American Civil War Letters - January 30, 1864 - A Fashionable Dress, Diphtheria, Consumption, All Very Well

She had had the Dipthera and had not been out of her room and wanted to go to the ball. Her folks did not want her to. She said she should go [even] if she died.

I have been sharing letters that my great-great-great grandmother Marcia Spencer Grinnell sent to her husband Abel Grinnell during his service during the American Civil War.

This particular letter was written by Abel's daughter, Abbie. Like her mother's letters, this was written with minimal punctuation, so I have made regular edits for readability while keeping the content of the letter as close to the source as possible. Where incorrect and archaic spellings do not confuse the text, I have left them as written.

A scan of the original letters is interspersed with the text for comparison.

I will continue to transcribe and share these letters as time and interest permit. They make for fascinating reading, and provide an intimate look into domestic life at the time of this conflict.

Things continue morbid on the home front. Three more deaths in four pages! One, young, from diphtheria (and going to a ball!), one from consumption, and another "hard death" from unspecified causes. I'm still impressed how these deaths are shared as just just more news in an upbeat letter which begins "We are all very well..."

Springfield Jan 30 1864

My very dear Father

We are all very well. I suppose that is the first thing you would like to hear from home. It is the first thing I should want to hear if I was far away from home. How I wish you was here this evening with us.

Mrs R. O. Forbash has been here today and spent the afternoon with us and took tea. She plainted Mother's new dress for her. Mother has got it cut and the waist narrowed down. It looks very well. It is cut in fashion.

The children have all gone to bed and it is quite still here now. Mother is reading the Tribune. We have got another story in the paper. The name of it is "Sir Christopher."

Sarah is reading a book by the name of Harriet of Love, and knitting her stocking.

We have got the round table moved out in the middle of the room. Mother is sitting nearest the stove. Sarah nearest the outside door. I am sitting near the windows. Now there is just room enough for one more right between mother and me, and I wish you was here to fill it.

Tomorrow is the last day of January. Grandmother would have been 85 ys old tomorrow if she had lived.

Ellen Williams is dead. She died Wednesday. She had had the Dipthera and had not been out of her room and wanted to go to the ball. Her folks did not want her to. She said she should go [even] if she died. She went and died in consequence of going. She sat up in her chair by the window and knit not more than 6 minutes before she died, I have heard.

Mr Frank Slade, a returned soldier, died also this week, of consumption. He has been sick ever since he returned from the army.

Addie Burges is very low indeed. Aunt Hawkins does not think she can live but a little while and a good many think the same thing.

Nancy Ann has moved in with Aunt. She moved in last Wednesday.

There's going to be 3 more singing schools. They are talking about giving a concert at the close. We are going to have a piano the rest of the term.

I have been baking today. I have made some bread, 4 pies, and a panful of doughnuts, and a chicken pie (as the children call it) a meat pie just like a chicken pie, [with] meat instead of chicken. I wish very much you could be here to help eat it tomorrow night.

We expect a Mr Mean [???] here to preach tomorrow. Mother is expecting to go if it is not snowy. I guess it will snow before morning. It looks a good deal like it now. It has been quite warm for a few days past.

Mother had a cord of green wood cern [sawn?] today. She expects 8 more. She pay's for this cord and is going to pay for the rest. It is dreadfull slippery for horses and everything else. They had a real hard time getting the wood up the hill. I guess mother will write the rest about it.

Jan 31

The children are all round the table writing to you. They feel very good when we receive a letter from you. We have not heard for somtimes and they will expect an answer from you to their's.

Addie Burges is dead. She died last night about 2 o'clock. She died a very hard death. Sarah or Mother will write the rest of the news so good by. Write very soon, from your far off Daughter

Abbie

Within the same envelope was a short letter, in pencil, from the very young Marion Grinnell. (The girl who will be struck by ear ache in June.)

Springfield Vt.

Dear PaPa

Addie is dead. Abbie staid over to Ann Hawkins. ??? Tonight i have been sick one day. I have not been to school since Mister Hariw has been here. PaPa accept my love.

Marion Grennell