The originals of these letters are now in the Archiries of Notre Dame University Eleanor Sherman Fitch New York July 11 - 1952 1862 1863 These typed copies of letters written by ELLEN EWING SHERMAN to her husband GENERAL WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN have been carefully read and compared by me with the original long hand written letters and are correct copies. Eleanor Sherman Fitch August 28, 19360
Lancaster O.,
Jan. 1st 1862. New Years morning
[1862/01/01]
[WTS]
I hope my dearest Cump that the beginning of the New Year finds you well and in improved spirits. You write me too seldom. I am so very anxious to hear from you all the time and you say so little when you do write. I have seen it suggested in the papers that you will be given command in the District of St. Louis But whether you are or not cant you not let me take Minnie out there & put her with the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Why can I not take Lizzie or go alone & spend some time with you. I think you ought to let me when you know how well the children will be taken care of here. Have you many sick among the soldiers? How is Mr. Lunt? You remember his wife is Hoyts Sister in law. I was rejoiced to have your promise not to go to Mrs. Turner's. I suppose you will see Hoyt sometimes now. Give my love to him when you do see him. How does Capt. Hammond get along? Is he at the Barracks with you? How does Charley look & what kind of spirits is he in? Tell him I have written him several letters to which I have had no answers. Tom Anderson is here again and has succeeded in getting himself into trouble He thought he had a right to recruit for the regular army from the volunteer force regarding them as militia. The officers of this Regiment warned him not to meddle with their men. The other night they found that several of their men had broken guard & on search they were discovered locked up in Captain Tom's room. They said that he had promised them $25 & better clothes & fare in his company. The officers of our regiment are furious & intend proceeding against him under an act of Congress. In the mean time they have written a complaint to Washington. What do you think of it? Tell me. - Elizabeth Reese is going up to Mansfield to see Amelia who is much worse. I told Elizabeth that if she would go over to Henry's & give me that house a year I would put a new roof on it & put it in perfect repair. She is not willing to do so They occupy two large houses and their families united are not as large as mine. Out of the first money you send me I want to send that sum to Capt. Welsh as I consider it very important to secure that for Lizzie. I will write today to the Capt. & tell him that I will send the money soon. The children are well and very happy - all but Lizzie. She is deaf again & as usual when deaf she is fretful and not so happy. They had a Merry Christmas. All send best love to you. Philemon goes to St. Louis soon on business. I wish you would let me go with him. I think you will too.
Ever your affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster, O.,
Jan. 4. 1862
[1862/01/04]
[WTS]
I hear from you too seldom my dearest Cump. I feel heart sick about you fearing you are unhappy and out of health. Can't you let me go down and stay with you awhile? If you knew how solitary & forlorn I feel since you left you would not refuse to let me go down. Do Cump let me stay with you whilst you are in the vicinity of St. Louis. You know the children will be well cared for and happy enough in my absence. I am very anxious to have Minnie at a convent for awhile and I might as well take her there, where she can see you sometimes Captain Hammond very kindly wrote me a long letter which I received a day or two ago. Please tell him I will answer soon. He wants to be introduced to Ann Patterson. I suppose he will accomplish it after awhile. Charley has been laid up with a mashed toe. He wrote to Father that he was just able to walk with a crutch. I hope he will soon get to see you again He does not get my letters or if he does he fails to answer them. Capt. Hammond tells me you are quite comfortably quartered, but very busy. I can't imagine why they have not got Major Turner & Mrs. Hunt down on the list of persons assessed. I am thankful for your promise not to visit Mrs. Turner again. I do hope I shall hear from you again today.
Boyle writes to us often He has been assigned to duty in Washington for awhile. Henrietta's cousin, Clemintina Young is now here making us a little visit. She came out to see her brother a priest now in Zanesville. She came over to Somerset on New Years days and yesterday we sent the carriage over for her. She will spend only a short time with us. Night before last Sis gave a dancing party at which Mrs. Lowe, of California was most elegantly dressed and looked beautiful. The party was given for John Hunter's bride but they could not attend, owing to sickness & death in Henry Hunter's family. Henry's eldest and youngest children died of diptheria after a short illness and within two days. Doctor Boerstler lost one of his twin boys yesterday. He died from cold taken after measles. Father is very uneasy about our children and charges me to keep them close. They have had colds but I am not at all apprehensive. Willy is in bed today but I think the pain he has in his head proceeds from his eyes which are sore now, as Elly's were when you were here. I have given him some Rochelle Salts and he will no doubt be better tomorrow.
Philemon leaves on Tuesday for St. Louis. Would my dearest that I were going with him to remain with you as long as possible. My children seem to me now of little consequence compared with you but I would not slight them in leaving for they would be well cared for. Hoping to see you soon I remain as
ever your truly affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster, O.,
Jan. 8, 1862
[1862/01/08]
[WTS]
Yesterday my dearest Cump I received your letter of the 1st inst. Seven days in coming! and I, impatient and so very anxious to hear from you. I feel badly, worse than I can tell, to find that your spirits are still depressed. Why will you say that you have brought disgrace upon any one? You in whom we all feel so much pride. It is not in the power of your enemies to lower you in the estimation of those who know you and time will prove the falsity of their charges to the world. You could not disgrace anyone for you could not do a dishonorable action and your talents are of the highest order. So let me beg you, my dearest husband, for the sake of your family, to put away all such depressing thoughts & stand calm - and undisturbed in the brightness of your superior intellect and your admirable virtues. In giving way to these feelings you may bring on that more serious melancholy that afflicted your Uncle Charles. Do try to drive them away and submitting your will to that of our Good God keep your soul calm & hopeful. We are all in the hands of God & if we have faith in Him & love Him we can have peace of mind under all circumstances. It needs all my faith in Him to keep me now from extreme unhappiness on your account. I feel so anxious to be with you, & so desolate since you left, that were it not for the sick children I could not see Philemon go to St. Louis without me. Do write to me if I cannot come out after awhile. The children will soon be well, and I shall certainly go unless you positively forbid it. Willy has been quite sick but he is now almost as well as ever. Tommy has entirely got over his attack & Rachel is now suffering. I thought last night she would suffocate but she is better this morning Poor little Lizzie has frequent fainting fits She has had one this morning & is now in my bed. Elly's eyes are still sore having been better but got worse again. Mother is sick this morning but I have not seen her having been busy with the children.
Clemintina Young has just made us a short visit. She had a great deal to say about the time I visited them from Georgetown school. She reminded me of how anxious I used to be to get letters from you & how her brother used to plague me when he brought out one for me, saying that my anxiety was very suspicious.
Boyle has been assigned to duty on the Potomac. 'I am truly sorry you do not like your position & that you consider it a subordinate one. We all supposed it to be just the thing. The Commercial announced through its correspondant Bickham that Gen Sherman at Camp Benton was a fine appointment as a military man was needed there'
In haste the Doctor is here
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster, O.,
Jan 11th 1862
[1862/01/11]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
I yesterday recd your letter of the 5th and assure you I feel much happier to find that your spiri?? are improving. I hope you will enjoy Philemon's visit. I most sincerely wish I could have gone with him but I hope you will not be very long in the west. John Sherman will attend to your interests in Washington and as he said to me, attend to those who are hounding you. That traitor Thomas has the police on his track & they have already arrested his daughter. The wicked must eventually be punished. He has not done himself any good by secretely persecuting you for John is his bitter enemy & can do him justice yet. Did you get the copy of Prentice's letter I sent you & the very complimentary article from his caper? Poor Lizzie is very delicate again. I am giving her salt baths and intend to give her a tonic but I do not know exactly what to give wine or whiskey or what.
I you have time to go into the City I wish you would send by Philemon a few little things for the children. There is a game called Snake which they want also a box of paints. Minnie's birthday will soon be here & you can send her the paints. Send the Snake to Lizzie. Do not send Willy anything to Willy unless you send to Tommy too. All are better but Lizzie & I fear she never will be strong again. I have just sent to Philemon's. The children are better except Frank who was fretful last night & the baby to - Write to me often
As ever
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster, O.,
Jan. 13, 1862
[1862/01/13]
[WTS]
Your letter of Tuesday was received on Saturday, dearest Cump. With Church & the children I was too much occupied yesterday to write you, as I desired, a long letter. Willy, Elly and Rachel are all better but poor little Lizzie is still very feeble. I take the best of care of her; give her salt bath every morning get her the best and most delicate food and take her out in the carriage to ride yet she droops & looks pale & thin & is weak & faint without having any pain or any sympton but a cough. I cannot go to Washington immediately, perhaps not before the first of next week; but I will be very glad to go then, and take Lizzie with me to consult Dr. Miller. She needs a tonic but of what kind I am unable to conjecture. Last winter she fainted often and was drooping but she is worse this winter. She is very thin. She is very patient and good.
Philemon is now in St. Louis and I hope you will see as much of him as you can. Mary wrote to him this morning but in case he should not get the letter tell him they are all well but Johnny who was indisposed last night.
I did not ask you dear Cump to discontinue your visits to the Turner's because they were Secessionists but for your own sake. I am not willing to release you from your promise. I am thankfull to you for the promise, & I hope in the end you will not repent it. You could not go into Mrs. Turner's presence without hearing what I would not listen to or hear, and what no Army Officer ought to hear without resenting. It gives your enemies power to injure you & they are on the qui vive for any indiscretion or apparent fault. It has already been hinted in the papers that you are more friendly to Secessionists than to Union people. As to Mrs. Turner having any claim upon you that is all a great mistake. If Major Turner's predjudices did not blind him, he would perceive that it was an insult rather than a compliment, to invite you there to be vilified and ridiculed and held to Scorn as we always have been when in his house lately. Mrs. Turner has insulted me grossly many times during our few last visits but regarding her as a monomaniac and for your sake I bore with her. I trust however that you will soon be ordered away from there when this question will no longer vex us. If you are ordered away I would be willing to release you from your promise then that you might make the Major a farewell visit. We can live without them I hope both now & in the future. Any life would to me be preferable to again submitting to Mrs. Turner's arrogance. At last we are having cold weather and I am in hopes it will be more healthy. The poor soldiers must suffer during such damp weather as we have hitherto had. As you prefer that I would keep the children at home I will do so, and not send them to Notre Dame. I hope you will call and see them should you be ordered east as I hope you will be. I will stay but a few days in Washington. I think I will go to Mr. Young's to stay as they have house room enough. Henrietta & Boyle write often and always desire love to you. Have you written to Boyle? I wish you would, if you have not. What is Luke doing at the Barracks? Charley never writes to me. Is Dr. Edward's at Benton Barracks yet? Give my regards to Capt. Hammond and tell him I recd his letters about the socks. All the children send love - they talk about you all the time.
As ever,
Ellen.
[EES]
If convenient you can send me some money by Philemon. Send me twenty dollar gold pieces. - Ellen
Lancaster, O.,
Jan. 15, 1862
[1862/01/15]
[WTS]
Father heard yesterday from Mr Winton, dearest Cump, and as his case will be up very soon he will be obliged to leave tomorrow for Washington. I will go with him & before I return we hope to have you ordered to a more agreeable post where you will be relieved from the annoyance of feeling that you are out of place. A rumor reached us yesterday that Mr. Cameron had been sent to Russia & Mr. Stanton made Sec of War. If this be true we will have no difficulty in securing whatever may be desirable for you as Mr Stanton is an intimate friend of Father's. Boyle is still in Washington & I will therefore stop at Mrs. Young's. Unless Father's stay there be short I will come home before he does for I hate to leave the children just now as they are not yet entirely well. I will take Lizzie with me as the journey may be of service to her & Dr. Miller may be able to prescribe a tonic that will brace her up. Do dear Cump try to cheer up and regard yourself as we regard you. No matter what an ignorant populace believe, all intelligent people, will know that you did well refusing to send those me to destruction thro' Cumberland Gap and after there has been time for the truth to be known all men will admit this who are not malicious & designing. And what need we care for their opinion? I am just as proud of you as ever & hope to continue so for it is impossible for you to commit a mean action & your talents are indisputable.
As ever,
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster, O.,
Jan. 17, 1862.
[1862/01/17]
[WTS]
I start in a few hours dearest Cump, for Washington, with Father. I hope to be home soon as I cannot hear from you there and I am not satisfied now without frequent letters. Philemon got home last evening. We were all rejoiced with his return because we had been afraid that we would not see him before we left. He says that when he got there you were in improved health but unfortunately you took cold and were sick when he left. I trust that by this time your cold is over - Charley will probably be home on Sunday, I am sorry to miss his visit but I hope to be back before he leaves; I take Lizzie with me to get Dr. Miller's advice about her. Unfortunately I have a sore eye - like the childrens. It is not quite as bad as theirs & I hope it will soon get better as I am not very presentable at the best & with a sore eye I am a sorry figure. I hope you will be ordered from there & perhaps be able to meet me at home when I return. Nothing will be left undone by us to secure you a more agreeable situation & one more suited to your merits. There is nothing in the past that you need regret. You did perfectly right to leave Kentucky under the circumstances. You would have regretted the past more had you staid there so do not indulge in such feelings of self reproach & makes me unhappy to feel that you do - The children were charmed with their little presents. Minnie is flattered that you sent her paints instead of a toy. They do not know that I gave you a hint about them & they are exceedingly gratified that you remembered them in this way. Mr Stanberry is going on with us today. I am in some haste as I must go to the Bank & make one or two calls before I leave. Give my best regards to Capt. Hammond & tell him I send him a paper by today's mail.
Ever your truly affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
Zanesville, O.,
Jan. 17. Friday night
[1800/01/17]
[WTS]
Father & I left home this afternoon, dearest Cump, intending to go directly on, but owing to some derangement in the machinery we were - delayed long enough on the way to miss the connection. We are at the Zane house & leave at half past six in the morning. We are very well satisfied to have avoided the nights ride & the changes of cars
I see that the Kentucky Correspondants complain that Buell is neglected & badly treated by Authorities at Washington If he is badly treated what name could they find for your treatment. I hope dear Cump, you will never again reproach yourself for having given up the Command in Kentucky. With the Small force of raw recruits that you had & with miserable arms & a scarcity of even them what would have been the inevitable result of a battle against vastly superior numbers, particularly as in case of a defeat the river would have been an impassable barrier & the entire population would have become hostile. You shewed the kind of courage most to be admired in resisting the clamor for an advance & no one could expect of any man the forbearance and nonchalance to remain there longer, under the circumstances that existed when you left.
They are examining into the merits or rather demerits of that rascal Thomas. When the truth comes to be known he will appear leaged with Mitchell as the cause of all this neglect. Justice is Slow but sure & they will each have to render an account of their crimes as well as their fellow culprit Pope.
Lizzie is in bed asleep & so is Father I suppose. I left all the rest well at home. Elizabeth Reese has just got home & will write to you.
Believe me ever yours
Ellen.
[EES]
Washington, D. C.
Jan. 22 1862 Wednesday -
[1862/01/22]
[WTS]
We arrived here on Monday, dearest Cump. Father brought Lizzie & me to Mr Young's where we found all well & received a most cordial reception. I have a miserably inflamed eye but I have been out some. I have seen John & Cecelia & Mary Sherman Father has seen the President. I cannot yet say anything definite but we hope and believe that things will soon take a turn most agreeable and advantageous to you. Be patient my dearest husband & for the Sake of your poor wife & little children keep as cheerful & calm as possible & in a very short time you will look back upon these dark days as a troubled dream - a night mare. You were suffering from rheumatism when Philemon left St. Louis & as I have not heard from you since I feel very uneasy about you. What would life be to me Cump without you? A thorny path indeed & a desolate day forever dark. The longer I live the more my happiness depends on you & now that I know you are not happy I am miserable away from you. Heretofore when I have been separated from you I have felt happy & content in the consciousness that you were so, but now that you in depressed spirits & in poor health I feel miserable away from you. Be assured I will not stay here one hour longer than is necessary & when I leave here it will be with the consoling hope of seeing you very soon. Lizzie is taking a tonic & the Doctor thinks she will soon improve. As ever
Your truly affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
Washington, D. C.
Jan. 23, 1862 Friday morn.
[1862/01/23]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
I was in hopes that, by this time, I would have a letter from you, forwarded from Lancaster. You were so unwell when Philemon left St. Louis that I feel uneasy about you. Rheumatism is a miserable thing & so difficult to cure. Nothing relieved the Sciatic pain that Father suffered but cold water. John Sherman came round to see mee, night before last and brought the telegraphic dispatch which you had sent him I hope you do not fear that I will behave ridiculously here. I have not yet done anything myself or seen anyone but John Sherman. Father wished me to wait until he had seen the Sec. of War. He had seen him & McClellan but he has not even told me his plans or designs but bids me stay here awhile longer. I have been afflicted with sore eyes but they are now entirely well. Yesterday Dr. Maynard plugged two teeth for me & I have to undergo another sitting today. Poor little Lizzie has miserable eyes. She is very delicate. I feel that she will soon pass away. Dr. Miller gave her a tonic & is coming today to see how she is doing. He says her lungs are sound. Father's case comes up today I hope he will gain it as the fee will in that event be very large. I wish you would give my best regards to Capt Hammond. Hoping soon to see you I remain as ever dearest Cump
Your truly affectionate.
Ellen.
[EES]
Mary Sherman is beautiful.
Washington, D. C.
Jan. 29. 1862
[1862/01/29]
[WTS]
I this moment received your two letters of the 17th & 19th my beloved husband. I can assure you that my visit here has given me the greatest satisfaction & particularly when your name is mentioned. It is well known & it is moreover perfectly certain that there was a political combination against you in consequence of which you were ignored whilst in Kentucky. It is certain that your Successor was immediately reinforced & that with more than four times the number men you had, when you applied to be relieved, & with many other advantages he has been there almost twice as long as you had and up to last week had done nothing & even now cannot "push forward into Tennessee. I think I know your wishes now & I will do only what you would like Father & I go to the Presidents' to-day, I have not time to write you more now & my hand trembles I dont know why. Lizzie is improving. Believe me ever with best affection & highest respect
Yr devoted
Ellen.
[EES]
Henrietta & Boyle send love. Mr & Mrs Young & Mary desire to be remembered. Ellen
Washington, D. C.
Jan. 29th 1862 Wednesday evening.
[1862/01/29]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
Father and I had a long & most satisfactory interview with the President today. He gave you the highest praise, said that he and Mr. Seward had been strongly impressed in your favor when you were in command at Fort Corcoran & that he had nominated you for Brig. Genl before the Ohio Delegation sent in your name or any names. He said he felt sorry to lose you when you went to Kentucky but he felt that the Department was safer after you took command than before. He then intimated that after that, dispatches &c. had come from you had the effect of making him feel less comfortable &c. He seemed anxious for us to know, and said that he wanted you to know that he had entertained the highest & most generous feelings towards you, and that he still entertained them; and he intimated that by testing, in your present position, that recent reports were unfounded your abilities would soon secure promotion. Father was very much pleased with the entire interview. I asked Mr. Lincoln if he thought you insane when in command at Fort Corcoran. I told him you were no more so now. That I had known you since you were ten years old and you were the Same now that you had always been. I told him you had enemies among your fellow Generals & that the newspaper correspondants were mere tools. That one of the poor miserable wretches had since committed suicide. I told him that Adj. Genl. Thomas and Mr Cameron were inimical to you & that they had placed you in a false light to him. I represented how you were situated & Buell's advantages &c. &c. I told him that I did not come to ask for anything but to say a word against those who had conspired against you &c & in vindication of your name. He seemed very anxious that we should believe that he felt kindly towards you. He and Father are great friends just now. He says John Sherman rather "turns up his nose at him, & wont ask him for anything".
I called at Mrs. Chase's where I had a long talk with Mrs. Genl McDowell. She has been in an insane asylum she tells me but is now completely restored. She says the Genl. will call to see me, that he is a warm friend of yours and is very indignant at the Slander against you. I called on Mrs. McClellan, this being her reception day. She spoke most cordially of you & invited me to call in the evening as the Genl would like to see me. I stopped yesterday at the office and saw Gantt & afterwards called on Mrs. G's house without seeing her. I am going to see Mrs Van Vliet & Mrs Dr Tripler tomorrow. I intend to call also on Mrs Seward & Mrs Chase I sent in my card yesterday to Mrs. Buell but she was really not in. Gantt was very friendly &c. Tom Ewing has great influence with the President & he feels deeply this persecution of you. He will not be idle in the matter when he gets here.
Lizzie sends best love to dear Papa & wants to thank you for her present by Uncle Philemon
Thursday morning.
I was interrupted here in my letter. I am compelled to stay here until Monday. I will reach home on Tuesday I hope. I must go out to see you; so say that I am coming to make you a visit before I come, so that your enemies will not have a chance to get up another scandal. I cannot be happy seperated from you now that you are in low spirits and in poor health. I look forward with great confidence to the future. The President is very friendly to you. John Sherman has great influence & so has Tom Ewing. Father will not let an opportunity of serving you slip. A little time will wear away this slander and then you stand higher than ever. Time will also prove that you were right in your estimates & in your demands. I hope you will not suffer the opinions of others to ever induce you to admit that you were not. If you will only keep a brave heart and not be desponding & not care how you may be judged your abilities will bring you out one of the first in the land. You acted from principle & from honor and your wife & children will ever point with confidence & pride to every deed you have done - Keep calm & your enemies cannot injure you further but will themselves be put to shame. Ord has just called
Ellen
[EES]
Washington, D. C.
Feb. 3, 1862
[1862/02/03]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
I will leave here in the morning with Charles Anderson. Father will not be able to leave until next week. I dislike to leave him here or to have him take the journey alone but I am so anxious to get out to see you that I cannot wait. I must stop & stay awhile with the children. Do not write to me that I must not come for I have a good deal to say to you, and I cannot be happy away from you now. John Sherman after a long waiting succeeded at last in getting your correspondance from the War Department. Father has read your letters & says they are splendid. Lizzie's health is better. The Doctor says she must be in the open air as much as possible. Expect me the last of next week or earlier.
As ever,
Ellen
[EES]
Feb. 4, 1862
[1862/02/04]
[WTS]
affairs to remain as they did, in Kentucky, whilst he held the resources of the nation at his beck. He should be made to account for his failure to do anything here, or to relieve other Commanders & enable them to accomplish something. I hope he will meet no mercy. I believe he is a selfish conceited man, incapable of discharging the great duties entrusted to him. I would rather see the army under a volunteer than under him. Philemon writes me that Mr. Henry Miers is dead. He was perfectly well and was at the depot the day we left home. His illness was very severe & very sudden. Lizzie is very much improved. I have seen many of your old friends but I will wait to tell you of them when I get to see you. Do not write to me not to come but make the best accommodations for me you can. If you can go from the Barracks we might get boarding at Barretts, for the time I would stay. Her good fare would agree with you. I wish you would. I will go wherever you are however & fare as I may. I will let you know when I will be there & if you cannot meet me I wish you would let Capt. Hammond do so. You can yourself I hope and I shall expect you at the Depot. I will not get out before the last of next week or the first of the week after. Boyle & Henrietta send love to you & Charley. Lizzie sends love to dear Papa. Ever dearest Cump
Your truly affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster, O.,
Feb. 10, 1862
[1862/02/10]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
Father and I reached home on Saturday after a very comfortable journey. We staid Friday night in Zanesville. I found two most welcome letters from you and in the afternoon I received your letter of the 5th urging me not to come to see you. I cannot give up the hope of spending a short time with you my dearest Cump. I will share whatever you have, and can do so now for my health is fine and I am so much stronger than I ever was before. Whatever you have I shall be content to take so do not tell me again not to come. I hear that John Healy is to be in Lancaster today. He will probably return the last of this week to St. Louis. I think I will go with him as the children are all well. I am extremely busy today & am as usual surrounded by the children. Elly & Rachel are having a tea party and Rachel comes down with a dash among the dishes now & then making sad havoc. Elly says "never in my life saw such a girl" Lizzie is some better but still delicate Minnie is tall as Aunt Sissy.
Believe me as ever yours
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster, O.,
Feb. 21, 1862.
[1862/02/21]
[WTS]
I got home day before yesterday my dearest husband after the inexpressable disappointment of missing you in St. Louis. Your letter did not reach me, or of course I would not have gone. Deeply do I regret not having left Washington some days sooner as then I could have got to St. Louis in time to see you. I was ready and very inpatient to leave but as Father was so soon to take the trip I thought it would not be right for me to leave him to come alone only a few days after me. I felt that it would be wrong to leave Father & I went to Washington for your sake & I trust that God who knows my motives to have been unselfish will grant me the happiness of again seeing you well and happy. I am very anxious to hear from you and to know where you are going, and with what column you move. I telegraphed you yesterday and I am now looking anxiously for an answer to my dispatch. I hope you will send to Genl Hitchcock for the four companies of your regiment. Genl. Hamilton was the cause of their being sent up there & he shewed a very ugly feeling in regard to it expressing indifference whether you ever had your regiment. The soldiers have no quarters but inside the Penitentiary with the prisoners & they are dispirited & will become demoralised. Genl. Hitchcock said to me that that was no place for regulars. When he takes command he will send them to you, if you ask him. And John Sherman must see to having the headquarters of the regiment removed elsewhere, I pity Col. Burbank. He cried with mortification. Genl. Halleck was extremely polite to me & of course I was so to him. I went up to Alton & Charley returned with me to St. Louis & saw me off. I was strongly tempted to go to you but I feared you would be displeased. If anything happens to you I must go if my life be the forfeit. Do write to me soon. Your trunk is here. Did you get my letter from St. Louis? Dearest Cump let me implore you to recommend your soul fervently to God. If you die without uttering a prayer for mercy I shall lose my reason - I could not stand the fear that would be my portion. The children are remarkably well. Lizzie is improving. All talk of you constantly. Believe me ever
Your truly affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster, O.,
Feb. 22, 1862
[1862/02/22]
[WTS]
I this morning, dearest Cump, received an answer to my dispatch to you of day before yesterday. I am glad that you have written for Charley's batallion and I sincerely hope it will be sent to you, as it seems too bad that Charley should be made a jailer at such a time as this. If Genl. Hitchcock takes command he will send them to you at once. I think you owe to Schuyler Hamilton their being sent there, not from any apparant necessity to him, but because he has a grudge at the regiment. If you have time I hope you will make some effort to get the headquarters removed from that Department as whilst there the Officers are so constantly interfered with they cannot attend to the interest of the regiment. Schuyler Hamilton shewed a very ugly & unfriendly spirit about it and I will remember him for it. I had always before thought him a friend of yours. Now I know that his friendship was skin deep. He is so elated with Halleck's success and his own importance that he forgets himself & what is due to others. He is certainly a weak man and not capable of any generosity. I am heartily glad I did not write to him that time we were in trouble. I never care about seeing him again and I warn you not to rely on him as a friend capable of any act of unselfishness or of justness. Where his whims interfere or his vain glory. - I hope if you hear that Mr. Bowman is wounded you will let us know. I suppose some one would let Mrs. Bowman know. No list of killed or wounded has yet appeared. Remember, dear Cump, if anything happens to you I must go to you at every hazard. Gladly would I go down to stay at Paducah were you willing to have me do so. Nothing but the fear of worrying you, induced me to come home without seeing you - I am very impatient for a letter from you. Your trunk was here when I got home. It is in my room now. We get no news by telegraph of the future or present movement and of course I feel deep anxiety. I know that victory will be ours but what will be the price of it? How many lives & whose lives? My trust is in the mercy of God. Why dearest Cump do you not prepare your soul, by the healing graces of the sacraments which bring forgiveness hope joy and consolation? If you would only break the trammels of long habit and submit your reason to the obedience of faith you would possess a peace & happiness such as you never found on earth before. My happiness depens on yours - my misery on yours.
As ever dearest,
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster, O.,
Feb. 24th, 1862.
[1862/02/24]
Dearest Cump;
[WTS]
Yesterday I had the happiness of receiving a letter from you and although it was written a week before I was thankful to get it and hear from you from your new post. I am sorry that you feel worried about my trip to St. Louis. My disappointment was greater than I can tell you, but I would be sorry to occasion you any further annoyance by it. You have too much to trouble you without having any additional cares, on my account. If you received my letter from St. Louis, you know that I was cordially treated by Genl Halleck, that I went to Alton & saw Charley and Col. Burbank, that Charley came to St. Louis with me & remained until I left on Tuesday morning. I am very sorry for Charley as also for the poor old Colonel, who was so mortified he cried. I hope you will pay some attention to your Regiment and have the Battallion sent to you and the Head Quarters removed to some point where they can recruit. I wish you would demand your rights and persevere until you get them too. Why on earth you have not got proper aids and enough of them I cannot imagine. Major Garesché asked me when I saw him in Washington to tell you that he would be glad to go with you, as aid, and that he hoped to do so when you took the field. Can you not write requesting him? Write to him on the subject at any rate. There is a first rate smart active young business man now with Henry Reese, as clerk. He is anxious to get a commission, and he would suit you admirably as Quarter Master. If you will write a letter to Gov. Todd requesting his appointment as Lieutenant you can then appoint him to your Staff. Genl Rosecrans has appointed several in that way & being from Ohio the Governor would be pleased to make the appointment for you. If you enclose your letter to Father he will have it attended to. The young gentleman's name is Dayton. I do not know the initials but Father can give them in his letter to the Governor, He has been accustomed to business on the railroads & he has belonged to a militia company; he understands telegraphing is a good clerk and very quick and active. Now do not slight me, dear Cump by refusing to do this for I cannot bear to think of your being without proper help when you can secure it so easily and at the same time confer such a favor upon a worthy young man and oblige all your friends. If you write to Major Garesché he can probably secure you some one else even if he cannot come himself. I am impatient to hear that Genl Hitchcock has taken command at St. Louis as then Charley will be sent to you and some favor be shewn your Regiment. Hamilton was very ill-natured and unfriendly in the matter. He is a weak man.
I wish you would demand your rights until you get them. You have endured too much neglect already. McClellan will I hope pay dearly for his apathy and indifference in regard to Kentucky. He is called now a mere stick. I think he is worse, I think he has been a mill stone. Had Mr Stanton had command the rebels would have been driven out of Kentucky and Tenessee long ago & you would have been saved all the trouble you have had. But God willed it so and He is able to bring good out of evil & He will in this case I know. People criticise Mr Lincoln's party. McClellan attended several parties while I was in Washington. Genl. Rosecrans waited there two weeks & could not see him and during all that time the correspondants of the New York Herald were seeing him every day & when I was there immediately after he was attending parties constantly. I know of three he attended. I hope he will be set aside & cashiered after awhile He is set aside now. I hope you are not over working yourself again. Remember me to Capt. Hammond. I am anxious to know if Mr Bowman was killed or wounded. We have no list yet All well and send best love to dear dear Papa - Believe me ever your affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster, O.,
Feb. 28, 1862.
[1862/02/28]
[WTS]
We hear that Government has taken possession of the telegraph, dearest Cump and that we can no longer hear what is going on, therefore I hope you will either write or get Capt Hammond to write to me very frequently & let me know as much as is proper about your individual movements. I have rented Nick Little's house, opposite Philemon's and expect to move into it the the first of April. It is a most comfortable pleasant house and has a large yard with many trees & much fine fruit. So when get home to make us another visit we will be able to entertain you handsomely. I want you to invite Capt Hammond to come here whenever he takes a leave of absence. I hope Capt Prince[?] will call on his way back to duty. I will write to him this afternoon. I am very anxious to know what Halleck says in response to your request about Charley.
Please send me his letter, and please persevere until you get that Batallion, for I know you will have satisfaction with them. Boyle has been spending a few days with us. He leaves tomorrow for Western Virginia. Did I tell you of his young Son Hugh Ewing Jr? Boyle saw Genl. Stone a few hours before his arrest. He told him that I had been in Washington & had been very anxious to see him. He sent his warmest regards & said he considered me one of his true friends. I never can believe him guilty. What do you think of his arrest? Charley has bought a beautiful pair of Shoulder Straps for you, which he hopes to have the pleasure of putting on you soon. They were twelve dollars and are the handsomest pair I have ever seen. Dear Cump I am ashamed to ask you for more money but I must get you to send me a part of your next pay as I am nearly out at the Bank & do not want to Spend my gold. I have spent so much money in travelling that although I have endeavored to be economical my money has melted away. I have promised the Same very often & I now promise again to Spend as little as possible. We have had a good deal of company here & in consequence have spent more than I intended. Doctors bills and all are paid up to date yet I want for current expenses & for preperations for housekeeping. I have nearly all I want for the house but it was cost something for a stove & fuel - I hope you will never deed that house of your Mother's to Elizabeth. I want it to stand in the name of Sherman & I am not willing you should give her that much more when we may need it ourselves more than she does. She boasts that Mr Reese put the improvements on it & presented it to your Mother. That is not so. Father says that Mr Reese owed yr. Uncle Parker money & your Mother gave her note & afterwards paid it on the strength of those improvements for two thousand seventy dollars. I enclose a note from Mrs. Dr. White. Can you make Stanley H. Stewart or Clerk? Believe me ever
Your truly affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster, O.,
March 5th 1862.
[1862/03/05]
[WTS]
Yesterday, dearest Cump I received your letter of the 26th ult. It was post marked Cincinnati so I conclude you must have sent it that far by private hand. Letters are a long time on the way to & from your present abode. I am sorry you did not see Hoyt at Cairo. He ought to go to see you when he is there again. It has been a long time since you saw him last, has it not? Mr Bowman wrote me that he liked Hoyt exceedingly well & that he thought him very handsome. I hope you will be able to visit Sr. Angela some time as I know she would be very much gratified to see you. They must be very busy attending the poor wounded men The ladies have sent down several boxes of necessaries to her since the Battle. We are not allowed to hear any of the movements of the Army consequently I feel more than usually anxious for letters from you. Just a few lines to assure me that you are well & to keep me informed of your whereabouts will be sufficient. I do not wish to impose the burden of long letters upon you when you are so very busy. You had better write to Col. Burbank about reporting his companies.
I have received a letter from Mrs. Welch. She says the Captain is making nothing now & if they can rent their house she will come to New York for the sake of spending less. She desires her love to you. The children are all well & all go by turns to Kate Willock to School. Minnie & Willy go regularly & Lizzie & Tommy whenever they choose. Elly is crazy to go. Minnie is as tall as her Aunt Sissy and by the time you see her she will be even taller as she is growing constantly.
We are having more winter now than we had in December & January. It is snowing & very cold today. I hope you will not expose yourself whilst the weather is so inclement.
We look for Tom Ewing in a day or two. He will make us a short visit on his way to Washington after first paying Charley a short visit. Would I could tell when I shall have the great happiness of seeing you again.
Believe me ever your
Truly affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster, O.,
March 7th, 1862
[1862/03/07]
[WTS]
Day before yesterday I received your good letters of the 1st & 3rd my dearest Cump and I cannot tell you how happy it made me to have such words of affection & with it all an assurance that your spirits are improving. I am truly glad that you saw Hoyt as I know it was a gratification to you both. You must not give me credit for loving & respecting you as I do for who could do otherwise who knows you as I do to be the soul of honor, & full of the truest courage; & withal so kind and forgiving - You only want Christianity to make you perfect & that you will have for my unceasing prayers for faith to you will be answered. The centurian's faith in our Savior raised his servant who was ill & I know God will not refuse my prayer for you. Then will happiness as unalloyed as earth can afford be ours.
We are all rejoiced at the possession of Columbus & glad that you had the pleasure of planting the flag of the Union on its walls. Why did you let Cullom send the official report to Halleck? You rank him & you are in command of the District. I do not understand it. The children are in fine health. I gave them a taffy pulling in honor of the day, when we got the news from Columbus.
Philemon has been appointed Judge in Whitman's place the latter having gone to Cincinnati to practice law. Mrs. Duval has called & I must go down. I have written to Dayton & Father has written to the Governor for a commission for him. With best love, as ever
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster, O.,
March 12, 1862.
[1862/03/12]
My dearest husband;
[WTS]
I was more happy last night than I can tell for I had the most vivid dream of your being here and in good spirits, but the only trouble was you did not stay long enough. I got your letter of the 6th yesterday. I am glad you are going to have such a pleasant part of the world to be in and I rely with the same confidence as hitherto upon your doing well and being preserved to me & our dear children. Mr. Dayton will be with you possibly before you can get this letter. I am sure you will find him an agreeable useful young gentleman, I feel more happy to know those that are to be always near you. It is a great comfort to me to know Capt. Hammond & to know that he is so good and so much attached to you. You did not mention Charley in your last. I do sincerely hope he will not be left to guard jail whilst you are engaged so pleasantly. Has not Halleck answered your letter? I am suspicious of Halleck's sincerity towards you. I think that both he & McClellan are afraid to give you the chance & the means to distinguish yourself - McClellan certainly was whilst you were in Kentucky & it looks a little now as if Halleck were I am satisfied whatever hapens for no one can take from you your unsullied honor and your true courage.
I will write you a long letter to send by Mr. Dayton, one something like you used to write me from the very same part of the world you are now in. How freshly & tenderly those days return to my mind when you were in Northern Alabama & wrote to me what a pleasant home it would be for us at some future time. Would it not be singular if we were to be there living with our children at last? Mr Haly has been here from St Louis He talked about Mrs. Perkins & said she was never tired talking of you. She told him that she used to think you were in love with Kate Childs & that Kate was in love with you. I shall have to cross examine you on that subject when we meet again so prepare the best defence you can!
Father has lost his great case, with the ten thousand dollar fee. Catron decided it against him when, Father says, every principle of justice were with his client. Give my kindest regards to Capt. Hammond.
The children all go to School to Kate Willock. Tommy is very smart at arithmetic. All well. Rachel is larger than Elly now.
Truly yours,
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster, O.,
March 14, 1862. Friday morning
[1862/03/14]
My dearest Cump;
[WTS]
Tom Ewing got here last evening on his way, to Washington, to attend to some rail road business. We talked over your affairs pretty freely and Tom says what must be apparant to every one that the truth and correctness of your words have been more than verified. In the first place they have now more than the two hundred thousand men just where you said they ought to be. Fremont had to acknowledge, in his defence that he had received a letter from you in the fall stating that the fighting must be done between the Ohio Missippi and Cumberland rivers. Jeff. Davis is bitterly complained of, by his own people because he did not carry the war into Ohio & take Louisville & Cincinnati at the time you expected them to do so & Davis & his friends urge in his defence the fact that they expected Johnson to do so and Johnson is under a cloud on account of it & they propose to drop him from the Army because he failed to do what you said they could & would do. Truly did Father say to the President that the only trouble with you was that you saw too far & too accurately into the future. When I look back at your letters now they seem to me like prophecies just as your predictions in California as to financial matters were. I want you to banish the spirit of self distrust that you have admitted lately and do not allow yourself to believe that you have been mistaken for you have not in anything. They have failed to act in the natural & accustomed spirit of rebels but you were wise and exhibited the utmost sagacity & forethought & regard to them & their plans & capabilities. It still remains a mystery why they did not take Louisville & Cincinnati & lay waste an entire state. Buckner told you too that he was prepared to make the movement you apprehended but that he was prevented by Sidney Johnson & Sidney Johnson will lose his commission for failing to do it & be disgraced in the eyes of both people.
Mr. Dayton hopes to get his commission & join you in a few days. I will send you some pocket handkerchiefs by him. I earnestly pray that the time may be not be far distant when we will have the great happiness of being united again.
What do you think of the new Army regulations? I am glad McClellan is brought down & I would like to see him even more out down but he will hold on to his commission which keeps him higher than he deserves to be. My health is not good this Spring I sometimes feel very uneasy for fear I may die suddenly I have so much uneasiness about my heart. The Doctor has ordered the usual meat & wine that they always order for me. The children are in splendid health. You will have to send Capt Hammond in to recruit his health after awhile. When shall I have the happiness of seeing you my dearest.
As ever,
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
March 17, 1862. Monday morning.
[1862/03/17]
[WTS]
Mr. Dayton passes through today, dearest Cump, on his way to join you having a promise from Gov. Todd that he will send out his commission as soon as you notify him by telegraph that you have written requesting his appointment. I supposed there would be no difficulty in his getting the appointment & wrote to him to come on to Columbus. Genl Rosecrans & others had had many appointments made in that way & I thought with Father's recommendation he would have no trouble. Henry Reese came on with him & they brought to the Governor very high recommendations from Genl Rosecrans & Genl Wright but the Gov. said he would not issue the commission until he got a letter from you or got a dispatch from you notifying him that you had written that letter. He advised Mr. Dayton to join you immediately & he would forward the commission as soon as he heard from you. Henry Reese gives Mr. Dayton the highest praise & I am certain that you will find him useful & agreeable in every way. As he has lost his clerkship you will of course write the necessary letter to secure his commission. I feel sorry that you must be troubled to do this and had I known there would have been any difficulty in his getting the commission from Father's recommendation I would not have disturbed his relations with Henry Reese. I should be sorry to have him lose by me & shall be anxious to hear that he is secure.
You can well imagine my anxiety to hear from you. Since the Expidition started we have not had a word of it from the papers or otherwise. I fear from the rebels evacuating New Madrid & Island No 10, that they are swelling the numbers against you wherever you may meet them. My trust is still firm in God. & I hope for the best. I cannot tell whether my letters would be forwarded to you. I had intended writing you a long letter by this opportunity but I was very unwell yesterday & Tom Ewing being about to leave this morning my time is of course interrupted. To think of you in that part of the world takes me back to the days of our courtship & recalls the delightful letters you wrote to me from near the point where you are now. Did I tell you what Mrs. Perkins told Mr. Haley about your penchant for Kate Childs & hers for you? Of course your conscience pleads guilty but I have nothing to say in condemnation as I have no doubt she was an attractive agreeable young lady & treated you kindly. The wonder is you did not bring me to terms & place yourself at liberty to take her for I was so long an invalid & was altogether so incompetent for an officer's wife. But here we are! old people almost now, & loving one another better than we could have done before. What a blessed compensation it is - the increased affection which length of attachment sorrow & exposure bring. I never did put my children in the balance against you, as person who marry as late as we did are supposed to do but they seem really now of too little importance when compared with you in my mind. My hopes of Heaven alone compares with my earnest love for you & the one does not conflict with the other. My health has not been good since I left Washington. I lost my appetite before I went there & eat less there then ever before in my life & I think it is that that has broken me down. I hope to recruit with good care soon. The children are doing admirably. Willy & Tommy are the picture of health & always happy. Minnie grows but keeps strong & even Lizzie is improving. Rachel is very large & strong & all think her very pretty. Her eyes were sore when you were here. They have all recovered from sore eyes. Elly is a great chatter-box & is very interesting. She attempts to Sing everything she hears & makes a pretty good effort too. When asked to Sing anything that she is afraid we will laugh at she says very prettily "O that is'nt in my book Minnie has a singing book & they all sing the patriotic songs that have come out lately. Willy refers to the map as much as you & watches the progress of our arms & the relative position of the different points assailed. Tom satisfies himself with betting on the Union & abusing "the old secesh". Father goes to Chauncey to day. Philemon has been holding court in Whitman's place. All send best love to you and are very anxious to hear from you but none so much so as your devoted & affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
March 21, 1862.
[1862/03/21]
[WTS]
My last letter dearest Cump was written on Monday to send by Mr. Dayton who has by this time I hope reached you and been set to work. I did not think, when I wrote to Dayton that he would have any trouble in getting a commission or I would not have written. Both he & Henry Reese were so very much pleased with the situation that was offered that they came to Columbus and so pressed the matter that Dayton's heart was so set on it that he could not give it up. You seem to have forgotten that you said to me in a letter from Paducah that you would keep a place for him I am rejoiced, indeed, that you have a proper Staff at last & I hope you will still have a place for Dayton for I shall feel that I have done him an injury by sending him down, if he is disappointed. You can let one of your Lieutenants return to his company & keep Dayton. You will find him very servicable Do not forget to write to the Governor about him & let him write at the same time to the Governor telling him where to direct his commission which is not to be given until your letter is recd I feel very anxious for news from you as there is a large force opposed to you, but my hope in God's mercy is strong and I have prayed that you may be spared to know the truth and to die in the Church. I am too happy to have the assurance of your improved health & spirits. Even the newspaper correspondents say that Genl Sherman of Ohio never looked better than now. All the country is on the qui vive for news from up the Tennessee. I received your dear letter from Savannah and it made me a happier being. I am sorry to hear that poor Hammond is sick. Give him a chance of distinction & recommend him for promotion. He has the devotion of a brother or son to you and I will always remember him for it. When he is too sick for Service send him to me. I will be snugly fixed in Nick Little's house in a fortnights' time & there I will have room to entertain & take care of any sick or wounded friend you choose to send to me.
Dr Davis asked me to ask you to send him a pass to visit the troops in that Column to render gratuitous assistance as Surgeon &c. Can you do so?
I received the money you sent for which I thank you. Must I send to Capt. Welsh the money for the street rail road along Lizzie's lot? Mrs. Welsh wrote to me that the Capt was doing nothing & she thought of coming to New York, for the Sake of economy. I think it likely that he drinks to excess.
Tom Ewing saw Pottor & the Editors of the Commercial in Cincinnate & they told him that they were sensible of the injustice they had done you & that they felt it keenly. They said that recent developments had proved the correctness of your views & the impossibility of a successful expedition into East Tennessee. Halstead - one of the Editors said that Carter had told him since the bridge burning that the fight at Wild Cat had led him to suppose that the Expedition was ready & he had ordered the destruction of the bridges three weeks before the time agreed on with you. Carter said the men were paid in gold for the work & that one man had pocketed $1,500, fifteen hundred dollars for destroying one bridge which is still standing Both Editor & Proprietor told Tom they would take pleasure in making amends for the injustice done you & that they would use every favorable opportunity for that purpose The children are in fine health & running wild the pleasant weather. All send best love to dear Papa & all the family send love to you. Believe me as ever truly yours
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
March 26, 1862
[1862/03/26]
[WTS]
I am awaiting news of you dearest Cump with the greatest anxiety. You are far down in Dixie now & if the rebels intend to make a stand anywhere they must make a desperate one there. We will have good news soon though, I am sure and in the meantime we feel most anxious for we know how many must suffer.
Yesterday I received a letter from John Sherman in which he says Secretary Stanton assured him the day before that "he would seek an early occasion to express his sense, of the injustice that had been done you." He asked John how he thought he could best do it. So even in this world justice will be done & that very soon. Men will appear at their true value & when they do you will come up all right. McClellan is in a ridiculous position but even worse may befall him yet as it is believed by many that he is a Knight of the Golden Circle.
We are anxious to know whether Charley is ordered down to you. He had some hopes of receiving orders when he wrote to us last on the 16th inst. Genl Hitchcock is on duty at the War Department, and I think he will order the head quarters of the Regiment into Ohio where it can fill up. Colonel Burbank or you ought to write to him on the Subject. When the head quarters are removed orders can then be got for the battalion to be sent to you.
The pay masters receipt you sent me was returned from Columbus with word that provision would be made for those things at the County Treasury. The County Treasury know nothing of it & I am like the old woman whose would not go over the stile & who could'nt get home that night. Believe that the money would be sent on this from Columbus I sent Capt. Welsh a draft for $163 on Lizzie's lot that being the assesment for the Street rail road. I had a long & very good letter from the Capt. I need money just now for my housekeeping arrangements as I wish to get a stove & some few other necessaries which as I buy second hand I must pay the cash down for. Can't you send me by Adam's express company - The children's school bill to Kate & a new shoe bill - which is worse than any blacksmiths - are now due, I enclose you a letter from poor Bainbridge - too - can't you give him a letter of recommendation? Lizzie was mortified at the bare idea of it being she who was at the President's party. Give my regards to Mr Bowman Capt Hammond & Mr Dayton Believe ever faithfully yours
Ellen E. Sherman.
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
March 29, 1862
[1862/03/29]
[WTS]
I have not had a letter from you for some time, my dearest Cump, & Capt. Hammond writes me that you were sick on the 20th. I trust you have by this time recovered. If you had not I think there would have been some notice of your illness by the correspondance. We hear through them that small pox is in your division. I feel great confidence in the fact that you are not prone to take any of those contagious diseases. I fear our soldiers will suffer greatly from sickness in that climate in this & the approaching season. I suppose my letters do not all reach you and for fear you have not got my last I will repeat, dear Cump, that the money for that paymaster's receipt is not forthcoming & that I am in need of money for school bills shoe bills & for moving &c. If Adam's & Co have an ag-ent there you cd send by them or if you could send me your pay account I could send it to Washington to whomsoever you might direct.
I hope you find Mr Dayton useful and agreeable. I am anxious to hear that his commission is on the way to him as he will be the loser by my effort to do you & him a service should he fail to get his commission.
Give Capt. Hammond a chance to distinguish himself & gain a Major's commission
All are in fine health here and only anxious to hear of the great battle in which you must soon be engaged May the great God of Justice protect & save you now as heretofore. Ever faithfully yours,
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
March 30, 1862
[1862/03/30]
[WTS]
Lieut Rice leaves in an hour for the Tennessee River and he has called to say that he will deliver a letter to you. Lieut. Rice is a nephew of Mr Talmadge & in Tom Worthington's Regiment, he has been home on sick leave for some time & has only now recovered.
I have but a few moments to write & will only say that I have been very constant in writing but I fear my letters have not reached you regularly. Captain Hammond will be sorry to hear that Miss Curtis - General Curtis's daughter is dead. We are in constant expectation of the news of a great battle near or at Corinth. The papers give me news of you & your last reconnoisance on Monday the 24 or the day previous. I hope Mr Dayton is installed & that you have written to the Governor about him. The children are all in fine health and enjoying the delightful spring weather exceedingly. I move this week into Nick Little's house. If you wish to send Mr Bowman Capt Hammond or anyone else wounded or sick for me to take care of you can rely upon my being ready for them. I will have a bed room down stairs & can put up beds in two other rooms, on the first floor that will be quiet & comfortable as there is an outside kitchen to the house. If you should be sick or wounded I will go to you if it be at the risk of my life & bring you home or stay with you but my hope is strong that you will escape unhurt from all perils. May the Great God of all mercy protect & restore you to your family & yours ever,
Ellen,
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
April 3, 1862.
[1862/04/03]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
I wrote to you a few days since & sent my letter by private hand. A nephew of Mr. Talmadge was starting to join his Regiment - Tom Worthington's - which is in your division and called to offer to take a letter to you. Yesterday I received letters from Capt. Hammond & Mr. Bowman both of whom tell me you are well and in good spirits which makes me feel very happy. I am truly indebted to Capt. Hammond for his attention in writing to me so punctually ever since I asked him to do so. He says his health is miserable - poor fellow I am sorry for him. Should he get too sick for duty you must send him up to us to take care of. Mr. Bowman says he has not heard from Mrs B. for a month. I will write to him in a day or two. I have written to him quite recently but as my letter was not directed to your care he may not receive it. We are enjoying most delightful weather. The children live out of doors. We are preparing to move into Nick Little's house. The children are impatient to go now the time has come but Mrs. Matlack is there too ill just now to move. It is a very pleasant house with plenty of rooms and an out side kitchen for Summer. I have weaned the baby and let her nurse go. Elizabeth Reese spent last evening with me. The friends/everywhere are well. Father is at Chauncey & will go from there to Cincinnati. Poor Charley must be sick at heart being kept there at Alton so long. Can't you make another demand for him? or would it do any good. McClellan is openly charged with being a Knight of the Golden Circle and I believe he is guilty & that he will be in Fort Warren, in the place of Stone, in six weeks time. It is scandalous that he is permitted to hold the best part of our Army still idle after having paralised it for so long. He is sworn to Jeff. Davis without a doubt. He is politically dead now. How could Halleck have supposed him competent? Until he & the rest of the conspirators high in our service are brought down our country is in imminent peril. No matter what victories we gain. May the Great God protect & defend us. I would bitterly regret that children had ever been given me were the country to be brought to ruin & anarchy. I await with the greatest anxiety the coming contest in which you must be engaged. I fear they will have great numbers there but of course they sent their spies to us with exaggerated accounts. Recommend yr. dear Soul to God - As ever yours,
Ellen
[EES]
[April 9th 1862]
[1862/04/09]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
I forgot to put in John's letter - I also forgot to say that I wish you would take a little more time & write to Halstead. He nor any one else that ever I heard, ever intimated that you were vain of of your present position or proud & haughty because of it. He said you were naturally so & you do seem so to some -
faithfully yours
Ellen
[EES]
Same date as other - 9th April
Send me word how much express bill T. W. Sherman owes you
I will have the Bank collect it
Lancaster O.,
April 9th 1862
[1862/04/09]
[WTS]
Yesterday, my dearest Cump, I received your letter of the 3rd inst. I feel uneasy about your having the complaint common to that latitude & to Camp life. I hope by this time you are entirely recovered from it. You must not let it go too far but if you find it becoming chronic come home & take care of yourself. I trust Halleck will soon go down and have the work commenced in desperation & finished before the hot weather & the yellow fever come on. McClellan has been playing into their hands - he is sworn to them under pain of assassination - and he has allowed things to work so as to leave our troops to be killed off by yellow fever when Summer comes on. Men high in authority are watching him & he will likely be in Fort Warren in Stone's place before long. Stone was a scape goat for him & he send Stone to prison to prevent his own treason being discovered. May vengeance fall on him! It surely will for God will have justice done us sooner or later.
I am sorry Hammond is so unwell. You had better send him up to take a rest & recruit. I have a bed room fitted up on the first floor of the house & can entertain him comfortably. The house is delightful Large pleasant halls with south windows, two parlours a sitting room, a large dining room & pantry & a few paces off, but under coveredway, a large nice kitchen with fire place. Up stairs rooms over the two parlors a small room at the end of the hall and rooms over the sitting room & dining room. All the windows have nice shutters. The rear buildings are good, the stable is very nice & I intend to keep a cow. The yard is fine & has many fruit trees & grape vines on it. So you may rest assured the children will be comfortable and happy. Rachel has been weaned & is thriving wonderfully. She is the image of Willy in appearance & disposition. She is very fond of me & I hardly know why for I do not pay much attention to her. She is so healthy & strong it does not seem necessary. You would be highly entertained could you hear Elly chatting. She is a great talker & singer. "Our flag is there" is her favorite song at present. She calls herself "Ellen Sherman" & talkes about what she is going to do "after to-morrow". She knows everything is very smart & interesting but she is still cross after Emily & frets when out of her sight long. Willy & Tommy are growing finely & Willy & Minnie are studying well with Kate Willock. Tommy is a real Yankee for calculating. Yesterday he wanted a cent to buy licquorice. I gave him five cents & told him that would get one stick & I wd give him part of it. "Five cents for one stick, said he, twenty sticks for a dollar". Kate is quite proud of him when he does go to school which is only when he feels disposed. Lizzie is very deaf again & as usual, when deaf she is full of mischief.
Mr Willock has just called & given me the first gleanings of the terrible battle Thank our merciful God you are alive but your poor hand gone - Will you come home. Telegraph me what to do. Send Hammond Mr Bowman anyone you wish here & for God's sake come yourself for awhile. In life or death
Yours ever,
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
April 13, 1862.
[1862/04/13]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
I await with great anxiety authentic accounts of the wounded of the terrible battle of last Sunday & Monday. The papers twice stated you were shot in the hand by a canon ball. Capt Hammond's dispatch came to me Thursday night stating that you were alive & well. I cannot but hope that you were not wounded whilst I, at the same time, fear, it is too true. When Mr Darst left Friday I was too sick to write. I never was more sick for a day but I was up although very weak the next day.
There is a report in town that Mr. Dayton is killed but I will not believe it until I hear it from a reliable source & I think we would have heard it in that way by this time had it been true as he had been regularly announced before the battle as your Aid he wrote me.
Poor Charley is distressed to death and we are one & all sympathysing with him. I think it outrageous in Halleck to leave them an ignominious post whilst he sends so many raw regiments into the field. It is an outrage too that your request for them has not been granted. Halleck gave me his word when I was in St. Louis, that they should be ordered into the field soon. Do see him about it & demand them as a partial justice for yourself. You have recd injustice & neglect enough, do not submit to any more. Demand your Battalion & if Halleck is not as treacheous as Hamilton you will soon have them. Hamilton is no friend of yours. He shewed me that very plainly - he treated me with great rudeness. I will improve the first opportunity I ever have to let him know that he need never make protestations of friendship again for he has shewn his true spirit & it is not one of friendship - it is widely the reverse. That Battalion is kept there to indulge a pique or ill will of his & I hope you will see that he can no longer treat you in that way. If you write to Washington for your Battalion you can get them. I am anxious to know whether to send you anything & if so what - whether only eatable or both dainties & light clothing. You must need a light coat. I trust I will hear the truth about you today. May God continue his mercy to us and protect you as he has hitherto done amid so many fearful dangers. I get into my own house today. The children are charmed. You must send up any friend you wish.
I hope you will soon be able to write me a few lines. I hope to hear from Hammond or Dayton in a day or two. All well and most anxious to hear. Elly tells, that her "other Papa had his hand shot off". Every one expresses the deepest interest & utmost regard. Poor forlorn Charley Hood passed me on the street & said "have you heard from the General, I could'nt sleep last night for thinking of him, it hurt my feelings so".
We have news this morning of Beauregard's death,
Believe me ever your truly affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
April 18th 1862 Friday noon.
[1862/04/18]
[WTS]
Yesterday my dearest Cump, I had the gratification of receiving letters from Capt. Hammond Mr. Dayton & Mr. Bowman. I was rejoiced with the assurance of your good health, notwithstanding your severe labors of the three previous days. The papers gave us full accounts & by comparing notes I was able to tell pretty nearly how the matter stood with you. Genl Halleck Genl Grant as well as all the subordinate Officers concur in the testimony of your great skill energy & courage. I felt as certain before that you would display these qualities as I feel now that you have shewn them but it is nevertheless a gratification to know that others are disposed to do you justice. Whether any blame can be justly attached to us for the surprise I know not but I do know that as far is in your power lay, you were on the alert and had your pickets out. I do not require to be told that. I know you well enough to know that it was so.
I hope you will recommend Capt. Hammond for promotion as I am sure he must have served you well during those terrible days.
For all our sakes do have Charley's companies sent to you. It is a shame that they have been doomed to that ignominious post so long to gratify a pique of your pretended friend Hamilton.
We all receive with infinite pride & satisfaction the accounts we get of you each day. You would yourself be astonished at the general interest felt by men women & children of the town & country, in your welfare. I enclose you a slip from the Gazette - The Eagle also contains a pretty notice. The children are all well and doing finely. Willy and Minnie interested in their studies; Lizzie keeping house; Tommy enjoying the yard all the day long & Elly trying to nurse Rachel who is as large as she, I am better than I was last week but I am not well yet. We have got into our house (Nick Little's, opposite Philemon's) & you would be pleased to see how very delightfully we are settled. Two parlors a sitting room dining room & pantry out side kitchen cellar well, cistern, stable, fruits & flowers. Up stairs, five rooms a fine hall & a garret window shutters in nice order & every thing comfortable & pleasant. Father gave us a cow. I have good girls and we flourish. All we want to make us happy is our head our best beloved you who are exposed to so my privations as well as dangers. You must reflect Cump on the painful long & sorrowing days your death would leave me to bear & no longer risk your life rashly as I fear you sometimes do.
Believe me ever yours.
Ellen
[EES]
April 19th Saturday
[1862/04/19]
[WTS]
When I sent my letter down yesterday dearest it was too late for the mail so I have opened it to say how happy I was at receiving your letter last night. It must have been your left hand that was shot. Poor young Holliday! Where do his friends live? tell me that I may write to them; his parents, his wife, or his sisters. Truly your escape from death seems miraculous & I have offered & will continue to offer a grateful heart to God for His Mercy to you. Do not expose yourself unnecessarily & do recommend your soul with contrition to God every day. Do not go into the battle as a heathen would with no prayer for another world to which you may be hurried. Poor young Holliday. I hope God has had mercy on his soul. Write me how Hammond & Dayton did & about Mr Bowman. Father feels that Genl Halleck is treating Charley with unjustifiable neglect. We all feel insulted & hope you will demand your rights & rescue the poor fellow from his prison. I am sorry you lost everything. You must take from the Rebels now. Shall I send you a box? You have a trunk here. Until it is sheep shearing & weaving time you send me your pay account endorsed to my order. Have Hammond made Major, I will write more letters than you want to read,
As ever yours,
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
April 23, 1862
[1862/04/23]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
Yesterday I received your letter of the 16th written in Capt. Hammond's hand. In obediance to your wishes I have got the receipt from my trunk, for $10.000 signed by T. C. Pomeroy, and have copied it. When I have closed this letter I will go down street with it & get Philemon to attest the copy & the original shall be mailed to the Quarter Master Gen'l by the Eastern Mail which leaves an hour or two later than the one which takes this letter. I am pained to hear that you are suffering from the wound in your hand. I had just concluded that it must be your left hand that was wounded, otherwise I thought you could not have written me the long letter you did after the battle. I hope your wound will soon be well and you will not again unnecessarily expose yourself. The papers, some of them - are howling about the absence of pickets & your consequent surprise. Grant has been tried & condemned by a supreme court of newspaper correspondants & editors who, of course, know more about what was done, what was left undone, & what ought to have been done than the best Generals in the field. Do write me about the pickets & why you were surprised. I am just as certain that you took every precaution in your power to guard against surprise as I am that you are living and my equanimity is not disturbed but I would like to have you write me just exactly how it was - whether there was any failure in the placing pickets whether they failed to do their duty, & whether anything more than was done, could have been done to guard against surprise. I think the papers are right in their criticisms of the course Gen'l Halleck pursues towards the wounded. Our own wounded should be attended to first & then if we have means men & time attend to them. I think too it is a gross outrage to prevent the negroes in their efforts to escape. The rebels - inhuman blood thirsty wretches who have brought all this suffering upon us - their women as well as their men - ought not to be protected in their property, especially that property which enables them to keep up the means of carrying on this warfare. They have been treated every where with too much kindness, their bush whackers, wire cutters & bridge burners, when among pretended peaceful citizens ought to be shot without the preliminaries of the law. I, for one shall be sorry to see the south received into the union again until her slaves are free & she is humbled in that which has led to her pride & wickedness. Miserable people I feel no compassion for them.
It is hard that those regiments should not have a chance to retrieve their characters. They were so green that their running might be overlooked & they have a chance to redeem their name, when better diciplined.
I hope you will recommend Capt. Hammond for promotion in your report, He must have done his duty well in those terrible days when you forced the admiration of even the correspondants who hate you. Do not forget to let me know where poor Holliday was from if you can find out. We are in constant expectation of the news of another battle. I shall feel thankful indeed when it is over & you are safe. I have written you often of our new house. The peach pear apple & plumb trees are all in bloom: the grass is green & the sun is bright and you can imagine how the children frisk & play. In the house everything is pleasantly arranged. I am busy yet fitting up window blinds &c. &c. Lizzie is at work all the time washing ironing sweeping sewing or something. The Dr. said she must not go to School. I had to get her a little wash board, to wash with the girls on wash days All are well at home & ever anxious to hear from you. The boys are anxiously expecting those bullets May God in Heaven bless & keep you -
Ever yours,
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
April 24, 1862.
[1862/04/24]
[WTS]
I wrote you yesterday, dearest Cump, & in the afternoon I received your letter of the 14th telling me about your expidition up the river & the breaking of the road. The newspapers had noticed it before and Capt. Hammond, who loses no opportunity of giving me pleasure by conveying agreeable information, had told me of the trip. Father was however more pleased with your account of it and your message to him regarding it. The Captain had sent me a copy of Gen'l Halleck's letter & it circulated extensively among your friends & the community generally. It gave the truest pleasure to all your acquaintances old and young.
You tell me to say nothing more about McClellan - Aside from his treatment of you I am convinced that he is a Knight of the Golden Circle & sworn to Jeff Davis under pain of assissination. I think that nothing else can explain his conduct throughout. You cannot know all the we do - Was there ever such a thing heard of in history as the evacuation of Manassas in the face of such an Army & such means of he had? He has the confidence of no one but Mr Lincoln & he is no judge of character. No victory, however brilliant can restore him to the confidence of his countrymen, but he will not gain a victory - he will suffer a few men a York Town to hold him with his still splendid army whilst the majority of the Rebel troops will fall upon McDowell, To you I must speak my convictions & they are that McC. is a greater traitor than Jeff. Davis. You committed no mistake in leaving Kentucky. Treated as you were you did right & I have rejoiced a hundred times that you had the penetration to see & the character to do what was best at that time. I am rejoiced that you have had so much pleasure in the Kentucky who joined you at Shiloh. Capt. Miller told me, at Louisville that if you staid there you would gain a name such as no man ever had, you were so much valued by them. You now begin to believe it. I wrote you yesterday about the newspaper howlings about the pickets at the battle. Do write me something or have Hammond write something definite on the subject. I am truly rejoiced to hear that the story of Dr. Hewitt is false. I had been afraid it might be true. You have never told me what you think of Stone. I copied the receipt for ten thousand dollars & Philemon certified to it & I then sent it to Gen'l Meigs. Philemon says that two other receipts which I have duplicates but as they are not exactly similar though for the same account of money I thought it better to copy that & file away the copy. I have not told you how nicely we have our household arranged. First in my parlour I have over the mantle-piece that picture of Father which you had framed in Louisiana (I had it varnished) & under it the pretty crucifix you bought me in St. Louis. On one side the room I have Minnie's picture, with a northern light on it & each side of it hang your picture & John's - under it Helen Hunter's. Between the windows hangs my picture & under it the fine picture of the Bust which Mr Griswold gave me. In another recess I have Boyle & Henrietta's hung high & lower at each side the Arch Bishop & Father Ryder & under it the pretty medallion picture of the Madonna. All are handsomely hung with cords & tassels & they give the room a furnished appearance with the fine carpet & a nice sofa from Mother's &c. &c. In the back parlor I have a nice bed & suitable furniture where I will put the first of your friends that you send up for me to take care of. In the sitting room there is nothing but carpet blinds table & chairs - there, the children romp as they please. The dining room is well supplied with cupboards & is shady cool & pleasant whilst the kitchen, a few steps from the dining room, is large well lighted & very nice. A well and cistern are near the kitchen & the surroundings are neat & sufficient. I have the front room up stairs where I am now writing. Minnie & Lizzie have the room back of mine with a door between. They have the birds that you painted for them framed & hung in their room & they take pride in keep it very nice. Tommy & Willy have the little room over the front hall where they sleep together every night. In the rear building are two rooms over the sitting room & dining room - in one, Emily keeps Elly and Rachel & Gertrude has the other. At any time I can give my room or Willy's room to a guest & should you send up a dozen wounded I could put beds in all the rooms & take care of them. Gertrude has to write to Joe all she hears about you. Tommy & Willy are anxiously awaiting those bullets &c. and the girls protest that they are also to have some of the relics I am glad Mr. Bowman had the pleasure of going on that expedition, I know it gratified him. We all feel sorry for Charley but I suppose God has permitted it for the best. He may have our children to take care of when we are gone. May God have mercy on us in our last hour! Do give Hammond a chance for promotion. Henry Reese spent evening before last with me.
Take some care of yourself for our sake if not for your own - think of our desolation should you die
As ever,
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
April 26, 1862. Saturday.
[1862/04/26]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
Tom & John Sherman, on receiving a copy of Gen'l Halleck's letter from Capt. Hammond called with it on the Sec. of War. He had not recd it but was greatly pleased & said as soon as he did receive it he would have it published. He had sent your name in to the President for promotion as soon as he had seen Grant's report but the President prefers to make the nomination on Halleck's recommendation & said he would send in your name to the Senate as soon as Sec. Stanton got his letter. He asked Tom when the Gen'l's name was sent in to present his compliments to Mrs. Sherman "to whom he had taken a great liking". Tom assured him the liking was reciprocated & told him that I had run up the Republican flag as his nomination &c - He rubbed his hands & with much pleasure said "thats first rate". Mr. Stanton has expressed for some time both to Tom & John a desire to do you justice. He said that the trouble with you was, you were a General & those who failed to support you were not Apropos, Father is in constant communication with Mr. Stanton, & his opinion of a certain person whom you told me to keep my own counsels about are just what I expressed to you in a former letter. Last night Father received a dispatch from the Secretary, concerning him which has occasioned him great uneasiness for the country. Time will prove to you that he is what I said. Charley is so heart sick that he has given up all hope of kind treatment from Halleck, & I fear he includs you. We are making every effort to get them into another Department where they can possibly get some other than jailor's duty. I will never like Hamilton again. Please tell Capt Hammond & Mr Dayton that I am under the deepest obligations to them both for their letters. I will write to them soon. I do hope you have mentioned the Capt Honorably in your report. We have not seen it yet. Did Grant neglect any duty? Truly do you stand vindicated from recent slanders. I need not tell you of the pride & pleasure of your friends. May God in his mercy preserve you to us.
Ever your devoted
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
April 29, 1862
[1862/04/29]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
Willy was perfectly delighted to receive a letter from you yesterday. He shewed it to Grand Pa & Uncle Reese and wanted everybody to see it. All the children were more pleased with it than with any of your letters to me. You seem to think so much more of Willy than of Tommy that they all perceive it. Poor little Tom was charmed - his eye brightened & his whole face beamed happiness when he found you had mentioned his name with Willy's as one to whom the bullets were to sent.
You would be well satisfied with Willy's progress at school - he reads & spells remarkably well - he is in the third reader & can read a story for me without any blundering. Kate says he is very ambitious & persevering. Lizzie cannot go to school but her health is better than it was. Rachel is the great pet with all - Grand Pa says she is the most intelligent child he ever saw & so sweet & amiable - he loves her dearly.
We are all rejoicing at the prospect of Charley's going down which we infer is very certain, from what you said to Willy.
See that you have him with you or he will be made a baggage guard or grave digger Hamilton has a spite at him & I reciprocate the feeling with Hamilton. I am truly glad to hear your contradiction of the base slanders against Dr. Hewitt. The slanders against you were nothing to them. Please shew these articles to Hammond. May Heaven protect & defend you -
Ever yours
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
May 1st, 1862.
[1862/05/01]
[WTS]
The anniversary of our wedding dearest Cump and I must write if only to remind you that I never can forget or cease to recall every date connected with you.
Mr Stanton had Genl'l Halleck's letter in reference to you published. He told Tom that he would. Your name was sent in to the Senate yesterday & will of course be confirmed as yr. only enemies are among the Generals.
I have recd & filed away the receipt of that receipt of that receipt which I sent to the Quarter Master General for $10,000.
We have not seen your report yet - Send it to me.
I want you to write to Mr. Stanton & recommend Hammond's promotion. Send the letter through John Sherman or Thomas will suppress it. He kept Gen'l H's as long as he could. All well & anxious to hear from you.
As ever.
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
May 2nd 1862
[1862/05/02]
[WTS]
I wrote you a few lines yesterday dearest Cump. I was so hurried I had scarcely time to say a word. John Hunter left, with the Sanitary Committee, for Pittsburgh & by him I sent by him our little old carpet bag with a suit of summer cloth clothes a change of underclothes & a lot of new & old handkerchiefs to you. I hope you will get them. John McCrackken called to tell me of your promotion & seemed to feel infinite pleasure at it. I find that Charley has given up all hopes of being ordered to you & rejoicing over the prospect of being sent to Elmira N. Y. whither they are to be ordered. Charley says it wd gratify the first wish of their hearts to be sent to you but they have abandoned all hope of it. By applying for the Battalion they could be ordered to you, from Washington. They have two more companies which Charley is drilling, It will nearly kill Charley if he is kept in inglorious inaction all the time. Poor Lieut Lovett died at Alton. You will have to send me a pay account on which I can get money at the Bank - I need money badly. Why do we not get your report? What of Hildebrand? See article enclosed from Cin! Gazette.
All well - As ever your
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
May 15 1862
[1862/05/05]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
I must lose no time in acknowledging the receipt of the pay account for April, which you sent me. It will pay all my expenses of moving &c. &c. and start me off fresh again. Very recently I got the money on the certificate you sent & that paid all the old bills but before that I had got in the condition of Dick Swivller- nearly every street was blocked up by my creditors. They were not very severe however & I managed to live through it. Philemon has had some sport at my expense about my letters to you which he said he feared to see published in the Southern papers after hearing that your camp had fallen into the hands of the rebels & all your clothes &c. destroyed. I am very glad indeed to hear that yr. clothes were not all lost. We got the map & the report over which we have been exceedingly interested. Father is very much pleased with it. I am glad to see you mention Hammond but I want you further to write to John and some other of your friends, or to the proper authorities in Washington & request his promotion. Please do this. You have a warm friend & admirer in Mr. Stanton. Genl Hitchcock has written me the most kind and complimentary letter congratulating me on the "high position now occupied by my husband". He says Genl Halleck has written to him of you & that you will be known as the hero of Pittsburgh Landing. The President desired a friendly message to be given me, "when the Genl's name was sent in for promotion". I have had a beautiful letter from Mrs Swords, & from every quarter the most friendly & kind congratulations. Harriett Stanbery even writes me her congratulations & evinces the greatest interest in you. The Cincinnati Commercial really seems disposed to do you justice & now that you have risen above them in every way & utterly confounded their malice I would say no more of them. If you give them a little kindness they will prove your best friends. One of the Publishers - Halstead I think it is - (the one who acknowledged to Tom the gross wrongs they had done you) certainly seems now to understand your true character & I wd if I were you say nothing about them there for it will only please the poor miserable correspondants to know that you still remember their flings.
Boyle writes to Mother in the happiest & most enthusiastic manner over your triumph. He says among other things "Truth crushed to earth has risen". Boyle has the most unbounded enthusiastic devotion to you - you ought to love him for it. Our mail leaves earlier than usual & I must close to be in time for it. I am glad to have your word against the slanders about "the surprise" also about poor Dr Hewitt. Mr Dayton must be very happy. I am glad you mentioned Col. Worthington in yr. report. I wrote to you about Stanley White. I have since had reason to believe he is not a very suitable person to recommend & I am sorry I troubled you. With a heart full of love
Your ever affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
I hope Charley will soon be with you
Lancaster O.,
May 11th 1862 Sunday night
[1862/05/11]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
I was sadly disappointed today to find that John Hunter had gone to Pittsburg Landing without seeing you. He got home this morning in the freight train & I hear through Helen that he was not permitted to land. None of the Committee were allowed to go ashore, further than the mere landing. It has been a week since I heard from you by letter either of yours of Capt. Hammond or Dayton. If Captain Hammond is sick send him up to me and I will take care of him & send him to you well in a short time. I feel the greatest apprehension for you now, my beloved husband - the exposure to climate & the dangers of the battle field are immeasurable & my courage sometimes grows somewhat faint when I reflect on the fearful risks you run. Great & fervant will be my thanks to God when you have safely outridden the storms which have gathered around us. Whatever be your fate with my latest breath will I teach our children to revere your name & look back upon your career with pride and glory. I wrote thus far last night my dearest & this morning have come over to take care of Mother who is quite ill. Sis is in Cincinnati. All send best & truest love to you. May our good God spare you to us my ever dear one - All the children are well & looking & doing well. Mr Vinton is dead! News by telegraph. Regards to all friends.
As ever
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster O.,
May 22, 1862
[1862/05/22]
[WTS]
I have been waiting in the most painful suspence dearest Cump, for the news of the battle which it seemed to us last Saturday cd not be delayed a day longer. May God protect you & bring you safely through to your poor little family for we would be desolate indeed without you. My faith & hope are stronger than my fear but contending emotions make a quiet suspense very painful.
I got the receipt for which you wrote & sent it to the Quarter Master General and disposed of the remaining papers according to your directions. I have an acknowledgement of the receipt of the receipt for ten thousand dollars which I sent on some time ago. I will take care of it.
Your Sword is scoured bright & hangs in my room, your trunk is in the boys room & your watch is carefully put away. I have sent your picture, which you had taken for me in N. York, to Washington to Tom Ewing to have some pictures taken from it some for sale & some for me & the family. Twenty persons have written to me for yours and I had not been able to send it. because I hated to part with this long enough to have others taken from it.
Can't you move in some quarter to have Col. Swords receive proper promotion Mrs. Swords has written to me once about you and once about that.
I really think you ought to do more than you have for Capt. Hammond. Please write a letter recommending his promotion to date from from the 6th April & I will send it with one from Father to Mr Stanton. I ask this as a special favor - please do it. just a short letter to Mr Stanton & enclose to me & I will get Father to write & enclose it with his to Mr. Stanton. Mr. Stanton is Father's particular friend & he thinks most highly of you. Long before the battle he said the only difficulty with you was that you were a General & those who had failed to see as you did were not. Now do not slight my request, If you will not write to Mr. Stanton write at least to Gen'l Hitchcock.
Gen'l Stone sent me McDougal's speech on his arrest & imprisonment. How is Schuyler Hamilton? I was sorry to hear he was sick & hope he is by this time better. Where is Prime? Tell him he must come & see us. I recd Dr. Murray's kind letter. I have concluded to drop that young gentleman of whom I wrote. The Dr. wants to see you President. I would not be surprised if he would some day. It would be a good time for him if you were
We have fine fruit on our lot - cherries pears apples plumbs apricots quinces & grapes - all in the finest condition. The children are very happy & very well. I am going down now to see Rose & Mary Reese who reached home last evening.
You may well say Elly is a chatter box she is the most interesting little talker I ever heard & is not at all shy before strangers. She sings "Our flag is there" & many other songs & is greatly pleased when invited to sing by any one. Rachel is our darling. She is fair as a lilly & her cheeks are red her eyes the sweetest blue & her hair a lovely shade. She is like Minnie & Willy but prett