Letter from Luther Bruen, Fort Hamilton, NY to Augusta Bruen, 1861-08-07
Fort Hamilton Aug. 7 1861
Yours of the 4th came to hand this evening my dear. I suppose you know by this time who is confirmed and who is not. At any rate I shall go to work at my house and try to comfortableize it for your reception. I shall set my "striker" to cleaning up the yard & making things snug. There is a small cook stove in the house, but I think it will answer, so you need not bring ours with you! _ You had better not get a bigger box than will be necessary for pakcing the articles you mean to send. The more it weighs the more it will cost. It will be best to send it two or three days before you leave, as I should like to have it in the house when you arrive, as the contents will be needed immediately. _ Your idea of disposing of the house meets with my approvation exactly. I think I would sell if I could get a fair price, but property will not sell in these times. So we shall have to wait.
I am sorry you are to be disappointed in reference to house-keeping; I would be very glad to release you from its cares, but situated as we shall be, I do not see how it can be done with comfort. The hotel I board at is full, so is also the only other pleasant boarding house here. So that in fact we have but Hobson's choice. And I am glad we were able to get this comfortable little house, furnished to our hand. Your housekeeping cares I trust will not be as formidable as you anticipate, I shall endeavor not to make them very troublesome, at any rate; and that is about or much as you might expect of me. _ There are some flat irons in the house, enough I think for our purpose, if not, you know we can borrow. Mrs. Runsom, the parson's wife will be delighted to let us have any thing we want. The baker & butcher will bring bread & meat to our door & I can go out to catch fish now and then, so that there is no danger of starving _ You can bring the flech brushes if you choose, I shall need them if you don't.
I think we shall every thing in the house that we shall actually need. I am not sure that there is a bedstead for the servant, but there is a bed & if we can do no better they may sleep on the floor. We shall have two large beds; one of them a very nice one. I don't think I would bring the castor; if there is none there, ther is no doubt some thing that will answer the same purpose, at any rate we shall be expected to have only what we find in the house. _
The sewing machine will have to be dipensed with. So you will have a good long rest from sewing, if you are obliged to keep house. _ I was in the city today_ went to see Gen. Schouler, he had left yesterday, & I was disappointed, & came back by the first boat, I suppose he has never sent the extract from Omerod's history which he mounted long ago. Has the July number of the Westminster come to hand? Be sure to bring it along with you. I called to see Sam Craighead's portrait. It is excellent. I wish I was able to have yours painted by the same artist. I had a long talk with him & like him, & his portraits are worth having. He appears to have known the artist who painted mine, & says he died here two or three years ago. Doesn't think much of him. He tried to flatter me into having myself painted, but I haven't a hundred to spare just now for that purpose. I wish I had.
I am sorry the office was not renewed while Robert was at home, as it could have been done so much better. Now you wont be able to tell my books from his. I am half inclined to say, let it remain. Where it is until he comes back. You can find out from Eliza when he is expected back, & will know how to do if he comes home soon. _ Couldn't you send the spoons & forks by express to W. Powell Cinti & have them replaced. You will see his adv. in the Commercial. You might send them by express one day & get them back the second day after, I should think, I wonder who is to have the honor of bringing you on & by what route you will come. *I'm certain* them as soon as you can & let me know & telegraph me when you start.
Good night darling. Husband.
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August 7, 1861
Bruen, Luther Barnett
Fort Hamilton, NY
4 pages
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
Bruen, Luther Barnett -- Correspondence
Catharine Mitchill '31 Collection of Family Letters, Wellesley College Library, Special Collections
MSS.6.165
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http://repository.wellesley.edu/mitchill/165
