Letter from Luther Bruen, Camp in Tompkins Square, NY to Augusta Bruen, 1863-08-30
Camp in Tompkins Square August 30th 1863 My dear Augusta: I have just mailed a letter to Sella which I hope will reach her on her birth-day. It is written on the latest fashioned note paper + enclosed in an envelope of the same style. I sent it by mail so that it would reach her sooner + because I thought it would please her more to get the letter in that way. I will send the book I mentioned in my letter, if I can get it here in time. I met Jonathan Heathman, *JW Darst* + *Rike* at the St Nicholas yesterday + then Simon Gebhart + several others. They were all on their way to the High Bridge. Geo. Shaw was with them I believe but I didn't see him. I wanted them to come down to camp this afternoon I think it very doubtful whether any of them come. They are not very interesting people + I am not very anxious to see them. I had a visit from Luther Brady this afternoon. He looks pretty much as usual but is not quite so attentive to his dress as when I saw him last. He does not say what business he is in, nor do I know what brought him here, except that it is business. He does not appear to have any notion of going home soon We have an officer in my regiment from Providence Rhode Island. He says Senator Sprague never was admitted into the best society. That his brother married his own mistress + that the *family* is generally in disrepute. That the *jail* was not changed at all when Sprague was Governor. This, if it be true will make it rather unpleasant for *Miss Chase* when she becomes his spouse. I think she is ambitious to be a leader in society and if this state of things exists she will probably *turn* set up her establishment somewhere else, at first no doubt, in Washington + then probably in New York. If all the stories which have been told about her were true + judging from her appearance I should be inclined to doubt them, - they will not be so badly matched. Luther Brady says that *Mrs.* Smith went to Providence and prospected the place and didn't like the appearance of things well enough to sell herself. After learning this about Sprague, I have been inclined to think he really did want to marry her, for there is more agreement in their intellectual calibre than I had supposed. My informant, who by the way is the son-in-law of Senator Anthony Sprague's colleague, says the person wrote Sprague's speeches for him *in a western* town some time ago + that Sprague committed them to memory and spoke them! This is pretty rich. Miss Chase could do better than that. You may as well direct letters to me at Camp in Tompkin's Square, giving the number of my regiment. Major Giddings belongs to the 14th + is the son of old Joshua. He is the first file above me and commands the Brigade because he is the ranking officer serving with it. Tell John Howard I have been advanced a good deal altho! I have not been in the field, having gone up about twenty five files. Had it not been for Kate Chase I would have been a Col. - Your plan for giving the children a weekly allowance I think a good one but you should give Sella five cents the others something less. I have been figuring on a visit home to-day + have concluded if my regiment remains in New York this winter that I can probably manage to get home so as to vote against Val. How would you like that? - I will try to buy the belts you wish for Robbie, but am not sure that I will get the right kind. - The weather has grown quite cool + blankets will be in demand tonight. *Coates'* horse fell with him last Monday + hurt his foot. He is now limping around on a crutch much as I did but his foot was not hurt so badly. #Write whenever you have recd the check. Love + kisses to all. Thine L.B.B.#
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August 30, 1863
Bruen, Luther Barnett
Tompkins Square, 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.6.224
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http://repository.wellesley.edu/mitchill/224
