Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: November 21, 1862

This is my twentieth birthday. Anna wanted to write a poem for the occasion and this morning she handed me what she called “An effort.” She said she wrestled with it all night long and could not sleep and this was the result:

“One hundred years from now, Carrie dear,

In all probability you'll not be here;

But we'll all be in the same boat, too,

And there'll be no one left

To say boo hoo!”

Grandfather gave me for a present a set of books called “Irving's Catechisms on Ancient Greeks and Romans.” They are four little books bound in leather, which were presented to our mother for a prize. It is thus inscribed on the front page, “Miss Elizabeth Beals at a public examination of the Female Boarding School in East Bloomfield, October 15, 1825, was judged to excel the school in Reading. In testimony of which she receives this Premium from her affectionate instructress, S. Adams.”

I cannot imagine Grandmother sending us away to boarding school, but I suppose she had so many children then, she could spare one or two as well as not. She says they sent Aunt Ann to Miss Willard's school at Troy. I received a birthday letter from Mrs. Beaumont to-day. She wants to know how everything goes at the Seminary and if Anna still occupies the front seat in the school room most of the time. She says she supposes she is quite a sedate young lady now but she hopes there is a whole lot of the old Anna left. I think there is.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 146-7

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: December 1862

Hon. William H. Lamport went down to Virginia to see his son and found that he had just died in the hospital from measles and pneumonia. Their only son, only eighteen years old!

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 147

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: January 1863

Grandmother went to Aunt Mary Carr's to tea to-night, very much to our surprise, for she seldom goes anywhere. Anna said she was going to keep house exactly as Grandmother did, so after supper she took a little hot water in a basin on a tray and got the tea-towels and washed the silver and best china but she let the ivory handles on the knives and forks get wet, so I presume they will all turn black. Grandmother never lets her little nice things go out into the kitchen, so probably that is the reason that everything is forty years old and yet as good as new. She let us have the Young Ladies' Aid Society here to supper because I am President. She came into the parlor and looked at our basket of work, which the older ladies cut out for us to make for the soldiers. She had the supper table set the whole length of the dining room and let us preside at the table. Anna made the girls laugh so, they could hardly eat, although they said everything was splendid. They said they never ate better biscuit, preserves, or fruit cake and the coffee was delicious. After it was over, the “dear little lady” said she hoped we had a good time. After the girls were gone Grandmother wanted to look over the garments and see how much we had accomplished and if we had made them well. Mary Field made a pair of drawers with No. 90 thread. She said she wanted them to look fine and I am sure they did. Most of us wrote notes and put inside the garments for the soldiers in the hospitals.

Sarah Gibson Howell has had an answer to her letter. His name is Foster—a Major. She expects him to come and see her soon.

All the girls wear newspaper bustles to school now and Anna's rattled to-day and Emma Wheeler heard it and said, “What's the news, Anna?” They both laughed out loud and found that “the latest news from the front” was that Miss Morse kept them both after school and they had to copy Dictionary for an hour. War prices are terrible. I paid $3.50 to-day for a hoop skirt.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 148-9

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: January 13, 1863

P. T. Barnum delivered his lecture on" The Art of Money Getting" in Bemis Hall this evening for the benefit of the Ladies' Aid Society, which is working for the soldiers. We girls went and enjoyed it.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 149

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: February 1863

The members of our society sympathized with General McClellan when he was criticised by some and we wrote him the following letter: 

CANANDAIGUA, Feb. 13, 1863.

MAJ. GEN. GEO. MCCLELLAN:

 

Will you pardon any seeming impropriety in our addressing you, and attribute it to the impulsive love and admiration of hearts which see in you, the bravest and noblest defender of our Union. We cannot resist the impulse to tell you, be our words ever so feeble, how our love and trust have followed you from Rich Mountain to Antietam, through all slanderous attacks of traitorous politicians and fanatical defamers—how we have admired, not less than your calm courage on the battlefield, your lofty scorn of those who remained at home in the base endeavor to strip from your brow the hard earned laurels placed there by a grateful country: to tell further, that in your forced retirement from battlefields of the Republic's peril, “you have but changed your country's arms for more,—your country's heart,”—and to assure you that so long as our country remains to us a sacred name and our flag a holy emblem, so long shall we cherish your memory as the defender and protector of both. We are an association whose object it is to aid, in the only way in which woman, alas! can aid our brothers in the field. Our sympathies are with them in the cause for which they have periled all-our hearts are with them in the prayer, that ere long their beloved commander may be restored to them, and that once more as of old he may lead them to victory in the sacred name of the Union and Constitution.

 

With united prayers that the Father of all may have you and yours ever in His holy keeping, we remain your devoted partisans.

 

Signed by a large number.

The following in reply was addressed to the lady whose name was first signed to the above:

New YORK, Feb. 21, 1863.

 

MADAM—I take great pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of the very kind letter of the 13th inst., from yourself and your friends. Will you do me the favor to say to them how much I thank them for it, and that I am at a loss to express my gratitude for the pleasant and cheering terms in which it is couched. Such sentiments on the part of those whose brothers have served with me in the field are more grateful to me than anything else can be. I feel far more than rewarded by them for all I have tried to accomplish. — I am, Madam, with the most sincere respect and friendship, yours very truly,

 

GEO. B. MCCLELLAN.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 149-51

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: May 1863

Caroline Cowles Richards

A number of the teachers and pupils of the Academy have enlisted for the war. Among them E. C. Clarke, H. C. Kirk, A. T. Wilder, Norman K. Martin, T. C. Parkhurst, Mr. Gates. They have a tent on the square and are enlisting men in Canandaigua and vicinity for the 4th N. Y. Heavy Artillery. I received a letter from Mr. Noah T. Clarke's mother in Naples. She had already sent three sons, Bela, William and Joseph, to the war and she is very sad because her youngest has now enlisted. She says she feels as did Jacob of old when he said, “I am bereaved of my children. Joseph is not and Simeon is not and now you will take Benjamin away.” I have heard that she is a beautiful singer but she says she cannot sing any more until this cruel war is over. I wish that I could write something to comfort her but I feel as Mrs. Browning puts it: “If you want a song for your Italy free, let none look at me.”

Our society met at Fannie Pierce's this afternoon. Her mother is an invalid and never gets out at all, but she is very much interested in the soldiers and in all young people, and loves to have us come in and see her and we love to go.

She enters into the plans of all of us young girls and has a personal interest in us. We had a very good time to-night and Laura Chapin was more full of fun than usual. Once there was silence for a minute or two and some one said, “awful pause.” Laura said, “I guess you would have awful paws if you worked as hard as I do.” We were talking about how many of us girls would be entitled to flag bed quilts, and according to the rules, they said that, up to date, Abbie Clark and I were the only ones. The explanation is that Captain George N. Williams and Lieutenant E. C. Clarke are enlisted in their country's service. Susie Daggett is Secretary and Treasurer of the Society and she reported that in one year's time we made in our society 133 pairs of drawers, 101 shirts, 4 pairs socks for soldiers, and 54 garments for the families of soldiers.

Abbie Clark and I had our ambrotypes taken today for two young braves who are going to the war. William H. Adams is also commissioned Captain and is going to the front.

Mr. Noah T. Clarke's Brother
and Caroline Cowles Richards

Abbie Clark

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 151-2

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: July 4, 1863

The terrible battle of Gettysburg brings to Canandaigua sad news of our soldier boys of the 126th Regiment. Colonel Sherrill was instantly killed, also Captains Wheeler and Herendeen, Henry Willson and Henry P. Cook. Captain Richardson was wounded.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 152-3

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: July 26, 1863

Charlie Wheeler was buried with military honors from the Congregational church to-day. Two companies of the 54th New York State National Guard attended the funeral, and the church was packed, galleries and all. It was the saddest funeral and the only one of a soldier that I ever attended. I hope it will be the last. He was killed at Gettysburg, July 3, by a sharpshooter's bullet. He was a very bright young man, graduate of Yale college and was practising law. He was captain of Company K, 126th N. Y. Volunteers. I have copied an extract from Mr. Morse's lecture, “You and I”: “And who has forgotten that gifted youth, who fell on the memorable field of Gettysburg? To win a noble name, to save a beloved country, he took his place beneath the dear old flag, and while cannon thundered and sabers clashed and the stars of the old Union shone above his head he went down in the shock of battle and left us desolate, a name to love and a glory to endure. And as we solemnly know, as by the old charter of liberty we most sacredly swear, he was truly and faithfully and religiously

Of all our friends the noblest,

The choicest and the purest, 

The nearest and the dearest, 

    In the field at Gettysburg. 

Of all the heroes bravest, 

Of soul the brightest, whitest, 

Of all the warriors greatest, 

    Shot dead at Gettysburg. 

And where the fight was thickest, 

And where the smoke was blackest, 

And where the fire was hottest, 

    On the fields of Gettysburg, 

There flashed his steel the brightest, 

There blazed his eyes the fiercest, 

There flowed his blood the reddest 

    On the field of Gettysburg. 

O wailing winds of heaven! 

O weeping dew of evening! 

O music of the waters 

    That flow at Gettysburg, 

Mourn tenderly the hero, 

The rare and glorious hero, 

The loved and peerless hero, 

    Who died at Gettysburg. 

His turf shall be the greenest, 

His roses bloom the sweetest, 

His willow droop the saddest 

    Of all at Gettysburg. 

His memory live the freshest, 

His fame be cherished longest, 

Of all the holy warriors, 

    Who fell at Gettysburg.

These were patriots, these were our jewels. When shall we see their like again? And of every soldier who has fallen in this war his friends may write just as lovingly as you and I may do of those to whom I pay my feeble tribute.”

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 153-5

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: August 1863

The U. S. Sanitary Commission has been organized. Canandaigua sent Dr. W. Fitch Cheney to Gettysburg with supplies for the sick and wounded and he took seven assistants with him. Home bounty was brought to the tents and put into the hands of the wounded soldiers. A blessed work.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 155

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: August 12, 1863

Lucilla Field was married in our church to-day to Rev. S. W. Pratt. I always thought she was cut out for a minister's wife. Jennie Draper cried herself sick because Lucilla, her Sunday School teacher, is going away.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 155

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: June 1862

Anna and I had a serenade last night from the Academy Glee Club, I think, as their voices sounded familiar. We were awakened by the music, about 11 P. M., quite suddenly and I thought I would step across the hall to the front chamber for a match to light the candle. I was only half awake, however, and lost my bearings and stepped off the stairs and rolled or slid to the bottom. The stairs are winding, so I must have performed two or three revolutions before I reached my destination. I jumped up and ran back and found Anna sitting up in bed, laughing. She asked me where I had been and said if I had only told her where I was going she would have gone for me. We decided not to strike a light, but just listen to the singing. Anna said she was glad that the leading tenor did not know how quickly I “tumbled” to the words of his song, “O come my love and be my own, nor longer let me dwell alone,” for she thought he would be too much flattered. Grandfather came into the hall and asked if any bones were broken and if he should send for a doctor. We told him we guessed not, we thought we would be all right in the morning. He thought it was Anna who fell down stairs, as he is never looking for such exploits in me. We girls received some verses from the Academy boys, written by Greig Mulligan, under the assumed name of Simon Snooks. The subject was, “The Poor Unfortunate Academy Boys.” We have answered them and now I fear Mrs. Grundy will see them and imagine something serious is going on. But she is mistaken and will find, at the end of the session, our hearts are still in our own possession.

When we were down at Sucker Brook the other afternoon we were watching the water and one of the girls said, “How nice it would be if our lives could run along as smoothly as this stream.” I said I thought it would be too monotonous. Laura Chapin said she supposed I would rather have an “eddy” in mine.

We went to the examination at the Academy today and to the gymnasium exercises afterwards. Mr. Noah T. Clarke's brother leads them and they do some great feats with their rings and swings and weights and ladders. We girls can do a few in the bowling alley at the Seminary.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 141-3

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: June 1862

I visited Eureka Lawrence in Syracuse and we attended commencement at Hamilton College, Clinton, and saw there, James Tunnicliff and Stewart Ellsworth of Penn Yan. I also saw Darius Sackett there among the students and also became acquainted with a very interesting young man from Syracuse, with the classic name of Horace Publius Virgilius Bogue. Both of these young men are studying for the ministry. I also saw Henry P. Cook, who used to be one of the Academy boys, and Morris Brown, of Penn Yan. They talk of leaving college and going to the war and so does Darius Sackett.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 143

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: July 1862

The President has called for 300,000 more brave men to fill up the ranks of the fallen. We hear every day of more friends and acquaintances who have volunteered to go.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 143

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: August 20, 1862

The 126th Regiment, just organized, was mustered into service at Camp Swift, Geneva.

Those that I know who belong to it are Colonel E. S. Sherrill, Lieutenant Colonel James M. Bull, Captain Charles A. Richardson, Captain Charles M. Wheeler, Captain Ten Eyck Munson, Captain Orin G. Herendeen, Surgeon Dr. Charles S. Hoyt, Hospital Steward Henry T. Antes, First Lieutenant Charles Gage, Second Lieutenant Spencer F. Lincoln, First Sergeant Morris Brown, Corporal Hollister N. Grimes, Privates Darius Sackett, Henry Willson, Oliver Castle, William Lamport.

Dr. Hoyt wrote home: “God bless the dear ones we leave behind; and while you try to perform the duties you owe to each other, we will try to perform ours.”

We saw by the papers that the volunteers of the regiment before leaving camp at Geneva allotted over $15,000 of their monthly pay to their families and friends at home. One soldier sent this telegram to his wife, as the regiment started for the front: “God bless you. Hail Columbia. Kiss the baby. Write soon.” A volume in ten words.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 143-4

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: After August 20, 1862

The New York State S. S. convention is convened here and the meetings are most interesting. They were held in our church and lasted three days. A Mr. Hart, from New York, led the singing and Mr. Ralph Wells was Moderator. Mr. Noah T. Clarke was in his element all through the meetings. Mr. Pardee gave some fine blackboard exercises. During the last afternoon Mr. Tousley was wheeled into the church, in his invalid chair, and said a few words, which thrilled every one. So much tenderness, mingled with his old time enthusiasm and love for the cause. It is the last time probably that his voice will ever be heard in public. They closed the grand meeting with the hymn beginning:

“Blest be the tie that binds

Our hearts in Christian love."

In returning thanks to the people of Canandaigua for their generous entertainment, Mr. Ralph Wells facetiously said that the cost of the convention must mean something to Canandaigua people, for the cook in one home was heard to say,

“These religiouses do eat awful!”

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 144-5

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: September 13, 1862

Darius Sackett was wounded by a musket shot in the leg, at Maryland Heights, Va., and in consequence is discharged from the service.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 145

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: Between September 13 and 22, 1862

Edgar A. Griswold of Naples is recruiting a company here for the 148th Regiment, of which he is captain. Hiram P. Brown, Henry S. Murray and Charles H. Paddock are officers in the company. Dr. Elnathan W. Simmons is surgeon.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 145

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: September 22, 1862

I read aloud to Grandfather this evening the Emancipation Proclamation issued as a war measure by President Lincoln, to take effect January 1, liberating over three million slaves. He recommends to all thus set free, to labor faithfully for reasonable wages and to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defense, and he invokes upon this act “the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God.”

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 145-6

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: February 22, 1862

Washington's Birthday. — Patriotic services were held in the Congregational Church this morning. Madame Anna Bishop sang, and National songs were sung. Hon. James. C. Smith read Washington's Farewell Address. In the afternoon a party of twenty-two, young and old, took a ride in the Seminary boat and went to Mr. Paton's on the lake shore road. We carried flags and made it a patriotic occasion. I sat next to Spencer F. Lincoln, a young man from Naples who is studying law in Mr. Henry Chesebro's office. I never met him before but he told me he had made up his mind to go to the war. It is wonderful that young men who have brilliant prospects before them at home, will offer themselves upon the altar of their country. I have some new patriotic stationery. There is a picture of the flag on the envelope and underneath, “If any one attempts to haul down the American flag shoot him on the spot. — JOHN A. DIX.”

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 138-9

Diary of Caroline Cowles Richards: Sunday, February 23, 1862

Everybody came out to church this morning, expecting to hear Madame Anna Bishop sing. She was not there, and an "agent" made a “statement.” The audience did not appear particularly edified.

SOURCE: Caroline Cowles Richards, Village Life in America, 1852-1872, p. 139