Browse All Letters (449 total)

Washington March 15th I was very sorry, my little darling, on reading yours of the 10th, to find that you were expecting me home to-morrow. I have already prepared you for a disappointment in one of my letters, so that before to-morrow comes you will cease to expect me. It may possibly be another week before I can get home, or even longer, if your…

Washington March 14My good dear wife:What is the reason I don't hear from you oftener? The last letter I received was dated the 9th just one week ago. I have got a letter from John Howard dated the 10th & Jerry Mills got here last night having left Dayton OH on the 12th. You make no attention to the astounding intelligence contained in some of…

Washington March 10/61My dear little boy:I got a letter from your mother yesterday morning. She wrote me a good deal about you. How you were going to save a piece of the candy Mrs. Howard gave you, for me This was very kind in you and made me feel glad that you have not forgotten your father although he was so far away. You must be a good boy and…

Washington March 10 1861 Sunday My dear wife: Although this is Sunday, office seeking & button-holeing and boreing go on without cessation. The crowd here diminished very greatly and the rush to this city has almost ceased. Yet it is difficult to get any thing done. If Mr. Schenck were here I could get the appointment made this week, because…

Washington March 9th1861My Dear Wife:Mr. Schenck had a conversation with Mr. Lincoln, and I think from what he tells me that our chance is very good. Mr. S. has gone to Columbus to try to get himself elected Senator & I hope he may succeed. But there is no telling how it will end.I am getting very tired of this town and would like to leave it,…

Washington March 8thMy Dear Wife:Things are in such a state here, that I intend to go to New York to-morrow morning. I shall probably be back here on Tuesday, on Wednesday at any sake.Tom will be greatly astonished to learn that *Crafts* Wright and I have had a reconciliation. A friend from *Cinti* invited me to go to his room at Willard's. We went…

Washington, March 7, 1861My dear little daughter:It is long distance from Dayton to Washington. When I left home, after kissing you and Frank and Robby, I got into the omnibus + went down to the place where the cars stop for us to get in. As soon as they came I stept into what is called a sleeping car, where people can lie down and sleep and all…

Washington March 5th My dear Wife: I hope I shall hear from you soon, and I suspect you will be quite as anxious to hear from me again, after you have received my last letter. The inauguration as you have learned long ere this, passed off very quietly and without the least disturbance. There was a large display of military and a tremendous crowd…

Washington March 3rd My dear Wife: I arrived here this morning safe and sound and "on time", ready to take a part in the "wild hunt for office", which has now fairly begun. Nothing of any importance happened on the way. I had as pleasant a trip as I had any reason to anticipate. Everything is in a whirl and no one knows what a day may bring…

My Dear Sella, Frank & Robert: Papa was very sorry to go away and leave you and dear mother and he hopes you will all be good children so as not to giver her any trouble. You must all try to keep out of mischief & do whatever mother tells you to do. Papa will be very sorry when he comes home if mother can not tell him that you have all been…