Washington Jany 19. 1861.
My dear wife
I have not anything very late from you, but before going to bed I feel desirous of writing you a few lines. I know the rumours of threatened attack on this city, and the continual advance of revolution, must create much anxiety; and my letters will therefore be especially interesting.
The great speech of Mr. Seward1 and the report of Mr Corwin Chairman of our Committee, and the general effort to show a desire to prevent a destruction of the Union; it is evident must create some consideration in Sections where people have not entirely got besides themselves. Mr Etheridge2 of Tennessee told me yesterday he had little more hope of reaction. Still the movements in several states are looked upon with much anxiety, and we every day feel that some trifling event will create new complications. So long as Virginia and Maryland are within the Union, according to their own resolves: this city is quite safe in my judgement. General Scott3 is collecting regular Marines and organising the Volunteers which he thinks “may secure the peace of the City.” So he writes me in a private note responding to a letter sent through me from Col Whittlesey4 of Cleveland tendering forces &c. If things appear to me the least dangerous, I will send Sadie home with some of our friends who are visiting at this place. I received a letter from Henry5 dated at Cincinnati. He expects to be here about the 22d or 24th and wants to stay some week or ten days. By that time I can judge better of danger, but I do not think the taking of this city on the 4th of March or before that time, is now at all probable.
Every day makes it less likely. It is not the work of a day to organize arm and equip forces as you know; and we do not believe there are many volunteers in Virginia that could be easily collected for this point.
Mr Sturges and his son Shelton, are here occupying rooms in this house. Mr Sturges is quite nervous, but not near so much so as he was last year. Edward is also here yet. He and Sadie have gone to Resides to spend the evening.
I had a letter from Mr Stevens6 of Keokuk to day, dated at Springfield. He says I am still talked of there in Connection with a Cabinet appointment. Messers Harland7 and Vandever8 have both written letters very favorable to me. They much prefer my appointment to that of Warrens.9
It is very flattering to me, that I should be named in such honorable connection ; especially that my Colleagues should so endorse me.
Mrs Andrews and Sadie are always together; and I am exceedingly glad of it, for the more I see of Mrs. Andrews the more I admire her.
She is very kind and confiding with Sadie, and I see she has her entire confidence.
The weather has been quite warm and spring like to day, and Sadie has been out of school visiting the Smithsonian institutue with Mr. Sturges and Miss Delano who is at Willards with her father spending a few days.
The fluttering of the burner, shows that other gas lights are generally extinguished, and it must therefore be growing late. How does your money matters hold out? I must send you a draft if you need funds.
The 4th of March is approching, but none too fast to satisfy me and save the country. I look forward to it with anxiety, not merely because Lincoln is coming into power, but because I want to see you and my dear little daughter and all our dear friends in Keokuk.
Kiss the little darling for papa. Tell her I do not think I can find any little sister pretty enough for a match for her. Besides I wonder whether she would love her big sister just as well. You know how much better she loves to play with little children than she does with us. I want her to play with me when the grass gets green and the flowers are bright and pretty like her.
Affectionately & Ever yours
Saml. R. Curtis
1 William H. Seward, Governor of New York, and leading member of the Republican party, later Secretary of State under Lincoln and Johnson, was a spokesman for the Compromise Republicans. His speech in the Senate referred to here, delivered January 12, 1861, was widely quoted in the press of the north. It caused some concern among Republicans because it was thought Seward had gone too far in hinting at willingness to compromise. A calm dispassionate speech. Seward re-hearsed the history of comprise in the history of the nation. See Congressional Globe. 35th Congress, 1860-1861, pp. 341-344; Keokuk Gate City, Jan. 19, 1861.
2. Emerson Etheridge, representative from Tennessee, 1853-1857, 1859-1861, followed that state into the Confederacy.
3. Winfield Scott, southern born, entered the military forces in the War of 1812, rose to rank of Brigadier General in 1814, and became a national hero by his fight at Lundy’s Lane, 1814. In 1841 was appointed Commander in Chief, a position he held until age and physical debilities caused his resignation Nov. 1, 1861. A splendid tactician, an excellent diplomat. he was the Whig nominee for President in 1852, being soundly whipped by Pierce.
4. Col. Charles Whittlesey, graduate of the United States Military Academy in 1831, was a classmate of Curtis. A geologist of note and distinction, he served as a Col. in the Ohio Infantry until 1862. See Iowa Historical Records 3, 428-429.
5. Henry Z. Curtis, son of S. R. Curtis.
6. James Harlan, senior Senator from Iowa, 1853-1865, 1867-1873, served as Secretary of Interior under Johnson, 1865-1866
7. William Vandever, Representative from Iowa 1859-1861, and from California 1887-1891, was Col. of the 9th Iowa Vol. Infantry, 1861, raised to Brigadier General in 1862, was appointed Major. General in 1865. He was a member of the Peace Convention of 1861.
8. Fitz Henry Warren, a stormy figure in Iowa Whig and Republican politics, resident of Burlington, was Assistant Post. Master General under Presidents Taylor and Fillmore, 1849-1852. Warren was spoken of for Post Master General in 1861, which appears to have been the post for which Curtis was likewise recommended. Warren followed a stormy period on the Greely New York Tribune with an equally strife-filled period in the army, first as Col. 1st Iowa Vol. Cav., and as a Brigadier General in the state of Louisiana.
9. Probably Manning W. Stevens, a farmer of Jackson Township, Lee County, who “acted with the Republican party since its organization.”