April 20. – Grandfather dictated a letter to-night to a friend of his in New York. After I had finished he asked me if I had mended his gloves. I said no, but I would have them ready when he wanted them. Dear Grandfather! he looks so sick I fear he will never wear his [...]
April 19.–Grandfather is much worse. He was delirious all night. We have sent for Dr Rosewarne in counsel and Mrs Lightfoote has come to stay with us all the time and we have sent for Aunt Glorianna.
April 18.–Grandfather returned home today, unexpectedly to us. I knew he was sick when I met him at the door. He had traveled all night alone from New York, although he said that a stranger, a fellow passenger, from Ann Arbor, Mich., on the train noticed that he was suffering and was very kind to [...]
April 1.–Grandfather had decided to go to New York to attend the fair given by the Sanitary Commission, and he is taking two immense books, which are more than one hundred years old, to present to the Commission, for the benefit of the war fund.
December 31.–Our brother John was married in Boston to-day to Laura Arnold, a lovely girl.
Christmas Eve, 1863.–Sarah Gibson Howell was married to Major Foster this evening. She invited all the society and many others. It was a beautiful wedding and we all enjoyed it. Some time ago I asked her to write in my album and she sewed a lock of her black curling hair on the page and [...]
Canandaigua, December 8. – Home again. I had military attendance as far as Paterson, N. J., and came the rest of the way with strangers. Not caring to talk I liked it just as well. When I said good bye I could not help wondering whether it was for years, or forever. This cruel war [...]
December 7.–The 4th New York Heavy Artillery has orders to move to Fort Ethan Allen, near Washington, and I have orders to return to Canandaigua. I have enjoyed the five weeks very much and as “the soldier” was on parole most of the time I have seen much of interest in the city. Uncle Edward [...]
Friday.–Last evening Uncle Edward took a party of us, including Abbie Clark, to Wallack’s Theater to see “Rosedale,” which is having a great run. I enjoyed it and told James it was the best play I ever “heard.” He said I must not say that I “heard” a play. I “saw” it. I stand corrected. [...]
November 22.–We had a delightful visit. Mr Thompson took us up into his den and showed us curios from all over the world and as many pictures as we would find in an art gallery.
November 21.–Abbie Clark and her cousin Cora came to call and invited me and her soldier cousin to come to dinner to-night, at Mrs Thompson’s. He will be here this afternoon and I will give him the invitation. James is asked for the evening.
November 19.–We wish we were at Gettysburg to-day to hear President Lincoln’s and Edward Everett’s addresses at the dedication of the National Cemetery. We will read them in to-morrow’s papers, but it will not be like hearing them. Authors Note, 1911. – Forty – eight years have elapsed since Lincoln’s speech was delivered at the [...]
November 15.¹ – “We” went out to Fort Hamilton to-day and are going to Blackwell’s Island to-morrow and to many other places of interest down the Bay. Soldiers are everywhere and I feel quite important, walking around in company with blue coat and brass buttons–very becoming style of dress for men and the military salute [...]
November 9.–No. 68 E. 19th Street, New York City. Grandfather and I came from Canandaigua yesterday. He is at Gramercy Park Hotel. We were met by a military escort of “one” at Albany and consequently came through more safely, I suppose. James met us at 42d Street Grand Central Station. He lives at Uncle Edward’s; [...]
November 6.–We were saddened to-day by news of the death of Augustus Torrey Wilder in the hospital at Fort Ethan Allen.
November 1.–The 4th New York Heavy Artillery is stationed at Fort Hamilton, N. Y. harbour. Uncle Edward has invited me down to New York to spend a month! Very opportune! Grandfather says that I can go and Miss Rosewarne is beginning a new dress for me to-day.
October 8.–News came to-day of the death of Lieutenant Hiram Brown. He died of fever at Portsmouth, only little more than a year after he went away.
CANANDAIGUA, September 1.—A party of us went down to the Canandaigua hotel this morning to see President Johnson, General Grant and Admiral Farragut and other dignitaries. The train stopped about half an hour and they all gave brief speeches.
August 12.–Lucilla Field was married in our church to-day to Rev. S. W. Pratt. I always thought she was cut out for a minister’s wife. Jennie Draper cried herself sick because Lucilla, her Sunday School teacher, is going away.
August, 1863.–The U. S. Sanitary Commission has been organised. Canandaigua sent Dr W. Fitch Cheney to Gettysburg with supplies for the sick and wounded and he took seven assistants with him. Home bounty was brought to the tents and put into the hands of the wounded soldiers. A blessed work.
July 26.–Charlie Wheeler was buried with military honors from the Congregational church to-day. Two companies of the 54th New York State National Guard attended the funeral, and the church was packed, galleries and all. It was the saddest funeral and the only one of a soldier that I ever attended. I hope it will be [...]
July 4.–The terrible battle of Gettysburg brings to Canandaigua sad news of our soldier boys of the 126th Regiment. Colonel Sherrill was instantly killed, also Captains Wheeler and Herendeen, Henry Willson and Henry P. Cook. Captain Richardson was wounded.
June 19, 1863, The Charleston Mercury (FOR THE MERCURY.) At 5 o’clock, a.m., June 21, 1863, I was awakened in my bed by the driver, who rushed precipitately in my room, and informed me that two of the enemy’s steamers were in full sight, and would soon by opposite to my landing. I arose hastily, [...]
May.–A number of the teachers and pupils of the Academy have enlisted for the war. Among them E. C. Clarke, H. C. Kirk, A. T. Wilder, Norman K. Martin, T. C. Parkhurst, Mr Gates. They have a tent on the square and are enlisting men in Canandaigua and vicinity for the 4th N. Y. Heavy [...]
February. – The members of our society sympathized with General McClellan when he was criticised by some and we wrote him the following letter: “Canandaigua, Feb. 13, 1863. . “Maj. Gen. Geo. McClellan: “Will you pardon any seeming impropriety in our addressing you, and attribute it to the impulsive love and admiration of hearts which [...]