June 17, 1863: Henry and Mary Warner to John Riddle Warner

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Transcript [excerpt]:

Allegheny City, Wednesday, June 17^th 1863 2 P.M.

Our Dear Children

Your Welcome letter of Monday 15^th Inst. reached us this morning—In answer to which (should this reach you) we are happy to inform you we are all in excellent health, and from the enthusiasm and the preparations that are making here, should our ‘Southern friends’ just hold off, until Saturday night, we think we will be ready for any number of them that may approach. Artillery of every description are being placed on every eminence, manned by experienced & Willing hands—Col Clark & 123 9 mo boys, & in fact cavalry & infantry are massing in numbers—hoping you, Jennie, & Mary, may weather this hurricane in safety, and that we may once more have the pleasure of seeing you all soon and in good health I will conclude—Mother was glad to see your letter this morning, for in consequence of the very many, many, rumours going round yesterday and to day, we did not know what would turn up—On Monday every Rolling Mill, Foundry, Store, Drinking Saloons, &c &c, were all shut and every man at work planting batteries, digging Rifle pits, &c &c, great excitement prevailed

Your Affectionate Father & Mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner.  Allegheny City [Pittsburgh],17 June 1863. Moore VI:05:20