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:
Front Bed Room
Allegheny City, Wednesday, September 4th, 1861—11 A.M.
Our Dear Children—Day delightful, All in good health & spirits—On last friday Robert arrived from Tennessee, he intends leaving some day next week, he did not go East, says, it is no use could not carry any goods with him, is anxious to get back to the store—All intercourse is now I believe cut off by telegraph & Rail Road. Robert expects to get back, but I think it will be with some trouble; we have had but one short letter from Henry since he left.
3 P.M. Jonnie at school, Robert, Anne & Sis gone to Lawrenceville on the cars in search of pleasure. Mother was sitting sewing here until a few minutes ago & is just gone to lie down, so all around me is in quietness; Now what shall I write to you, I have no news; The public mind without exception, in this place, seems to be carried away in meditation on the future as to how or when this war will terminate, and every news item concerning it, greedily devoured; that cape Hatteras affair was a grand & valuable achievement; next question, Is Jeff Davis dead? Any New Y. World you send here we will keep it for you until you come. we have now two numbers which you must carry away when you go, we thought it a folly to return them by mail as you were so soon to be here—Will the rebels attempt to make an attack on Washington? We do not know how you folks feel in Gettysburgh, but I do assure you we live here in a constant state of excitement, still looking for every new event that may come forward connected with the extensive theatre of war; Will it be Hatteras, Monroe, For Pickens, Washington, Western Va, Mo. Texas, &c&c? Such a War never was waged on this earth, then look at the innumerable host of hidden spies of every description, from the nabob & lady in silk (?) to the clown, & the fellow that sells his poison in pies to the unsuspecting soldier, alas! the depravity of human nature—Well may every child of God say—When will thy kingdom come, and thy will be don on earth, as it is done in Heaven? kind remembrance to Jennie, and remain,
Your Affectionate father & mother
Henry & Mary Warner
Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 4 September 1861. Moore VI:04:22