A letter from David Davis to his brother-in-law Joseph H. Scranton, July 11, 1862.
Creator
Davis, David
Subject
Scranton (Pa.)--History; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865;
Description
A letter relating to family events and Davis's feelings on the Civil War.
Date.Original
1862-07-11
Rights
Original document is in the public domain and was scanned courtesy of the Lackawanna Historical Society.
Publisher
University of Scranton
Physical Dimensions
19.7 x 26.7 cm
Coverage.Temporal
1860-1869
Type
Text
Source
Lackawanna Historical Society
Transcript
Bloomington Ill.
July 11th 1862
My Dear Brother
Your letter to
Sarah with a post script
to me was received yesterday.
We had previously heard
through Dr Geo Adam. that
Cornelia was soon to be
confined. We sympathise
with you and Cornelia
deeply in the loss of your
child, but trust that she
will soon recover her health
and strength. Sarah may
not go East before Sept. I
may go in August. She
has not yet decided.
Geo. will go to Williams
College this Fall. I was glad
to learn that Willie was at Yale. He is a smart boy. +
will make a superior man
I have no doubt.
The distracted State
of this Country afflicts me
I feel very low spirited
sometimes. The defeat
at Richmond has prolonged
this war. Delay is hurtful
to us + helps them.
The rebels fight with
desperation and are nerved
to it, by the Extreme measures
proposed in Congress.
The public mind was
resting in the belief that
we would win Success at
Richmond, + that the rebellion
wd [would] therefore soon end.
Believing thus if the
people respond promptly
to the call for 3000 00 men
all will be right. But I
am somewhat apprehensive
for the result. God grant
that the call may be met
promptly + decisively. I was
glad to observe that you
are one of the Corporators
of the Pacific Rail Road
+ that you the Corporators
wd [would] meet in Chicago in Sept.
If you cant come
down here + see me (while
you are in Chicago) I
will go up there + see you.
I enclose you a
letter for Jos [Joseph]. I dont want
you to present it unless
it is necessary. I should
suppose that with Mr [unclear]
Wright's aid + Mr Grow's
there wd [would] be no trouble
whatever. You can
appreciate the delicacy
of my position Joe must get the plan
It will quiet [unclear] him + it
will be profitable.
And now my Dear
Brother. We write too
seldom. We love Each
other + Each others
families + yet we
act as if we
were strangers
entirely. This is
not right. I feel
that I am to blame
as much as you
are. We must do
better in the future.
My kindest love to
dear Nelly + the
children. Sarah will
write to Nell.
Truly + affectionately
David Davis
