Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Allegheny City, Wednesday, August 17, 1864

Dear John, Wednesday is again upon us and we cannot let it pass without dropping you a line, although we have nothing to say that would interest you. We are all in good health; and feel anxious to know how you are all getting along in Adams county. How yourself & our dear little Mary is. Hope Mrs Eyster is becoming cheerful after the terrible ordeal through which she has so lately passed, if the children seem reconciled; we would like to know if Mrs Eyster saved any of her silver, Mother says, she often thinks of what Mrs E. said, when in Gettysburg – that is, she wished her silver was here with us, we now wish it had been so. Last evening we received a letter from H. he is well – we would like to know how you left Mrs Craig; As long as we cannot see you, we would like to have an account of your adventures for the last three weeks

Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

P.S. We hope you will give our kindest love to Mrs Eyster H & M.W.

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Allegheny City [Pittsburgh],17 August 1864. Moore VI:06:8

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

  Transcript:

Allegheny City, Saturday, August 13, 1864

Dear John, Your welcome letter of 11 inst we received this morning from Harrisburgh, we need hardly tell you, we are grateful for your kind attention. In answer to your letter of 6^th inst, we wrote on receipt of the same to 1341 Lombard Street, Philada, as you did not allude to it in your Harrisburg letter, we suppose you did not receive it – we hope Mr. Mc[Elwee?] will forward it to you in Gettysburgh; It is a consolation to us to know you are all safe & well in Gettysburg, and (to all appearances) not likely to be troubled again with a rebel raid for some time, we hope never. We congratulate Mrs Eyster, her family, yourself and babe on your happy escape with your lives, and health, once more to a place of safety. We all enjoy good health here, Mother has derived much benefit from the free use of tomatoes, says she thinks if she had called in a doctor, she might be in her grave today; If Mrs Eyster and children had ventured to come here we would have received them very kindly, and welcomed them with such articles as our market would afford, that is if the rebels would permit us to enjoy them, at present we feel under no apprehension from that source – we hope soon to hear from you again, & hope soon to have a long talk with you. Mother wishes to know if you have lost all your shirts, or your watch?

Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Allegheny City [Pittsburgh],13 August 1864. Moore VI:06:8

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Allegheny City Monday August 8^th 1864 11 A.M.

Dear John, Your interesting & welcome letter of Saturday 6^th inst, came duly to hand this morning for which we are truly grateful and sincerely thankful to a kind Providence for your health and safety during such times as we are all passing through, you have had a perilous time of it; so far we have been permitted to dwell in safety here, we hope and pray our safety may be continued to us. It cheered us up, on reading of your interview with Henry, we will anxiously look for the promised news papers; Anne, Robb, & the two children, are home again safe & well had a very happy time of it at Uncle Maxwell’s – we enjoy pretty good health, Mother is terribly afraid of not being able to secure your valuables and is deriving every plan imagination can point out. The people here remind me of the course pursued by the people previous to the flood – they were marrying & giving in marriage etc. etc. etc.The people, ride about, the ladies dress gay & all attending to their business, as if there was not a rebel within 10.000 miles of them – Mother says ask John if the house Mrs Eyster lived in was her own? We imagine we see you flying with that bundle on your back, and the trunk in your hand, we sympathise with Mrs Eyster very much, & wish we had our dear little Mary here, although we cannot tell what trouble of the same kind, may yet befall ourselves; You will be surprised when we tell you that Mother said last night “I wonder if John lost his gold pencil” and the first news we had this morning, was your letter giving us an account of the loss of it; Mother says keep up your spirits any how. May Our Heavenly Father bless you all is the sincere prayer of Your Affectionate father & mother Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Allegheny City [Pittsburgh],8 August 1864. Moore VI:06:8

Rev. John Riddle Warner was the grandfather of the poet Marianne Moore and during the Civil War, he lived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Mary Craig Eyster was his sister-in-law, who lived in Chambersburg. These letters are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers. 

Transcript [excerpt]

Shippensburg, August 4^th / 64

Dear Brother,

There is still great excitement here, and continual rumors of the rebels returning. I just feel as if I would like to get to some quiet place where we would feel more secure than we do here. We came in to Mrs Crossans yesterday, will stay here a day or two, one of Carolines children is sick. We are all well. Hugh was down yesterday, says Mother & all are well, they were very uneasy about us. George came down this morning on his way to Somersett – he made me get on the train and go as far as Harrisburg, to get some things, but the stores were all shut. I returned this morning. George seemed to think that the rebels would not come back – but rumor says that there is a large force coming. Averill’s baggage train has just passed through towards Chambersburg, they say that Altoona is threatened, and they were ordered this way. I feel sometimes as if I did not know what to do. I wish very much you were here, suppose if there is any danger you will come, you know every one has their own family to take care of. We were to spend this afternoon with Cousin E. Dick but as I went to Harrisburg with George we could not go, will go to-morrow. Hope you may be home soon. I have received several donations of clothing. As soon as Aunt Rachel’s girl comes home we will go out there. Hettie has loaned us a trunk. I intend to get but little, or nothing, until things are more settled, we can get along with what we have for awhile. Lizzie’s baby died Monday night was buried yesterday. Wish you would write. If you think the rebels are coming be sure and come home.

Yours off,

Mary

Citation: Mary Craig Eyster, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Shippensburg, Pa.; 4 August 1864. Moore VI:06:08

Rev. John Riddle Warner was the grandfather of the poet Marianne Moore and during the Civil War, he lived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Mary Craig Eyster was his sister-in-law, who lived in Chambersburg. These letters are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers. 

Transcript [excerpt]

Chambersburg July 28^th / 64

Dear Brother,

[…] It is now half-past six o’clock a.m. Mary seems better this morning but not well, will give her the oil. I suppose you will come over if there is any danger of the rebels coming. hope you will be sure to bring your trunk with you, am more anxious to have you as Mary is not well – don’t know what the news is this morning but there must have been some thing very important last night as the major sent for his blankets expecting to stay at the office all night – he is in his room now, don’t know what time he came. There has not been much excitement here – we feel a little safer as Headquarters are here, we have more reliable information than if they were not here. We expect George home tonight. I am as ever yours

Mary

:

Citation: Mary Craig Eyster, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Chambersburg, Pa.; 28 July 1864. Moore VI:06:07

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript [excerpt]:

Allegheny City Wednesday July 20 1864 Afternoon

Dear John, […] We sincerely hope when you receive this, that yourself & Baby may be in the enjoyment of good health and that you and all the folks in your country have got over the scare of rebel invasion; It grieves us [as?] should grieve every loyal person when we think of millions of property being carried off by the most wicked of wicked creatures under the sun We are informed not less than 8000 horses have been carried off to Virginia and now we are sorry to say, according to a writer signing himself Druid the rebels have by no means given up the idea of attacking Washington. We rejoice you have so far escaped and that you found your carpet sack [&?] safe at the Depot. Dr. J.B. Clark leaves this place as Captain of a Comp’y of 110 men for the front this day to protect the border, people in this county are straining every effort to raise men and money. May the Most High interfere in our behalf against traitors at home and abroad, in England and every where else and bring us safe through this terrible ordeal; The heat here is oppressive, and the long continued drought causes our farmers to be very desponding; Your letter to us we gladly received, and you may be sure interested us very much – according to request we inform you the carriage on trunk was $2 25/100. You say you long to see us, to talk matters and things over, you do not long to see us more than we do to see you and Baby. May the Mighty God of Jacob bless you and yours, in the sincere prayer of

Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Allegheny City [Pittsburgh],20 July 1864. Moore VI:06:7

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Allegheny City Wednesday July 13. 1864 Afternoon

Dear John, We commence writing to you on this day of the week as is our usual custom, not knowing whether this will fall into your hands or not owing to the distracted state of affairs on our border. Hoping that Babe and yourself are in good health we have to say we are all in good health here. Mother’s health is no worse than it was a week ago, but we think upon the whole rather better. We received a letter from Henry this morning, he is in good health and spirits, was very sea sick on the day after his departure, had just time to get out of his berth next morning and commence vomiting, off Cape Hatteras a heavy gale was blowing. Himself, prisoners and all the guard with few exceptions were deathly sick, all that day & night never suffered more with continued retching and straining. Says, I thought I would surely have died says, they were within hearing of the guns. Off Charleston and could plainly see the smoke after every discharge, they were firing a heavy gun every minute. On Sabbath June 19 landed his prisoners, none missing just one week from the time of leaving Fort D. says he saw Cocoa & other kinds of trees loaded with fruit which we never see at the North. The Col at Ft Jefferson allowed him a boat to go and see Brudenburg Light house distant 5 miles – gathered some coral there, will tell us about his return in next letter. Anne, Robb, & the two children leave at midnight for Cambridge Ohio, for two weeks, as Robb has leave of absence for that time to [?] his health., every effort is making here to recruit men to repel the border invasion. They have great trouble in getting them, Col Clark is trying to raise a company, we are truly sorry for you and your friends – we sold our Coupons / 200$ due now. 1/ 64 for 264 – and 36$ and received $95 04/100. Did you sell yours? We think if you did not, you ought. – Hoping that we may soon hear from you we remain your affectionate father & mother Henry & Mary Warner

P.S. We wonder you got along so well on the 4^th – would like to see a Gettysburgh paper giving an account of the 4^th celebration

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Allegheny City [Pittsburgh],13 July 1864. Moore VI:06:7

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

  Transcript:

Allegheny City Wednesday July 6. 1864 Afternoon

Dear John, Our usual day of writing to you is round again once more, and as we have one pleasing item of intelligence to communicate, will notice it first; Yesterday just after dinner, a rap came to the door, who should it be but Mr. James Caldwell, just arrived from Philada, who informed us Henry and his command had just arrived in that city from the south on their way to the Fort, said H. was well and looked extremely well, we have not yet had any communication from him by letter, but think that probably this evening we will be favoured with a letter from him. On the 4^th we spent the day with Anne, Robb, Charlotte, and the two children, had young chickens, Peas, mashed potatoes, cherry pie, tea etc. etc., after tea the whole seven of us walked up to the top of seminary hill, from where we had a beautiful view of the two cities; the thought of food & raiment, fuel & other necessaries for the inhabitants of said cities during the coming winter go to shew the boundless resources of a kind Providence. On the morning of the 4^th, we received the unwelcome intelligence of a ‘rebel raid’ into Penn’a, of course our thoughts were turned towards you, we know by this time, it was of no account, but will be anxious to hear what effect it had upon your celebration; Mother has ordered six likenesses such as the inclosed. She went for them at noon, the other three were not quite dry, and will send them at another time. Mother’s cough is not quite so bad as it was, yet it is still troublesome, she says a cold in summer is more difficult to shake off than one in winter. We are all in our usual good health. Rev’d John B. Clark is dubbed D.D. by the Western University. James Brown next door is married to his second wife, first wife died about a year ago & left him two very unruly boys, if James & the stepmother do not pummel them fellows right well at the commencement, they will have a bad time of it hereafter. Your affectionate father & mother, Henry & Mary Warner

P.S. The new post office is now in New Council house Market square

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Allegheny City [Pittsburgh],6 July 1864. Moore VI:06:7

John Riddle Warner was the grandfather of the poet Marianne Moore and during the Civil War he lived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Mary Eyster was his sister-in-law and was caring for his toddler daughter Mary. These letters are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

   Transcript:

Chambersburg, July 5^th, 69

Dear Brother,

We are all at home and all well. There has been considerable excitement, but it has calmed down. I had no idea of leaving – I believe the rebels are still loitering about on the other side of the river. I do hope they will not get here. Mother had just come from Watson’s Saturday morning, she was very much frightened. Fred took her back yesterday morning. Think she had better remain there a few days, it doesn’t suit for her to be where there is much excitement. Mary has a little boil on one of her cheeks. She says “Papa. good girl”. George got home Sabbath evening just in the midst of the excitement. Don’t you think you’ll be over this week?

Yours affectionately,

Mary

News are not quite so favorable, but I do hope the Rebs will not get this far. We will stay in our house as long as we can. Will you go away Monday evening?

M

Citation: Mary Craig Eyster, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Chambersburg, Pa.; 5 July 1864. Moore VI:06:07

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Allegheny City Wednesday June 8. 1865 Afternoon

Dear John, Now that we are about to write to you, what shall we say, or where will this letter find you. Well, we will still direct to Gettysburg, the only place we know where it will most likely and soonest fall into your hands; let you be where you will, if we only knew that your self & babe were in good health, we would rest easy, but looking at No. 67. morning and evening for the last three weeks causes us to think our Dear John has forgotten us: we are happy to inform you we are all well; Our Sanitary fair seems to be the all absorbing topick of the the day, Mother has been to see it, and considers it a great affair. I have not seen it yet. We have no other gossip that we can think of that would amuse you; Henry is very well, we secured a letter from him on last Friday evening, a portion of which I will quote, “I have just had a good dinner (as I have every day) and am in the enjoyment of excellent health. In reply to a letter from Lieut Kerr of our battery to Thomas Williams [N.C.?] from our county to see the secretary of War, and in our behalf, to offer our services, either as artillery, cavalry, or infantry that we might be sent to contribute our mite to the aid of Gen’l Grant, a letter came yesterday saying, that he (Mr. Williams) had seen sec’y Staunton in regard to the matter, who (Staunton) told him, that he had been importuned often enough on that subject, about removing our battery to the front. That good soldiers were needed at Fort Delaware as well as with General Grant. That he would not do it and that he felt compelled to deny us the privilege of “hobbling round” the rest of our days on a crutch. Williams says, “So, you will just have to be content with what nature has done for you in the shape of legs and arms”. Will now conclude and remain

Your affectionate father & mother Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Allegheny City [Pittsburgh],8 June 1864. Moore VI:06:6