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 Monday August 8^th 1864 11 A.M.

Dear John, Your interesting & welcome letter of Saturday 6^th inst, came duly to hand this morning for which we are truly grateful and sincerely thankful to a kind Providence for your health and safety during such times as we are all passing through, you have had a perilous time of it; so far we have been permitted to dwell in safety here, we hope and pray our safety may be continued to us. It cheered us up, on reading of your interview with Henry, we will anxiously look for the promised news papers; Anne, Robb, & the two children, are home again safe & well had a very happy time of it at Uncle Maxwell’s – we enjoy pretty good health, Mother is terribly afraid of not being able to secure your valuables and is deriving every plan imagination can point out. The people here remind me of the course pursued by the people previous to the flood – they were marrying & giving in marriage etc. etc. etc.The people, ride about, the ladies dress gay & all attending to their business, as if there was not a rebel within 10.000 miles of them – Mother says ask John if the house Mrs Eyster lived in was her own? We imagine we see you flying with that bundle on your back, and the trunk in your hand, we sympathise with Mrs Eyster very much, & wish we had our dear little Mary here, although we cannot tell what trouble of the same kind, may yet befall ourselves; You will be surprised when we tell you that Mother said last night “I wonder if John lost his gold pencil” and the first news we had this morning, was your letter giving us an account of the loss of it; Mother says keep up your spirits any how. May Our Heavenly Father bless you all is the sincere prayer of Your Affectionate father & mother Henry & Mary Warner

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

Rev. John Riddle Warner was the grandfather of the poet Marianne Moore and during the Civil War, he lived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Mary Craig Eyster was his sister-in-law, who lived in Chambersburg. These letters are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers. 

Transcript [excerpt]

Shippensburg, August 4^th / 64

Dear Brother,

There is still great excitement here, and continual rumors of the rebels returning. I just feel as if I would like to get to some quiet place where we would feel more secure than we do here. We came in to Mrs Crossans yesterday, will stay here a day or two, one of Carolines children is sick. We are all well. Hugh was down yesterday, says Mother & all are well, they were very uneasy about us. George came down this morning on his way to Somersett – he made me get on the train and go as far as Harrisburg, to get some things, but the stores were all shut. I returned this morning. George seemed to think that the rebels would not come back – but rumor says that there is a large force coming. Averill’s baggage train has just passed through towards Chambersburg, they say that Altoona is threatened, and they were ordered this way. I feel sometimes as if I did not know what to do. I wish very much you were here, suppose if there is any danger you will come, you know every one has their own family to take care of. We were to spend this afternoon with Cousin E. Dick but as I went to Harrisburg with George we could not go, will go to-morrow. Hope you may be home soon. I have received several donations of clothing. As soon as Aunt Rachel’s girl comes home we will go out there. Hettie has loaned us a trunk. I intend to get but little, or nothing, until things are more settled, we can get along with what we have for awhile. Lizzie’s baby died Monday night was buried yesterday. Wish you would write. If you think the rebels are coming be sure and come home.

Yours off,

Mary

Citation: Mary Craig Eyster, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Shippensburg, Pa.; 4 August 1864. Moore VI:06:08