my wife & little ones –
returning on Monday. Alice is better. I hear from
her occasionally – the last letter was written friday by
herself. Her improvement is very slow, but still
I trust she is improving. Our recent affliction in the
separation from our youngest darling, then the calling
away of the little babe I was never permitted to see,
often [precesses?] intensely on our hearts. Then my anxiety
about her health – all together with our other troubles,
[ ] me a heavy load to [ ] [it?] is the Lord,
[ ] am sure He [ ] need one
[ ] way give us comfort [ ] beyond
our utmost conception.
I saw Maben Hobson on Sunday on his way
back to join his comp’y – and was glad to hear from
him that you were all well. I have nothing new
to mention. It reaches you through the newspaper
sooner. I think the number & frequency of skirmishes
between ours & the enemies outposts is rapidly
increasing & I know that our forces are being
gradually moved nearer to Alexandria. The inference
from which is that a general engagement is
imminent. I cannot help feeling confident of the final
result being favourable to our cause – albeit we are
so [unmindful?] of the true source of all power – and
so [ungrateful?] for the blessings of the past. Looking
to God for help and guidance and leaving the
issue to Him, we are ready to move with
Camp Pickens
Sunday 30th June 1861
My dear Mother,
Writing is an unusual occu=
pation for sundays with me; but it is one of the
least harmless occupations in which I can engage-
situated as I am. To day was appointed for the
first muster on Pay Roll to be made out, & the Col
is now going through with that – and as I am
quartered with him in a small temporary “shanty,”
I can’t get much quiet. That is one of the
greatest [pivations?] I have – often longing to with=
draw for a little from the crowd and confusion
and noise around me. In fact my dear Mother, I
confess I now [ ] long to get back once again
to the [ ] all the dear [ ]
I love [ ] is not right to indulge [such?]
feelings that [...is?] the post of duty – & wherever that is
we should be contented & happy. I know too that
my Heavenly Father sends chastisement to show me the utter
vanity of those things which engage so much of my thoughts
& affections.
Tuesday 2nd July. Since I commenced my letter, I have
been supplied with a tent & was occupied all day yesterday
in fixing it up. I am now regularly established in it,
& am greatly pleased at having a place to myself. If
I was supplied with a horse & a donkey to wait on me,
I should feel quite “set up”! Randolph of EH left
his at Farifax Court House, & I have been trying to get
them but can’t hear from him. I take my meals
with the Officers’ mess in a very nice shed.
[Pg 2]
wonder if you’ve experienced the change in the weather
we have? It turned cold in the night, & after vainly
essaying to sleep, I got up & put on nearly all the
clothes I had, but still suffered too much with cold feet
to be able to sleep. I couldn’t help shuddering at
the thought of that we might possibly be out til cold
weather set in!
I wrote you a few hurried lines from Richmond.
I spent only two days with my wife & little ones –
returning on Monday. Alice is better. I hear from
her occasionally – the last letter was written friday by
herself. Her improvement is very slow, but still
I trust she is improving. Our recent affliction in the
separation from our youngest darling, then the calling
away of the little babe I was never permitted to see,
often [precesses?] intensely on our hearts. Then my anxiety
about her health – all together with our other troubles,
[ ] me a heavy load to [ ] [it?] is the Lord,
[ ] am sure He [ ] need one
[ ] way give us comfort [ ] beyond
our utmost conception.
I saw Maben Hobson on Sunday on his way
back to join his comp’y – and was glad to hear from
him that you were all well. I have nothing new
to mention. It reaches you through the newspaper
sooner. I think the number & frequency of skirmishes
between ours & the enemies outposts is rapidly
increasing & I know that our forces are being
gradually moved nearer to Alexandria. The inference
from which is that a general engagement is
imminent. I cannot help feeling confident of the final
result being favourable to our cause – albeit we are
so [unmindful?] of the true source of all power – and
so [ungrateful?] for the blessings of the past. Looking
to God for help and guidance and leaving the
issue to Him, we are ready to move with
Files
Collection
Citation
Carter Henry Harrison, “30 June 1861, Carter Henry Harrison to Janetta Harrison,” Swem Library Digital Projects, accessed May 20, 2013, http://scrcdigital.swem.wm.edu/items/show/1146.
File: Mss.Acc.2012.040.009.pdf
Geolocation
This item has no location info associated with it.
Transcribe This Item
Social Bookmarking
