Today in the Civil War

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

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:

Allegheny City, Wednesday, May 6^th 1863—2 ½ P.M.

Our Dear Children—Your welcome letter dated April 30^th, along with Henry’s returned, & also a letter from you, of April 24^th we received Saturday May 2^nd—The day before we received yours, we received one from Henry, in which he stated that he had not received a letter from you, since the one he received from Harrisburgh, day after you left Fort Delaware; Mother says, it made her feel very sad, to think you could forget him in such a way, especially when we consider where he is placed, it would make no difference if he was at home with us—Mother says she knows your time is very much taken up, but could you not spare one quarter of an hour each week to write to him? If you care for the souls of the poor soldiers you ought to care doubly for his—I know that a little effort would do it. A short letter of half a note would please him very much & cheer him up; we think Jennie might write him a few lines also, Now John dear, if you make the effort you will certainly find you can accomplish it; Poor Henry he is far away from Home, & Home influence,
Robert Armstrong is now employed in Allegheny City of the store of Wm. Temple at a salary of 600$ per annum—He spoke to Mr. Barker some time ago to allow him an advance they gave him no decisive answer but paid him every week his $10.00 as usual, so Robert availed himself of the first opportunity he could get to advance his salary—so last Saturday when Robert said he was going, Mr. Barker said he should have given him more notice, now that is not the rule Mr. Barker adopted with his employees, for on Saturday night when all were paid off, any that were not wanted any more were informed of the same without previous notice, Robert therefore considered it was ‘a bad rule did not work both ways’

When the Rebels were in Morgantown last week, we began to think they were a little too close to us, for the sake of comfort; there seemed to be quite a loyal turn out among the people and many were dissatisfied that Gov. Curtin did not order out the Militia, but he did not & said there was no danger we felt a little jealous for when the raid was made on Chambersburgh the Militia were ordered out instanter, so we go: prospects look bright in connection with the war, kind remembrance to Jennie, an affectionate embrace for her little ladyship, & remain

Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

P.S. Last night it was pouring rain all night, has been showering all day & still dropping, we have had a wet time of it. Robert told us at dinner time, it was written on the Bulletin Board, that Col Clark was captured by the rebels—I believe I will not close this until I see the evening chronicle—Jennie says she wishes we would repeat our visit, that we cannot do, but it is her time now to come & see us, and we expect to see you all some time this summer. Chronicle is not come & we will close

H. & M. W.

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 6 May1863. Moore VI:05:19

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:

Allegheny City, Wednesday, April 29^th 1863

Our Dear Children, The rebels have not got our length yet, while I now write, 11 ½ A.M. I have not heard of their whereabouts, as I have not seen the mornings paper; yesterday afternoon, it was currently reported that they were about 45 miles from us. that they had captured Morgantown Va, were on their way to Uniontown, Pa, & whether they would go to Wheeling or the Smoky City nobody knew; It rained all morning & the sun shines bright & warm at present; just about where we live the people seem as unconcerned as if there was not a rebel in America, however as I went to look at my empty box in the P.O. the people seemed to be in small groups here and there & at corners as though something was going on of some consequence to every body. Yesterday in the afternoon all the bells toll’d & I supposed that it was on account of the death of a fireman, and it was some time before I knew our rebel friends were so close to us, We have no friendship for them & sincerely hope that wherever they are, they will be no nearer to us than they are at present. Sis had her foot scalded, but is running around as though nothing was the matter, will dine with us today, she is just beside me laying the things on the dinner table, Robert is still improving in health, & attends to business as usual, we all enjoy excellent health, have no news, only that we have a fire now & again in Pittsburgh, we get a note from Henry once a week. We hope the roads about Gettysburgh are improved in condition, we would like to know how Mrs Craig is, as the summer advances her health may recruit, both your communions were over last Sabbath we hope you got through cleverly. Are you going to Ill. to the General Assembly. The last of the house cleaning was done this forenoon. We have a splendid Market House in Allegheny the handsomest & best laid out in the United States at any rate so Mother says. It is admitted by competent judges to be a splendid affair, still they cannot cause eggs to be any cheaper than 15¢ per dozen—Kind Remembrance to Jennie & a kiss for our Mary—Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 29 April 1863. Moore VI:05:18