September 5, 1862: George Eyster to John Riddle Warner

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

Transcript:

Chambersburg Sept. 5, 1862

Dear John,

You and Jennie will regret to hear of the death of Captain John Dick, of the 107^th Pa. Regiment. He met his death heroically in one of the battles last week near Washington. His body has been recovered, I learned this evening, and is being brought to Shippensburg, but whether for interment there or in this county, I am unable to state.

Rumor says this evening that Captain Mack Kerns, of this place, was also killed.

We are all well. Mary goes down in the morning to see Mr. Dick.

Yours Truly

Geo Eyster

Chambersburg

Sept. 5, 1862

Dear John

I write a second letter in order to inform you of a true tale of facts with regard to the Bank. All the specie of the institution ($105,000) was removed to Harrisburg yesterday in charge of Mr. Menemsmith. The specie and valuable papers of the Hagerstown Banks were brought to town to-day and will be taken to Harrisburg to-morrow morning. We have news in town that the rebels 40,000 strong crossed the Potomac into Maryland and at a near Edwards’ Ferry. A person from beyond Hagerstown just in this evening reports that heavy and rapid cannonage was heard down the Potomac all afternoon. A battle is surely in progress at or near it. [illeg] Two companies are organizing here this evening, one infantry, the other cavalry, for home defense. The Hagerstown Banks were no so much alarmed in consequence of the documentations between them, as at the prospect of cavalry raids from the direction of Hancock &c.

The government is indeed paralyzed. Have we some Achan in the camp or are we foiled in every direction, because we fail to let the oppressed go free?

If the capitol is to be taken and the government to pan through the throes of dissolution, in God’s name, let us set up honest military chieftain as Dictator, who shall lead us to victory and enable us set to hack the back of the giant evil. Rather than succumb to the despotism of an oligarchy let us welcome poverty and death—let our fields become a waste and homes a dream.

We’ll attend to the gas arrangement you speak of.

Yours truly

Geo Eyster

Citation: George Eyster, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Chambersburg, Pa.; 5 September 1862. Moore VI:05:10