July 11, 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 Saturday July 11^th 1863, P.M.

Our Dear Children—Ever since this day week, the terror, suspense, fear, & excitement, your mother has endured I cannot begin to describe. As for my part, for the last three days, I did not feel so bad, for if any of you were either killed, wounded or missing, we would have had it through the public prints—we certainly think from last tuesday until to day, you might have favoured us with a line at least merely to say you were all alive & well should that fortunately be the case—Henry is very well, we received a letter from him this morning—Anne is sick confined to bed & very low with (we think) consumption—Dr. Trevor attending—every one asking Have you heard from John yet?

Your affectionate father & mother Henry & Mary Warner

You ought to see Mothers face on Thursday, friday, & to day morn when I came home, & said no letter from John

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 11July 1863. Moore VI:05:21