Carrie Spafford had been the fiancée of Col. Elmer Ellsworth. Col. Elmer Ellsworth was a lawyer and soldier and friend of Abraham Lincoln who was one of the first casualties of the Civil War. He was shot and killed on May 24, 1861 while removing a large Confederate flag from a tavern in Alexandria, Virginia.
Transcript:
Rockford. July 8th
My dear Mrs. Ellsworth,
Your long looked for and welcome letters have come at last- I answered one of them two weeks ago- but postponed mailing it until I could tell you my plans for the summer- but before we decided what to do then Mother and I went unto the country for a few days, and have just returned. Mother wishes me to thank you for your very kind invitation to visit you, but she thinks the journey would be more than she could endure.
We now intend going to St. Paul in a few weeks to remain three or four weeks, after we return it is my inclination to go East to see you- I would like to go sooner but I feel it my duty to go with Mother. I will do so you say- go directly to [illeg.] and go with you to Mechanicsville. I am very sorry Ellen cannot stay with you through the summer. I would like to see her- and then she would be so much help to you.
I will write you again on Sunday- but must close now as I am very busy.
With a great deal of love to Mr. E. I am yours
Carrie
Write soon- both of you
Citation: Carrie Spafford, autograph letter signed to Mrs. Ellsworth. Rockford, Ill; 8 July 1861. AMs 811/2.7