A letter from David Davis to Joseph H. Scranton, December 19, 1862.
Creator
Davis, David
Subject
Scranton (Pa.)--History; United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865;
Description
David Davis describes his living quarters in Washington D.C., the Battle of Fredericksburg and staying without his wife.
Date.Original
1862-12-19
Rights
Original document is in the public domain and was scanned courtesy of the Lackawanna Historical Society.
Publisher
University of Scranton
Physical Dimensions
25.4 x 20.3 cm
Coverage.Temporal
1860-1869
Type
Text
Source
Lackawanna Historical Society
Transcript
Washington. D.C.
Morrison's
-4 1/2 Street.
Dec 19. 1862
My Dearest Brother.
I did not write you
as I promised. I was in the blues [unclear]
+ terribly homesick. the frist [first] two
weeks. that I was here - I made a
great blunder in my rooms that were
engaged. + a sort of fear seized me
that I wd [would] make a failure. I have
changed my quarters to where the
judges [unclear] stop. + having mingled with
the judges + been on the bench for [unclear]
ten days. I begin to feel that I can
get along by labor + application.
The accomodations [accommodations] are not as good
as those I left. but I get along very well
I foolishly engaged my rooms for
the winter. + as rooms are not much
in demand it will cost me several
HUndred dollars to get rid of them.
If my wife + children were with me
I should feel happy. As it is I believe that nothing recompenses,for separation
from family. It has been decided
that it is not best for Sarah to
come here this winter. I have made
up my mind never to spend another
winter away from her. They are all
getting along finely in Berkshire. +
Sarah is mourning over Cornelia's
going home. She loves her devotedly.
This city feels dark + blue [unclear] today.
The Cabinet seems tumbling to pieces.
+ our armies do nothing, + despair
is seizing hold of a great many
people. The battle at Fredericks
burg [Fredericksburg] was a great disaster + a
terrible loss of life to no purpose
If God is not with us in this
fight, we are in trouble.
Dont fail to come + see me
when you come to Washington.
You + I are a good deal
alike. I am fond of you.
I know and I feel that the
feeling is reciprocal + I wish that
we lived near each other. We must have victories soon.
My quiet home better suits my
tastes than the excitements of
this metropolis -
Give my love to
your dear children. I love
them one + all. Wont they
be glad to see their
mother when she returns.
I find that I dont draw
my Salary until the
first of March. All the
money that I left at home is to
be used for [gap]. I shall
want $500 more until 1st March
- already being in yr debt $200 [unclear]
- Salaries of judges are paid
quarterly. If you can send me
a check on New York for $500.
I wd [would] be obliged. Please
send it immediately.
You friend + Brother
David Davis
