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 [...]
Washington, June 3o, 1861. Our journey on was a hard one. We reached Harrisburg late Friday p. m., and Baltimore at sunrise Saturday. Our passage through Baltimore was unmolested, but was one of the most impressive scenes imaginable. We marched through about 8 o’clock without music and with colors furled, in perfect silence, marching in [...]
New York, Sunday. My dear Eliza: In anticipation of a possible march on Tuesday I have got myself ready and hold myself under orders for any moment. As for some sort of a hospital costume, if we chance to need one, I have two grey cottonish cross-grained skirts, and a Zouave jacket giving free motion [...]
Tioronda, June 23, 1861. . . . . I write chiefly to remind you of the stand of colors which Tiffany is making and promises for Wednesday. You may want to have them presented to the regiment the day they pass through New York, and, if so, will have to arrange the affair with the [...]
from Tioronda, June 20: We will go together, as you say, and will keep as near Joe as possible, though where it may be is entirely uncertain. They will march like others, with sealed orders. I go to Albany on Friday to see them in camp again before they leave. Will you go too? Joe [...]
The middle of June, 1861, J. H.’s regiment, the Sixteenth New York, suddenly received orders to be ready to march, and after some little further delay it left Albany for Washington and the front. The family were now fairly in the war. ______________ Rev. G. L. Prentiss to Joseph Howland New York, June 19, [...]
Wednesday. My dear Eliza: You must feel that I am ready and glad to go anywhere and at any time with you and dear Joe. You will probably go with him to Washington, at any rate. You and I could be companions for each other at the hotel as long as the regiment camps near [...]
New York, June 14, 1861. At 10 p. m. the expected telegram arrived saying the “Adriatic” would be at her wharf by 11, and Charley and Mr. S. left at once in carriages to bring the girls up. The travellers all look remarkably well and by no means as seedy and seasick as they ought [...]
8 Brevoort Place, June 13, 1861. We are waiting for our travellers who are due now at any moment by the “Adriatic.” Abby and I came down this morning from Fishkill leaving a lovely summer morning behind us, but bringing some of it in the shape of flowers, strawberries and vegetables. Mother has everything in [...]
Abbie Howland Woolsey to the Sisters still Abroad. June, 1861. We are gradually growing accustomed to things that a few weeks ago would have appalled us, or which we should have received as horrid jokes–such, for instance, as Georgy’s training at the hospital. She comes home fagged-looking but determined to “stick it out.” Did you [...]
Abby Howland Woolsey to Eliza Woolsey Howland June 1, 1861. Dear Eliza: We had a funny communication from Theodore Winthrop this morning written at Fortress Monroe, where he is acting as Military Secretary to Major General Butler, in the very middle of the middle of things– “Headquarters Department of Virginia.” He tells about the negroes [...]
Eliza Woolsey Howland to Joseph Howland at Albany. May 27. This morning I deposited Mother with the papers at the old chestnut tree seat and helped Thomson and Mechie get a good line for the turf on the carriage road. It is not right yet, but shall be made so. Thomson says: “We’ll na gie [...]
Abby Howland Woolsey to the Sisters Abroad. [Robert and his family and Hatty and Carry were still in Europe, but hurrying their return on account of the breaking out of the war.] New York, May 21, 1861. Dear Girls: We hope soon to have more particulars about your interview with Mrs. Browning, what she said, [...]
E. fancying at first that she ought to stay behind to care for “the stuff” when J. went to the war, sent cheerful bulletins to him of home matters. Eliza Woolsey Howland to Joseph Howland at Albany. Fishkill, May 21, 1861. Everything goes on nicely. I have made the rounds this morning and the report [...]
Abby Howland Woolsey to Eliza Woolsey Howland Friday, May 17, 1861. My dear Eliza: Your nice long letter of yesterday from Albany came this morning at breakfast. I say your “nice” letter in the sense of its being long and circumstantial. That anything concerning Joe’s going off is nice, I shall never be brought to [...]
Note from Mrs. Professor Smith. My dear Mrs. Howland: I thank you very much for the beautiful flowers, which are a great delight to us all, and I thank you especially for thinking of our pleasure when your heart must have been so full. I could hardly be reconciled at first to Mr. Howland’s going, [...]
From Mother. May 15, 1861. My dear Eliza: Thank you and Joe for your letters received this morning. I was hoping to see you here today, and on reading these letters telling of Joe’s sudden departure, and thinking of you as all alone at your house, I at once concluded to go up, Charley and [...]
As soon as J. H. was mustered in, G. began to urge that she and E. should go as army nurses. Mother writes: “Georgy is more earnest than ever about being a nurse for the soldiers. I shall never consent to this arrangement unless some of her own family go with her.” Georgeanna herself writes [...]
Uncle Edward to Joseph Howland. May 13, 1861. My dear Joe: My eyes are so weak that I must use your Cousin Emily’s pen to express the surprise caused by the announcement in your letter that your sense of duty had obliged you to accept the adjutancy of a regiment. Had the question been propounded [...]
From the first moment of the firing on Fort Sumter Joseph Howland had felt that “solemn and compelling impulse” that forced men, almost in spite of themselves, into the service of the government. Making his decision quietly, seriously, he gave up the new home and all that it meant, and early in May, 1861, joined [...]
Jane Stuart Woolsey to a Friend in Paris. 8 Brevoort Place, Friday, May 10, 1861. I am sure you will like to hear what we are all about in these times of terrible excitement, though it seems almost impertinent to write just now. Everything is either too big or too little to put in a [...]
Abby Howland Woolsey to Eliza Woolsey Howland Friday. Dear Eliza: We got off our first trunk of Hospital supplies for Colonel Mansfield Davies’ Regiment yesterday and feel today as if we were quite at leisure. You have no idea of the number of last things there were to do, or the different directions we had [...]