Beschreibung:

ALS, Niagara Falls, July 5, 1861. From Amanda to Emma. 4pp. She mentions the heat and that it is too warm to sew, so she will write instead. "Well, the days & weeks glide by rapidly & almost imperceptibly with me. I cannot realize that July is upon us at all & yesterday did not seem any like a 4th although there was plenty going on here such as firing cannon, crackers &c. processions marching to music, & an oration by Judge Clinton of Buffalo in the A.M. Then in the P.M. a boat was sent down the river which did not go over the falls being lodged on the large reef above the cataract & in the evening another boat on fire was sent down. It was a sublime spectacle. I never saw anythng more so I think. The boat was filled with combustible matter & made a large & splendid light until it came to the reef in the rapids, when it plunged so much under the water or was so broken to pieces that the light was extinguished almost instantly. Then the falls were illuminated which was fine indeed. But notwithstanding all this show & parade I was feeling more sad than on any other Independence day that I can remember. Sad at the thought of our Country's peril, our dead & mangled soldiers over the late battle field. O, it is not a time to mourn, to "sit in sackcloth & ashes," rather than engage in the festive scenes which might be all appropriate in time of peace?" Most of the rest is personal, primarily family matters. Two ALsS, both from Judith, Baltimore, Aug. 12, 1861 (12pp) and Sept. 25, 1861 (6pp). Both are addressed "dear Friend." She does seem to made some references to political corruption, but surprisingly does not mention what by then must have been a steady stream of Federal troops passing through town on their way to Washington. "Can you imagine little Henry...now a Lieut in the 6th Infantry U.S.A. (not C.S.A.). Stationed at Ft. Columbus in N. York harbor. Ah, he is still by dear boy, and a noble fellow he is not agreeing with all his family on the mon???tous question of the day, but I know he is conscientious with regard to his duty. He never knowingly did what was ???. and I submit although I never did want him to go into the Army, less now of course than even fighting against his own relatives, no, I never wanted him to fight on either side this civil war, in the most fearful of all wars." In the second letter, she again mentions brother fighting brother. ALS, 4pp, Taunton, May 22, 1865(?). To husband (Edwin) from wife (Mary). Most of this is personal, and it is difficult to tell even if he is in service or away for another reason (missionary work, school?).