May 27, 1863: Henry and Mary Warner to John Warner

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 May 27^th 1863 4 P.M.

Our Dear Children—Happy are we to inform you we are all in good health—Robert seems greatly improved during the last two or three days & is attending to his business regular as usual—we were in great hopes by this time we would be able to inform you that the 2000 was disposed off some way or other, so as to be bringing in something—we expected McMasters would be along to day but he has not made his appearance yet this is the reason of writing at so late an hour we hope you have all arrived safe from Chambersburgh—when you write be sure and let us know how Mrs Craig is—your old friend Mr. Clendenning across the street is very poorly—walks from one room to another with a stick in one hand and a crutch on the other side. We had a letter from Henry day before yesterday, says he was in Philadelphia last week took a prisoner there from Fort Delaware—and delivered him up to the Provost Martial—He says—The Genl. sent for me and told me I would have to take this prisoner—so I had nothing else for it, but to comply and I buckled on a belt and revolver & started that evening on the cars, had no trouble got through all my business satisfactorily—while in Philada saw the academy of fine arts—free for soldiers—by the day week, will be able to tell more about our investment—kind remembrance to Jennie, a kiss for baby

& Remain your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Revd Sam Carvis wife was buried yesterday, left him with six children—one of them an idiot

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 27 May 1863. Moore VI:05:19