Astoria, July 23. We are trying to look things in the face,–like the great apostle, cast down but not disheartened. Of course the first thought of us civilians is to take care of the wounded. I send enclosed a cheque from Cousin Edward and one from myself. If you find you cannot use these amounts [...]
July 22, 1861. My dear Girls: Since Mother’s letter was sent this morning we have had some heavy hours. At noon we got the first extra with the despatch announcing the defeat and retreat of our troops–defeat, because retreat, or vice versa, whichever it was. It is a total rout of our grand army of [...]
Monday, July 22, 1861. My dear Girls We have had an exciting night and morning. Just as we were going to bed last night we heard the distant sound of an “Extra;” it was very late; everybody in bed. We had been out to the meeting of the Evangelical Alliance at Dr. McAuley’s Church. We [...]
Joseph Howland On The Battle-Field Near Bull Run, Sunday, 21, 12.45 p. m. Our brigade is making a demonstration in the face of the enemy and a fight is going on on the right of the line five or six miles off. The enemy’s batteries do not return our fire. We see immense masses of [...]
Joseph Howland writes from Camp near Centreville. July 20th. We march at 6 p. m., and there will be a great battle within twenty-four hours unless the rebels retreat. Our brigade takes the advance on the left wing. We can see the enemy from a high hill near here concentrating their troops. Our pickets were [...]
Our regiment had only been camped a few days on Cameron Run when the advance against the enemy at Manassas was ordered, and we two (Georgeanna and Eliza) watched the brigade break camp and march down the peaceful country road, carrying Joe away from us. We stood alone, and looked after them as long as [...]
Our regiment, the Sixteenth New York, was about two weeks stationed at “ Camp Woolsey,” near the Capitol, and then crossed the Potomac and pitched its tents on Cameron Run, a little west of Alexandria, in the fields which were once the property of our great-great-Aunt Ricketts, whose plantation was famous for its flour, ground [...]
“No one knows, who did not watch the thing from the beginning, how much opposition, how much how much unfeeling want of thought, these women nurses endured. Hardly a surgeon whom I can think of, received or treated them with even common courtesy. Government had decided that women should be employed, and the army surgeons—unable, [...]
New York, Monday, July 15, 1861. My dear Girls: I might as well give you the benefit of a scrawl just to thank you for the big yellow envelope in Georgy’s handwriting lying on the library table by me. It has just come and I think you are two of the luckiest fellows living to [...]
As soon as possible we called on Miss Dorothea Dix, who had, by a general order, been recognized in the following words: “Be it known to all whom it may concern that the free services of Miss D. L. Dix are accepted by the War Department, and that she will give at all times [...]
Charles William Woolsey to Georganna Muirson Woolsey New York, July 9, 4.30 p. m. It is not quite one day since I left the “Ebbitt House,” dear G., and here I am writing to you from the table in my room with Pico by my faithful side – no! the other way. I arrived at [...]
Georgeanna Muirson Woolsey to Cousin Margaret Hodge. Washington, July 8, 1861. My dear Cousin Margaret: I should have begun by dating my letter Ebbitt House, we having been established here since Saturday, spending the first three days of our visit, or probation, at the “National,” in the fifth story, a prey to several inconveniences, but [...]
New York, July 3, 1861. My dear Joe: It was a satisfaction to us, at least, to receive your telegram of yesterday morning about half-past four in the afternoon. I was sorry that Eliza could not have seen it before she and Georgy left, at 3 p. m. But she was in good spirits, having [...]
Harriet Roosevelt Woolsey to her sisters, Jane and Georgeanna. Fishkill, Sunday. My Dears: We came up here last Thursday, and you may imagine it was somewhat of a relief to get Mother away from the everlasting Fair business that, for the last few weeks, has completely run her off her feet. . . . New [...]
Jane Eliza Newton Woolsey to her daughters, Jane and Georgy. 8 Brevoort Place, March 9, 1864. My dear Girls: We are all sitting together at the round table, Abby looking over the old letters from Point Lookout, and reading an incident occasionally aloud; Carry composing an address on her Bloomingdale orphans for their May anniversary. [...]
Caroline Carson Woolsey to Jane Stuart Woolsey at Fairfax Hospital. General Meade’s Camp, Near Brandy Sta., Dec. 7th, ’63. Dear Jane . .–The train which left at 11 yesterday morning brought me through all right last night, by dark. A telegram from General Williams, sent to the conductor and meeting me on the train, said, [...]
Harriet Roosevelt Woolsey to Jane and Georgeanna Woolsey. New York, Dec. 2, ’63. Dear Girls:–Charley’s rheumatism is better and yesterday he walked without his cane. When he gets on the doe-skins (the triumphs of art that Mother is now at work upon) and his india-rubber knee-cap, I think he will be all right. At any [...]
Point Lookout, Md., Oct. 7th, 1863. Special Order No. 123: The female nurses will be relieved from wards 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, is and 14, and they are strictly enjoined to abstain from any intercourse with the Prisoners of War. A. Heger, U. S. A. __________ Circular, No. 17. Point Lookout, Oct. 7, ’63. [...]
Surgeon-General’s Office, Washington, Sept. 26th. Surgeon Heger, U. S. A. Sir: The Secretary of War has directed the transfer of seven hundred wounded prisoners from Chester, Pa., to Point Lookout General Hospital. . . . Upon their arrival you will discharge the female nurses (both of Miss Dix’s and Mrs. Gibbons’ selection) reserving only one [...]
Abby Howland Woolsey to H. Gilman. Brattleboro, September 17. I hope soon to hear of the girls’ arrival at Point Lookout. Georgy wrote us of her night at your house and how good you all were to her and to her soldiers too. Mother is much interested in the hospital here and has been up [...]
Jane Stuart Woolsey to Joseph Howland Point Lookout Hospital, September. Eliza’s help and all her little nice things were, and are, invaluable to us. . . . Things promise pretty fair here in every respect. The surgeon in charge is civil and ready to support us in everything necessary. The post is a queer one, [...]
Abby Howland Woolsey to H. Gilman. Brattleboro, September. We have had our first letters from the girls at Point Lookout, and everything promises pleasantly. The only grievance is the chaplain, whose face is “as hard as a wooden chair,” and who looks as if he had fought through life, inch by inch. He is fanatically [...]
Eliza Woolsey Howland to Mother. Fishkill., August 24. We ought soon to hear from Charley, and if Mr. Hopkins’ rumor is true we may feel at ease about him for the present, for Meade won’t attempt a movement without the conscripts. Do you see that Charley himself is one, although in the service already? Let [...]
Georgeanna Muirson Woolsey to her Mother. Fishkill, August 5. Dear Mother: Thank you for your nice note which came last night. . . . No wonder you regret Gettysburg. You will be gladder all the time that you went there and did what you did; and you will be ready to give me great praise, [...]
Abby Howland Woolsey to Harriet Gilman. Fishkill, July, 1863. It took so long for letters to come from Gettysburg, and Mother and Georgy had so little time to write, that we didn’t hear often. They have come themselves at last; arrived Tuesday, midnight. . . . Georgy came up here this noon, and we have [...]