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 Annie. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.
Allegheny City Wednesday April 24th 1861 Back Parlour 9 A.M.
Our Dear Children, One hour has not elapsed since your welcome letter was put into my hand at the post office, your letter was dated 20th and Post Marked [Home Junct] same date, I only arrived this morning; if you do not receive our letters promptly, it is not our fault, for we answer almost instanter’, on receipt of your letter, especially when you require an immediate answer; concerning Anne we have nothing new. As for any of us going for her, under present circumstances, it would be sheer madness, while on her pact coming here alone, by R.R. of course, she would be perfectly safe the whole distance, you talk about passing through Richmond you might as well pass through the fire, I am in great hopes we will soon see her.
Harry accidentally saw the news of Davis being shot at his own door in Baltimore in the N.Y. Tribune or we would not have known a word about it, I have been looking for that news in all our Pittsburgh papers but could not see it. As you take the Tribune, we would be glad (these troublous times) to get hold of one occasionally—Henry left for Titusville on Monday via Kittaning, of which I think I informed you in my last, when I sent Anne’s letter. Now Dear John drop us a line as often as you can, and any thing concerning Anne, or any thing else that may transpire that will interest you, you may be sure we will send you word in haste without delay, so great is the excitement here that the community can neither say, or do, any thing only think or talk about the war, all telegraphic news on that subject is almost entirely cut off and the mails are slow and irregular and the people eagerly seek after the arrival of the latest news, indeed last evening I went to the P.O. found nothing there, about 4 oclock, then went over the Hand street bridge to Clendennings store that is on Hand street to see if I could hear any new news, the sound of the drum & fife we are almost sure to hear when ever we open the door and when ever we go. We have an excellent clean atlas of Mitchells that I thought I would look at for the different positions of places around Washington, when sure enough there I saw Gettysburgh only seven miles off the Maryland line, much nearer to the line than Chambursburgh but then Cham is much nearer Harpers Ferry, the scene of John Brown’s labour, well it is not likely they will trouble your place—the Rebels will have enough on their hands, but certainly your folks should have plenty of artillery & Minnie rifles united to a determined spirit to give them a sound drubbing, but wait until negro insurrection takes place. I am glad when I think I am writing to a person in a free state and also to know my letter will not on its journey have to leave the free state of old Penna. We sympathise with Jennie & her sister on the probability of Alex Eyster leaving for the War, we sincerely hope, if he does go, that he may return in safety to the beloved objects that are so near & dear to him, Oh but them rebels and foes of God will meet with a terrible retribution. The day is clearing up after rain, Mother is in right good health, is upstairs now, cleaning house assisted by Isabella, no doubt but her thoughts are lively occupied about her absent ones; So anxious are the people here that they talk of completely Wiping out that portion of Maryland that lies between them and the Capital, Oh! but they would like to walk over Baltimore, there will be some sad tales to tell before the termination of this civil war, we are very much kept in the dark here about what is going on, & it is three days before we got the news of any thing momentous that does occur, even the mails are tardy and irregular. Tomorrow Thursday, will be our day of humiliation, previous to a sacramental Sabbath, when it was first given out, about 4 weeks ago, I think if it was known that we would be in the midst of such troublous times as these, it would have been put off a little longer, for the public mind at present is in a very feverish state; every one agree in the opinion, that, never was such a unity of sentiment so general on any subject, as the feeling in regard to the present war, all parties anxious to see the South severely chastised, while on the contrary the lying emissaries of Satan are busy circulating every where that in the North the people are very much divided on that subject, that General Scott is about to resign for want of support” &c&c&c—His Satanic majesty has always been busy, and still find agents to do his will—it is a true saying, he is the father of lies.
1 P.M. Mother was just telling me at dinner that the last words Henry told her was, that he would soon be back, as he was anxious to know what was going on; on last Saturday evening Aunt Betty visited us & remained until Sabbath eve, Isabella has just been telling us at dinner, that she heard Harry say that he was offered the command of a company if he would go and what stood in his way most was leaving his mother, now he never told us that, but from his conduct, he appeared to be restless & uneasy
I shall now conclude & bid you good bye for a while—kind remembrance to Jennie—Your affectionate father & mother
Henry & Mary Warner
What does Mrs Craig think of all this?
Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John and Jennie Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 24 April 1861. Moore VI:04:17
President Lincoln grows increasing worried about the lack of Northern troops in Washington DC. He remarks, “I don’t believe that there is any North.”