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. This letter refers to a lecture John  developed on the Battle of Gettysburg.

Transcript:

Allegheny City Wednesday February 3^rd 1864—11 A.M.

Dear John Yesterday evening we were favoured with a letter from Henry, giving us an account of the meeting between you and him at the Church, corner of 15^th & Lombard St—you may depend upon it we were very much interested—I will just quote a passage, he says—“It was a grand and proud success—I cannot tell how proud I felt, and how proud you would have felt, if you had been there—it was far above my expectation, in every particular—the large audience paid the most particular attention, during the whole delivery occupying a space of 1 hour, & 50 minutes, it was in a church, and of course the audience felt under some restraint, and during the first part, there were some faint buzzings, like an attempt at applause, but in the midst of it, some fellow started it, and the house came down like Thunder—McE. in the pulpit, clapping and stamping as loud and furiously as any, and when once the ice was broken it was a constant succession of applaudings to the end—I was glad and proud I went up, and I would not write this way, if I did not feel it, and what was more flattering than any thing else, showers of invitations to repeat, were rained on him from every direction” So you see John, we have the news of your success, before the receipt of your letter, which we hope to receive soon; We were very glad to know that Henry was there, and sorry to hear that he had left without bidding you good bye, we need hardly repeat to you, that we feel thankful & grateful, that you had such very good success—If the lecture comes out in print, either in pamphlet form, or news paper, we hope to receive a copy—do not forget that mother asked you for Jennies obituary—as some around us told Mother, they saw it, but she could not say that she saw it. Mother saw Mrs Dean & she seemed very grateful for the kindness you bestowed on some gentleman a relative of James Marshalls wife, in taking him over the battle field—we hope our dear little Mary is well and yourself—Henry W. Riddle left us for Ravenna last Thursday—we are all in good health—it is now cold and snowing

Your affectionate father & mother Henry & Mary Warner

We would like to know whereabouts in Penna. Milton is

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 3 February 1864. Moore VI:06:2

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

Transcript:

Phila. Feb. 2^nd 1864—1341 Lombard St.

Rev. J.R. Warner

My dear Brother

We have just completed arrangements for the repetition of your Lecture, in the “American Academy of Music” on Tuesday Evening Feb. 23^rd or three weeks from to-day. There can be no backing out as the Academy is leased for that night and the Trustees obligated to pay $125 for its use. Nothing will be left undone by your humble servant to secure a large audience. We are to send 1000 complimentary tickets to the soldiers in our city Hospitals, and with this I shall mail a letter to Geo Curtain, inviting him to be present to introduce you, and also through him extending an invitation to all the military officers of the State on furlough, and especially to the Heroes of Gettysburg. With the above facts before you I trust you will be by for a while and recuperate for the great work. Strengthen your voice as much as possible, especially keep up the sound at the close of your sentences. Some at the back part of the church did not quite hear some words when your voice got low. Now you understand me and you will pardon me when you know how deeply interested I am in your success. Knowing your audience in part will be so and such, perhaps you might have a special word for so & such you know? I think you will do yourself a kindness by coming on the Saturday before. I fear you may catch cold or expose yourself by staying over that Sat. in Adams Co. At all events you must be here on Monday—and as I said for your own sake, better come on Saturday and get quieted & rested, & well ready for the greatest event of your life of its kind—We would have secured the Academy for Thursday Evening of same week, but that is the day set apart by Gen’l Assembly for prayer on behalf of Colleges Seminaries &c. Hoping you reached your home safely and that God will preserve your health and give you strength for your great work, I am dear brother Yours in the blessed gospel

Wm McElwer

Mrs McE joins me in kind regards &c

Citation: William McElwer, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Philadelphia, 2 February 1864. Moore VI:6:2