June 21, 1863: Mary Craig Eyster to Jennie Craig Warner

Jennie Craig Warner was the grandmother of the poet Marianne Moore and during the Civil War, she lived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Mary Craig Eyster was her sister and lived in Chambersburg. These letters are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript:

Sabbath morning, June 21^st 1863

Dear Jennie

When I last wrote, I did not think that my next letter would be written from Shippensburg. This day a week, was a day of excitement in Chambersburg. Monday morning we sent Mother down here. We remained at home, it was as dark a day as I ever passed through. Millroy’s panic stricken train passed through on that day, In the evening news still came that the rebels were advancing. George left in the cars that evening. We went up to Mother Eysters, and stayed. The rebels came in town about half past eleven o’clock—and there we had to live under them for 36 hours. It was to bad to see them so perfectly at home, and doing just as they pleased. They did not enter private houses. I was at our house very little, was afraid to stay. They went there as soon as they were in town, and knocked, and called for George, and when they could not get an answer, concluded that he had packed up and gone.

Friday Watson came up from this place on his way from Michigan, he thought that I had better come down here and stay with Mother. She was very much excited, Uncle Hugh had to send her in to see D. [Cornwall?] to stay, one of his little sons brought Wat up, so the children and I just got in their buggy and came down. We found brother still in town, we remained there that night, & came out here in the morning. Mother seems quite contented since I am here, I suppose I will just have to stay with her. I dont think she is fit to stay any where alone. On last Monday morning I felt very uneasy about her, was really afraid she might loose her mind, or have another stroke, she looked so strangely, and I did not wonder at it, for I thought I would have gone crazy myself. I will just stay with her, and do all I can for her. I have nothing with me only what I could bring in a couple of carpet sacks. George was with us on Friday night, went to Chambersburg yesterday morning, and is still there.;

Yesterday afternoon Watson West came down here with his horses, the rebels are securing the country all around. Tim went to Gene Nevins with their horses, and this morning Hugh arrived with five of his horses, (Uncle’s and Davies’ included) he has been out ever since Thursday evening, winding among the mountains & above trying to avoid the rebels, and expecting to be captured every minute. The rebels first went to his home on Thursday about 1 o’clock Uncle & Davie had just started to the Pine-hills with the horses were only as far as the hay-shed at the foot of the meadow, when the rebels reached the barn. Hugh told them that he had sent his horses away, they said they knew that they were on the premises and tried to make him tell. They made all kinds of threats, that they would hang him, & shoot him &c and finally told him that they would take him, that they would rather have him than his horses. They took him as far as John Brewers, and then one of them told Hugh to go with him, he took him down through the woods back of uncle Jesse’s fields, and stopped at a pair of barns & told Hugh to wait there until he would go back a little distance to see the other men, and that if he would move he would shoot him. Hugh watched his chance and as soon as he had one, made his escape into a wheat field, where he found uncle Jesse and Davies hid. He then worked his way home, sent out for his horses, eat his supper, and started. The rebels took old Jack, but left him loose & he came back, took the wagon saddle, and Davies bridal. I expect poor Martha has an anxious time, knowing all this, and I suppose cannot bear that Hugh is here. I felt very anxious about you, saw Miss Helen Harper on Thursday she told me that she had seen young Crawford from Gettysburg, and that there were no rebels there. There is quite an excitement in town this morning it is reported that the rebels are coming down the Strasburg road, and they are preparing to meet them. Hope you will write as soon as you get this! Mother is anxious to hear from you. I would have written last week, but we were in such a state of excitement, and there was no way of sending letters. Allison Eysters family, and Maggie and her children went to Philadelphia. There were very few families went away, we did not think of going, little Jennie was terribly frightened, we hardly knew what to do with her on Monday morning. I believe it is as well to stand your ground—but it is not very pleasant to be shut up as we were in Chambersburg, and not know any thing that is going on. They behaved better than we expected—but I dont give them any credit for it—they just did as they pleased, and made us do as they wanted us. They generally paid for what they got, but with confederate scrip. They got over five hundred dollars worth out of Nixons store. I tell you old Mrs Nixon is mad at them. I guess you hear all the news through the papers, and more thans true.The evening after the rebels left, it was reported that they were coming back. The men in town formed in company’s and went out to meet them (but did not see any) Mr Nicolls & Mr Reeves shouldered their muskets too. I think this letter is quite long enough for Sunday. With much love to you both I remain as ever

Your loving sister

Mary

You had better direct your letter to Shippensburg care of Uncle Hugh. As soon as things get better, and Mother thinks she can stand it we will go home.

M

Citation: Mary Craig Eyster, autograph letter signed to Jennie Craig Warner.  Shippensburg, Pa.; 21 June 1863. Moore VI:05:20