Lancaster O. April 9th 1862
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
SOURCE: William T. Sherman
Family Papers, Archives of the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame,
Indiana, Box 2, Folder 105 for the letter & Box 9, Folder 38 for the transcript.
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