March 17, 1864: A.W. Sprouall to John Riddle Warner

Rev. John Riddle Warner was the grandfather of the poet Marianne Moore and during the Civil War, he lived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He developed a lecture on the Battle of Gettysburg, which he gave widely. These letters are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Chester Pa

March 17^th 1864

Rev. J.R. Warner

Dear Bro—

Yours addressed to Mr. Jno. Cochran, a ruling Elder in my church, I had the pleasure of reading on its receipt this morning. I was not aware of his writing to you and from the character of your reply suppose than he could not have been definite enough in specifying the object whose benefit he designed in the delivery of your lecture. It was his primary intention that it should be for the benefit of the Presbyterian Church—which at the present time is making a special effort to liquidate in whole or in part a debt which hangs upon it, and which is rendered the more necessary as an effort will be made before long to commence a new enterprise, which will more or less affect the present organization. I fear very much that the terms which you state may be beyond what we ought to undertake—knowing as I do the character of the Community. Of course I would hesitate to suggest a change—and yet interested as I am in the Church, and desirous as I am to promote the spiritual interests of the Community, untrammeled with debt, I could wish them different.

As Mr Cochran has advertised the lecture of Friday Evening 25^th we expect to hear it for whatever cause— I myself am anxious to hear the lecture

1. Because of its intrinsic excellence—

2. Because of the relation of that bloody field to my own personal safety, and to a disappointed foe

3. Because the scene of the conflict has been indelibly stamped on my memory by reason of the suffering witnessed there during 3 weeks ministry, in the service of the Christian Commission, among the wounded and dying—of wh. resulted in a lingering typhoid fever to myself

4. The Community I am sure will take an interest in the Lecture, as a number of our own citizens there offered up their lives as a sacrifice in the defence of their country

While I know your interest in the various organizations, now in operation for the supply of the temporal & spiritual wants of our noble soldiery—I do not suppose that your interest in Presbyterian is less, & therefore feel that you would not be unwilling that the benefits of your lecture should go towards the debt of our Church—

If you can modify your terms I am sure the act would be appreciated—but we abide your own decision.

Yours fraternally

A.W. Sprouall

Pastor of Pres Ch

Citation: A.W. Sprouall, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Boston, 17 March 1864. Moore VI:6:3