Rev. John Riddle Warner was the grandfather of the poet Marianne Moore and during the Civil War he lived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Anne Warner Armstrong was his sister. These letters are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.
Transcript:
Wednesday August 7th 1861
Dear Brother
We received your kind letter in due time and were sorry that you have so much more to do than you are able I hope by this time Jennies brother is better so that she may soon be able to return to comfort you, and gladden your home I am sure Jennie must have been very much alarmed at the news of her brothers illness coming at midnight and you away We sympathize with Mrs Sharp in her trouble but indeed I do think you ought not to think of going to Newville. I know her distress must be great indeed but you are not able for so much travelling and fatigue. You will wear out your poor body I know Jennie will agree with me in this. Yesterday Mr Tugg came over and asked father to come over to the office and stay a part of every day until they would get the books straightened not to stay so long any day as to oppress himself but just as he felt able, this is why I write for him to day as he would not have you disappointed I received a letter from Robert day before yesterday he is doing some business as he said he was going to send $600 to Painter & Co the next day he does not say any thing about times in the South, as letters are liable to be opened, and tells me in mine to put nothing in, but about family matters he says “if you have a strong desire to visit your brother go, but the Confederate troops it is thought will be there in a few days” and I think it would be dangerous for you to go.” I think the C troops had better stay where they are, with regard to going to see you nothing would give me more pleasure, and I thank Jennie for her very kind invitation I had at one time almost made up my mind to go but I thought Robert might come during my absence and I thought it would be better to defer it to some other time. Little Henry is now in the country at Isabelle & Riddle’s with Aunt Betty Henry drove them out last Saturday I do not know how long they will stay, I miss Henry very much and sissy laments that “Mama let him take his clothes with him” she thinks he would not stay so long if I had not given him any clothes to take with him. She writes a “few lines” to her Papa sometimes when I am writing in this style then on one end of her sheet I interpret it for him her letters are generally very interesting remember us all in the kindest manner to Jennie We look forward with great pleasure to the promised visit in September I doubt whether you will enjoy it much without Jennie if she will yet change her mind and come, we will do every thing in our power to contribute to her happiness tell her I thank her for her very kind letter and I will answer it before long I have not received any messages since I returned from Shelbyville but I think I have one with some patterns for embroidery or braiding which I will send back with you I am thankful to Jennie for taking so much trouble in cutting the cloak patterns. Write as often as you can and believe us as ever your affectionate Father Mother Brother and Sister
Annie
Dr Kern preached for us last Sabbath morning a good sermon on “there is joy over one sinner that repenteth”
Citation: Anne Warner Armstrong, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. 7 August 1861. Moore VI:04:19