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| − | Of late my spirits have<br />been borne to the earth<br />pondering over the past -<br />thinking what might<br />have been - & | + | This transcription has not been verified by Special Collections Research Center Staff. Please also consult images of the document.<br /><br />N.Y. Feb 1 - 1866<br /><br />My Amiable friend: At least<br />allow that name to be used,<br />notwithstanding ugly scars.<br />A that scar has bothered me<br />much - Can you pardon for<br />it - & when you look at it<br />pray let the more pleasant<br />moments of the past fall<br />there. Would to God that I<br />might see you - Miss Marga-<br />retta - Miss Rebecca & all of<br />those who so kindly smoothed<br />the pillows of the suffering &<br />dying soldiers of our dear<br />old army! As it were I<br />awaken in fright very often<br />from the terrible dream of<br />last spring - Indeed<br />to this ^hour I am hardly convinced.<br /><br />Of late my spirits have<br />been borne to the earth<br />pondering over the past -<br />thinking what might<br />have been - & groaning<br />in bitterness of spirit lest<br />I have neglected many<br />many duties. How hard<br />I try to say “forgive us our<br />tresspasses, as we for ---------”?<br />God forgive me I know I<br />sin. All have retired<br />& I am alone - My light is going out<br />The last words were written in<br />the dark - when I too was com<br />pelled to retire.<br /> I am very sorry you are<br />unwilling to have me keep<br />your photograph - for I am<br />anxious to have yours as well<br />as those others who gave their kind<br />smiles & precious hours to the<br />last of the suffering soldiers<br />of the South. Your picture<br />would have been sent earlier, but<br />when Miss Rebecca told me that<br />you wanted it - a young Southern<br />artist had it, coloring in oil<br />for me - I have gotten it back -<br />the eyes are not touched as yet -<br />but as you must have it -<br />here, take it - but wont you relent<br />& let me have another some time?<br />for truly it is prized!<br />If you have an opportunity<br />show the picture to Mr. [Minnis]<br />& tell him that it is a specimen<br />of the style of the young person,<br />although not quite finished - &<br />I know will be right glad to<br />get anything of the kind to do<br />from him - or any one.<br />Are there any of the soldiers<br /><br />Left in R-----? Many things<br />have arisen here to make me<br />sad & more - but nothing<br />has provoked me much more<br />than finding several medical<br />students, who are pretending,<br />to be confederates - as nothing<br />more than deserters -.<br />In a lecture, or [eulogism] - on<br />the late Dr. Valentine Mott that<br />I attended last evening - the lecturer - said with<br />evident pride - that the vast ma-<br />jority of students at the college<br />where Dr. Mott was professor before<br />the War - came from South of<br />the Potomac.<br />Speaking with a young replublican<br />one evening - I remarked - that as<br />the negroes had been compelled<br />to fight for them I supposed that<br />they would feel compelled to allow<br />them to vote - He [not] knowing all<br />of my sentiments - & faith - answered<br />“You see the Catholics are about<br />to over whelm us - & the negroes<br />are all protestants - & their vote<br />will help us to crush out the Cath-<br />olic power.”? From this you<br />may judge what is the new scent<br />that the hounds of persecution are<br />upon. As for me, I have met<br />with a few persons who have been<br />more than kind - never whispering<br />one word of the past - & truly such<br />men are not responsible for<br />the past. The people here will<br />not believe how much harm the<br />Freedmans bureau is doing in the way<br />of irritating & making the old wounds<br />more painful than before. God have<br />mercy upon us - & teach us that divine<br />virtue - to forgive. A I am very bad.<br />Remember me to friends - If you will -<br />[honor] [me] - direct to J.R.W care of Dr. James R.<br />Wood - 80 Irving Place N.Y<br /> Very sincerely, JRW |
Latest revision as of 14:32, 8 August 2017
This transcription has not been verified by Special Collections Research Center Staff. Please also consult images of the document.
N.Y. Feb 1 - 1866
My Amiable friend: At least
allow that name to be used,
notwithstanding ugly scars.
A that scar has bothered me
much - Can you pardon for
it - & when you look at it
pray let the more pleasant
moments of the past fall
there. Would to God that I
might see you - Miss Marga-
retta - Miss Rebecca & all of
those who so kindly smoothed
the pillows of the suffering &
dying soldiers of our dear
old army! As it were I
awaken in fright very often
from the terrible dream of
last spring - Indeed
to this ^hour I am hardly convinced.
Of late my spirits have
been borne to the earth
pondering over the past -
thinking what might
have been - & groaning
in bitterness of spirit lest
I have neglected many
many duties. How hard
I try to say “forgive us our
tresspasses, as we for ---------”?
God forgive me I know I
sin. All have retired
& I am alone - My light is going out
The last words were written in
the dark - when I too was com
pelled to retire.
I am very sorry you are
unwilling to have me keep
your photograph - for I am
anxious to have yours as well
as those others who gave their kind
smiles & precious hours to the
last of the suffering soldiers
of the South. Your picture
would have been sent earlier, but
when Miss Rebecca told me that
you wanted it - a young Southern
artist had it, coloring in oil
for me - I have gotten it back -
the eyes are not touched as yet -
but as you must have it -
here, take it - but wont you relent
& let me have another some time?
for truly it is prized!
If you have an opportunity
show the picture to Mr. [Minnis]
& tell him that it is a specimen
of the style of the young person,
although not quite finished - &
I know will be right glad to
get anything of the kind to do
from him - or any one.
Are there any of the soldiers
Left in R-----? Many things
have arisen here to make me
sad & more - but nothing
has provoked me much more
than finding several medical
students, who are pretending,
to be confederates - as nothing
more than deserters -.
In a lecture, or [eulogism] - on
the late Dr. Valentine Mott that
I attended last evening - the lecturer - said with
evident pride - that the vast ma-
jority of students at the college
where Dr. Mott was professor before
the War - came from South of
the Potomac.
Speaking with a young replublican
one evening - I remarked - that as
the negroes had been compelled
to fight for them I supposed that
they would feel compelled to allow
them to vote - He [not] knowing all
of my sentiments - & faith - answered
“You see the Catholics are about
to over whelm us - & the negroes
are all protestants - & their vote
will help us to crush out the Cath-
olic power.”? From this you
may judge what is the new scent
that the hounds of persecution are
upon. As for me, I have met
with a few persons who have been
more than kind - never whispering
one word of the past - & truly such
men are not responsible for
the past. The people here will
not believe how much harm the
Freedmans bureau is doing in the way
of irritating & making the old wounds
more painful than before. God have
mercy upon us - & teach us that divine
virtue - to forgive. A I am very bad.
Remember me to friends - If you will -
[honor] [me] - direct to J.R.W care of Dr. James R.
Wood - 80 Irving Place N.Y
Very sincerely, JRW
