Carrie Spafford had been the fiancée of Col. Elmer Ellsworth. Col. Elmer Ellsworth was a lawyer and soldier and friend of Abraham Lincoln who was one of the first casualties of the Civil War. He was shot and killed on May 24, 1861 while removing a large Confederate flag from a tavern in Alexandria, Virginia.
Transcript:
Rockford. Dec 1st 1861
My dear friends,
Although I am not indebted to you and have nothing of interest to say I feel like writing you this evening. I have attended church once today, and am going again this evening. We have a most excellent minister- one whom I love most dearly. I also have an interesting class in Sunday school, which I am trying to guide in the path of Piety. But while I have a good minister to listen to on Sunday and a class to instruct it is the saddest day in the week to me. While at home, every thing is quiet. I have no domestic duties to perform and am consequently left alone with my thoughts. And while I try not to murmur I find myself wondering, why God thought to take away him who was so dear to me? Many answers present themselves, but still I am wondering. I know I loved him too well, he was my idol, and in this Christian world we should love none better than God. I fear I did not obey this commandment. Tomorrow will be my nineteenth birthday. I shall then enter the second year of my womanhood, sadder far, and I trust better than one year ago. Oh how little did I know of the sufferings I should endure during the following year, when I wrote Elmer one year ago tomorrow. And this well I did not.
Enclosed you find a copy of Elmers last letter to me. I beg your pardon for not having sent it before, but my time has been so much occupied that I have not been able to copy it.
My mothers health being so poor, I am obliged to attend to housekeeping affairs and am of course, busy most of the time.
I see by the papers that Mr. Ellsworth has had an office assigned to him. I am delighted. Where is he to be stationed?
I wish I could see you both tonight. Mr. E. are you not coming West? I must close now and prepare for church. Write me soon- and accept much love from your aff Carrie
Citation: Carrie Spafford, autograph letter signed to her friends. Rockford, Ill; 1 December 1861. AMs 811/2.7