St. Louis, Mo.
Jan. 26, 1866 Friday morning.
[1866/01/26]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
The enclosed came from Mr. Burman yesterday with a letter to me & a check for $1305.50, thirteen hundred & five dollars & fifty cents that being the 4th of what Mr. Burman has thus far received for the work. This is for 26110 copies all that Richardson is ready to account for at present. Richardson will send me the balance due on his promised five per cent as soon as the books are shipped. If I do not succeed in saving the five hundred you want I will make it up out of this and keep the balance myself. What do you think now of my speculation? I fear I am part Yankee I am making so much money.
I trust you reached Washington safely & in ordinary health. All the children prayed faithfully for a safe journey for you.
All are well the four are at school & Rachel & Tommy Steele are taking the house.
I hope you found dear Father well. Ever your truly affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster O.
May 19, 1866.
[1866/05/19]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
Your letter of the 6th reached me here on the 14th, too late to write you at Omaha where you were to be on the 15th. I write now in time to reach you at St. Pauls where you were to be on the 30th. You gave me no directions about writing when you left but in answer to my enquiries you said you would have none, or very little opportunity to write. So your letter & your intimation that you could hear at Omaha and St. Pauls were quite a surprise to me. I came up here on the 10th left home on the 8th spending one day in Cin. at the Burnet House. I sent my card to Mrs. Miller, the morning after I arrived but she very naturally declined seeing me and I saw Capt. Miller only as I was leaving the second morning. I saw all the friends & spent the evening with Susan or rather at Susan's with Fanny & Moulton Charley &c. The weather has been delightful. Father was quite well until yesterday when he had a pretty bad attack of cramp colic or something of that sort. He is getting over it. I start on Monday the 21st - day after tomorrow, for home, spending one day at Susan's in Cincinnati as I go. Minnie & Lizzie have written to me daily since I left and all are well. It was reported in the papers that you were at St. Pauls on the 15th, but I think it must be an erroneous report, but if true you will not get this letter & must have cut your trip quite short, and will likely get home as soon as I do. Kate Willock is going out with me. All desire love. Ever your truly affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
Cincinnati O.
July 11th, 1866
[1866/07/11]
[WTS]
Dearest Cump: After you and the girls got off I had a tiresome and most fatigueing day & owing to the excitement of the 4th I could not get the household quieted down until a very late hour at night. That & the excessive heat of the two days following completely prostrated me and I became absolutely alarmed & determined to hurry out of the City the first day I felt able to travel. Elly was very sick too & fainted every time she attempted to sit up after Wednesday. The day before we left it rained & the ride was cool & pleasant & both Elly & I gained strength on the way. We got here late Monday night spent yesterday & today here at Mr. Slevin's & leave in the morning for home. Charley will take me up so I sent Patrick on ahead to announce our coming. I am still too weak to walk and today have been scarcely able to sit up. Give my love to dear Minnie & tell her I want to write to her but I have not the strength. My love to Kate too.
Quarter Master Wood gave me to understand just before I left, through Mr. Ring, that he "would not receipt for those chairs tables &c. &c. I left strict orders that no one should touch one of them until they had a written order from you. They talk of taking the Ambulance & are particularly anxious to have the harness it being a very good one. It is my opinion that Woods & Co were sent to St. Louis to annoy you & that the removal of Mr. Willock was aimed at you. I thought so at the time & thought Meigs' dispatch to you in regard to the affair was impertinent in the highest degree. I have observed that Woods has everything very fine himself. It was so lonely at home when you all left we could hardly bear to stay a day I feel sorry you have a poor sickly wife and I fear your trouble in that respect may increase. - I am good for nothing. Elly & Rachel have enjoyed their visit here exceedingly & hate to leave. Charley is deeply hurt that you had your family at the depot to see Minnie but did not notify him. He thinks he ought to be allowed to see my daughter as soon as any one & I think so too. Love again to dear Minnie & Kate. Ever your affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
Lancaster Ohio;
August 9th, 1866
[1866/08/09]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
I hope you found everything in good order at the house and have been comfortable during your short stay. It is lonely here without you now, but it will be only a short time until we must all start home again. From the newspaper reports I find there is Cholera in St. Louis & I would not be surprised if the schools do not open before the middle of September. I will write tomorrow & request them to notify me on the 25th as you directed. I will not make my arrangements to spend another vacation here but will take the children where they can have more advantages of exercise and I can have the benefit of change of climate. I will come here at other seasons to see Father and must keep the house according to contract with Mr. Workman still eighteen months. Even that will scarcely pay me for the repairs I have already put on the house & lot.
Henry Sherman left yesterday. All the children are enjoying themselves finely. Elly and Rachel do not want to go back, they say, "for a long long while". Father has had a good riding horse brought up from the farm for Minnie and if it ever quits raining she will ride. I never knew as disagreeable a Summer as this has been in regard to weather but as the children have all kept well I am satisfied.
I shall feel very uneasy about you, during your absence, on account of cholera. I hope you will lose no opportunity of writing & telegraphing me. I hope to hear from you at St. Louis & sincerely trust that you are entirely releived of asthma. Ever your affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster O.
Aug. 13, 1866.
[1866/08/13]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
It is scarcely worth while to write at this late date but there seems a chance that you may not leave Omaha for several days yet although you expected to get there on the 15th. You do not tell me, in your letters, how your health is. I feel anxious about your asthma. Indeed I feel very uneasy at having you take this trip in cholera season. I hope you were entirely comfortable at the house. I will get the children to school, in time, and endeavour to have all things go on according to your wishes. I will look forward with great anxiety to your return. It will be very lonely in the house without you.
I do not know whether to send the pony out or not. You can perhaps get one while you are gone that wd cost less than the Express charge on this. Teresa has another son born on Friday. All pretty well. Ever your truly affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster Ohio.
August 16th, 1866.
[1866/08/16]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
Yesterday I received your letter of the 12th telling me to write to you at Fort Laramie and also at Omaha. It seems to me too late to direct now to Omaha but I will write a brief note & direct there after closing this which I will send to Fort Laramie. It makes me feel very unhappy to have you seriously suggest that you may be killed on this trip. My faith in God & His merciful protection is strong however, and you are not prepared to die as Willy was, and I must beleive that my hourly prayers for your safety will be answered as heretofore & you will yet be restored & preserved to us many happy years. With all your natural goodness, your honor & high toned principle you are not the christian that I beleive we will see you before you are called to your long account. Through the same faith that sanctified our darling Willy you too will one day go to your everlasting reward in heaven with him. You have not told me a word of your health - whether the asthma still troubles you. I hope the long trip will be beneficial to your health.
I will carefully observe all your directions, and should the schools open I will have the children there in time. I have written to Father Corbett to notify me about the 25th. I can start on twenty four hours notice. It will seem good to me to get back home again and I shall eagerly look forward to your return.
I shall be delighted to have a close carriage and wish I could get it this fall but I think with you we had better save some money this winter to make up our past extravagance. I expect to astonish you by my economy. It seems to me you favor the $600 instead of the horses in exchange for Bronx, so I shall not take the horses unless very strongly advised by McCoy & Pat.
As to your getting killed & my pension and all that sort of thing, your directions are explicit and very kind but it seems to me I would not follow them to the letter. For instance I know you would rather have your children live where they could have greater advantages than in Lancaster and in a small house I cd live well in St. Louis on $3000 and you may be sure I would remain there. I will attend to the trees in season. You will find plenty of money in the Bank when you wish to draw for more. Instead of spending more, I intend to spend less than I did last year. You must not feel offended if you find Lizzie home from school on your return. I will do just what the Doctor says after he sees her.
The manuscript poem you sent is beautiful. I am glad you were comfortable at the house & found Ellen efficient.
All the children are well. All gather around when I get a letter from you. The prospect of a new carriage has been fully discussed by all and they are quite proud that they will fall heirs to "the old one" as dear Willy used to say. Minnie talks of the new home she is to have and Tommy has quite determined to send out his pony. All the friends are in good condition not-withstanding the threatened approach of cholera. I feel no apprehension in regard to the children but I cannot help fearing that you may have it on the plains. May Willy's pure spirit guide you ever until you meet him in Heaven & may God preserve you to your family yet many years. Ever dearest Cump your truly affectionate,
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster O.
Aug. 15, 1866
[1866/08/15]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
I have just directed a long letter to you to Fort Laramie as it seems to me too late to direct to Omaha but lest you may expect to hear from us there, up to this date, I will briefly say that all are entirely well, and that your long letters have been received and renewed all my appreciation of your extreme kindness and goodness and consideration. I will not admit the thought that I am to lose you but I will follow as closely as possible all your wishes & directions & will return in time for the schools should they open the 1st of Sep. & have everything in order to give you satisfaction when you return, to which happy time I will eagerly look forward. Ever your affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
Lancaster Ohio,
Sep. 10th, 1866
[1866/09/10]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
You may feel annoyed to find that we are still in Lancaster but it is not my fault. You cannot be more anxious to have us return than I am to get back to our own comfortable home and make my preperations for winter and get the children to school. As I told you in my last I have had a protracted attack of dysentery which kept me closely & quietly confined. I have been able to ride out for nearly a week - a little every day but I am not in a condition to travel and Dr. Boerstler tells me it would be madness in me to go to a place where cholera has been and indeed is even yet epedemic. It abated at one time but last week it was nearly as bad as ever - there being nearly sixty deaths a day. I will get all ready to leave on Monday next, the 17th and sincerely hope by that time I may be quite recovered from all dangerous symptoms, when I shall not fear cholera.
I heard from you by telegram from Fort Laramie on the 30th ult. - Genl Nichols forwarded your dispatch, or rather telegraphed me that he had heard by telegraph, on that date. I am growing anxious to hear from you again but I suppose there is but little chance of it for some time. I shall anxiously look for your return for the house will seem very lonely without you.
When you get this you will probably get papers also, and any news I may give are therefore superfluous. The President & party - viz: Seward Grant Farragut &c &c spent Saturday & yesterday in St. Louis. They are to stop at Cincinnati & and Columbus en route to Washington. Father talks of riding up to Columbus to meet them as he wishes to have a talk with Seward. Rawlins is with Grant, Mrs. G. being kept at home by the dangerous illness of her Father. The President exposes himself to insult by the undignified manner in which he speaks at the different points on the road. The Philadelphia convention was a great success. A convention of Soldiers & Sailors &c who sustain the President is to meet at Cleaveland within a week. Tom Ewing is to attend it & will be here afterwards. Henry Ward Beecher sustains the President & has become a real Conservative. He is out in an excellent letter to the Committee who invited him to act as chaplain of the Cleaveland Convention.
The children are all well and Tommy & Elly are very eager to return to school. Minnie is quite placid taking things as they come. Lizzie hopes she will not have to go to school. All pray for you fervently. Ever your truly affectionate
Ellen
[EES]
St. Louis Mo.
Oct. 3rd, 1866
[1866/10/03]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
Although you told me to write to you at Fort Riley by the 15th I have strong hopes that you will be nearer home by that time. The weather is so fine and you appear to be getting along so well, on your journey that I cannot but flatter myself we will see you long before this month is out.
This Oct. 3rd is the 3rd anniversary of our darling's death. How the recollection of that day dulls all earthly pleasure but thank God it brightens the future & makes death which is usually dreaded a goal to be longed for.
We were all glad to get back home on Saturday - the 29th ult. Everything looks bright & pleasant about the house & yard. We are in tolerable health. Minnie & I have to take some large doses of laudanum but nothing more. Minnie Tommy & Elly started to school on Monday. Drs. Pope and Abadie held a consultation over Lizzie & examined her and they say it would be worse than folly - it would be cruelty to send her to school. They enjoin exercise friction of the Spine, salt baths, plenty of sleep & generous diet - Rachel says she is five years old & she would'nt go to school if she were six.
The State fair is in full blast & the Southern Relief fair also. The latter requested your Portrait for exhibition in the Hall. Mr. Gay applied to me for it through Mr. Hauenkamp but I declined to lend it on the grounds that I feared it would be injured by malicious & irresponsible persons. I did it courteously and they seemed to think it was all right. I told them I valued it more than I did the house & that I held it in trust for the children & dared not risk it.
I left all well at Father's. Tom Ewing was there & intended to remain until after the elections to make speeches throughout the State. I presume I told you that Teresa has another son. I am not able to make calls yet or to make any arrangements for receiving visits but the weather is so fine I think I will soon recover my strength. Maj. Turner has not got back yet.
All the children send dear love to you. Ever your truly affectionate
Ellen.
[EES]
St. Louis Mo.
Dec. 17, 1866
[1866/12/17]
Dearest Cump:
[WTS]
Your long letter to Lizzie was most gratifying to her to think it was addressed exclusively to her and that we should all take such interest in it. It is a great comfort to me to know that you have had so much pleasure and your latest letter of the 7th gives me reason to hope that you may be home early in January. I trust you may be, for my trial will seem to me lighter if you are near, and with the children and when I can see you and know that you are well. I hope there will be nothing connected with this trip to annoy you seriously. Do not worry over it if there should be, for your health and well being is worth more than anything else.
We are getting along as nicely as we can, missing you as we do. We have our reading & sewing of evenings and through the day the most of us are busy enough. Elly & Minnie at their dancing school - Lizzie at her gymnasium besides all the other schools and duties. Col. Kessner & Mr. Pitzman, formerly of your staff called a few evenings ago with the dresses, evergreens & photographs. The dresses are the most beautiful I have ever seen and the girls are delighted with them. Minnie says she will not have hers made until she is older & "gets to going to parties". A very sensible conclusion I think. Tommy gets along well at school and is in excellent health. Elly and Rachel are keeping pace with one another in growth & in mischief but we could not spare either of them from the house. I have not heard from Father for some time but I think it is because he is attending to cases in court.
I wrote you that M. Angela made me a short visit and left. Mrs. Bowman is still here being detained by her Brother whose business has most unexpectedly delayed him far beyond the time he supposed it would take. I am enjoying Mrs. B's visit very much indeed. She has helped me with my sewing so much and so nicely that I feel quite at my ease now. I have grown almost too helpless and large to venture out without some risk, particularly as there is now a great deal of ice and snow on the ground.
I think there is no news here that I have not given you in previous letters. Mr. Paskell the early Editor of the Republican died last week. I have seen the Turners as I told you but the Pattersons & I have missed each other in an interchange of visits lately. I write now with very little hope that you will receive the letter. I have written via New York and Havanna several letters. I trust in the mercy of God for your preservation & return. May Willy's pure spirit guide you ever till we both have the happiness of meeting him where he dwells in bliss in God's own bosom. Beleive me ever faithfully & fondly yours,
Ellen.
[EES]
Please thank Genl Sheridan for me for his kindness in sending me the telegraphic dispatch in regard to you. It was most acceptable.