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, August 31, 1864 Afternoon

Dear John, With pleasure we inform you that about 3 OClock P.M. yesterday, Henry arrived on a furlough of ten days from the time he left the fort until his return to the same place, he looks extremely well, and is in excellent health; Your welcome letter reached us on Monday morning 29^th Inst. We were very glad to know that Mrs Eyster and the three dear children arrived in G. safely, we sympathize very deeply with you all, we are in great hopes the rebels will never trouble you again, but if they should, make no stay but come on in good time, don’t mind the trouble of the children, and we will do the best we can for you all. We both laughed when we read what little Mary said about the rebels burning her fine dresses, we say, keep up your hearts as none of you perished in the flames, if one of the children suffered death in that way it would be worse than all the loss you have sustained; When two years of Henry’s time had expired which was the 22^nd of this month, he offer’d the Gen’l his resignation but the Gen’l would not accept I – so H. concluded to stop, and received the furlough. The Gen’l said he was of too much use to the Government, and could not be spared, and gave him the furlough; We are all well, with the exception of poor Anne, she has had poor health since she returned from Uncle Maxwells, but is going about the house; Mother says she will get the flannel and the muslin and make the babys things with a great deal of pleasure; Was MacDowel Sharps house burned? Give our best respects to Mrs Eyster, we were very glad to hear that Mr Eysters trunk was saved, that was so much, although little, still it was a fortunate circumstance, also Mrs Eysters watch and your own. The E. family loss was terribly severe surely. Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Allegheny City [Pittsburgh],31 August 1864. Moore VI:06:8

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, August 25, 1864 Afternoon

Dear John, This letter is dictated by your Mother. We are very much concerned about you and your little affairs, from last nights news, we fear that the rebels are going back to you, and it is only the Most High knows where they are going to stop. We think the best thing you can do, is to fix up your affairs and come on here, and just stay here and content yourself until we can see further, and if Mrs Eyster and her children were to come on, we would receive them gladly, we fear that in consequence of the state of affairs in Indiana and other places that there will be much bloodshed at the North, the copper heads are very numerous and very bitter, they are opposing the draft as much as they can, but they are not opposing it here, as far as we know, if you have any time at all answer this as soon as you receive it. If Mrs Eyster is with you give our love to her

Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Allegheny City [Pittsburgh],25 August 1864. Moore VI:06:8

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, August 24, 1864 Afternoon

Dear John, These dreary, & gloomy times, while our border is threatened with another ‘raid’ we send you our usual Wednesday epistle; your father did not feel very well this morning, in consequence of a slight attack of diahorea, however he made an effort to visit the P.O., with no success but merely to look into an empty box; Anne was quite unwell last week, had three teeth extracted, is now much better. Mother saw her, the two children, & Charlotte in market yesterday morning; Robert seems to be doing very well. Mr. Temple has advanced his salary 1 ½ $ per week. Mother thinks he is in a deep consumption; we had a letter from Henry on Monday morning, it was short, he is hearty and well; we hope Mrs Eyster & family are well, our dear little Mary, and yourself; If it was so ordered in Providence, we would like to be nearer you than we are, or that you were nearer us; Our markets are abundantly supplied with vegetables, and farmers, and gardeners, are striving to ma[i]ntain their fruits with all their might; we are glad to think things are no worse; Is Mrs Eyster and the children with you, Was Mr. Sharpe’s house burned? There is nothing going on here but recruiting for the army, we suppose we need not look for you while these rebel raids threaten the southern border of Pennsylvania; We live in hopes that both you and ourselves may live to see a speedy and happy termination to this sad state of affairs; nothing is impossible to the Most High and it is in his power soon and sudden to bring order out of confusion when least expected, although we sinners have brought on the confusion

Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Allegheny City [Pittsburgh],124 August 1864. Moore VI:06:8