May 9, 1863: John Riddle Warner to Jennie Craig Warner

Rev. John Riddle Warner and Jennie Craig Warner were the grandparents of the poet Marianne Moore. During the Civil War they lived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Jennie would die of typhoid in September 1863.

Transcript [excerpt]:

Gettysburgh Sat’y May 9^th 1863

My Dear Jennie

Accompanying I send the stuff you ordered. Yesterday it was raining so that I did not go to the office until the afternoon. Was just preparing to go when Lillie J handed in your letter, consequently you have had to wait a day longer for the cloth which I very much regret. The weather this week has been so bad that I suppose Hugh & Martha did not get down. When they come give them my kindest regards & tell them I hope we shall see them before next Autumn sometime. A letter from home last night says they “Confidently expect a visit from us this Summer.” We are all here very much dispirited on account of Hooker’s advances just forward & then behind and nothing gained but thousands slain. I dread the coming summer. I think it will be the darkest time yet, and that we may not have any thing like decisive successes before next spring. Letter from home says “it is rumored, and on the bulletin board that Col. Clark is a prisoner” Their regiment was in the hardest of the fight. Copperheads here, as well as Cbg I suppose, and rejoicing over the news. My opinion is thus God will not give us success until there are more earnest zealous praying Christians. This is what we want, and when God sees in the Army & out of it the right number—and the right kind, then shall we have success and not sooner…

Citation: John Riddle Warner, autograph letter signed to Jennie Craig Warner. Gettysburg, Pa.; 9 May 1863. Moore VI:05:19