American Civil War Letters - June 3, 1864 - Postage for Books, Tomato Sales, Sentiments

My sentiment upon the war is the same as yours. We must depend upon God for a blessing, and to look back, we can see how we have been lead by the hand by God all the way.

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A short one, today. It's nice to see her neighbors being generous so she can send some books down to the troops.

This is the first mention I've found of "Greenbacks," Lincoln's fiat currency for financing the war. From my understanding, this was the first time we abandoned the gold and silver standards.

It's strange to think of America as a divided country, without a universal currency accepted everywhere.

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Springfield June 3, 1864

My Dear Husband

It is chilly this morning, and I am curled up to the stove writing in my lap. I should have written last night, but had company. Abbie Knight is here. Her intended spent the evening here. He is a pretty fellow, I think. He is at work here in the village.

Those books, I carried down to the post office last night, and Mr Porter [said] it would cost more than they were worth to send them. 88 cents, he said. But I misunderstood him and thought he said 18, so I told him I would not mind that, if you could only have them to distribute and share.

"Well," said he, "I will give you my commission which will be one half, so you will have 44 cents to pay." Mr Wolson had given me 10, Dea Lewis 25. So it cost me 10 to send the books.

You will find two books with Hattie Butterfield's name in them. She wanted some little boy or girl to have them. She has been sick nearly four months, but can just walk about the house. She has an abscess on one lung which runs all the time. It is most gone. Mr Porter is to do them up and send them on. I hope he will put a new one in.

I have just got two letters from you this morning. You have been sick. You will have to be careful. Aunt Hawkins says you must not [eat] too much Indian meal because it is loosening.

I have sold quite a mess of tomatoes: 20 dollars when I added it up! I have some since yesterday, 1.25 cents, and some every day.

My sentiment upon the war is the same as yours. We must depend upon God for a blessing and to look back, we can see how we have been lead by the hand by God all the way.

Many are in mourning. I feel sorry for Sarah Griswold. She says her brother was the dearest friend she had. Her other relations were away, but he had been here, and been her adviser. Cannot you write something to her?

I am glad you had someone to wait upon you when you were sick. Give my respects to Mr Royce. Tell him I saw aunt Safford a few mornings since. She enquired for him.

Abbie Knight is now on a visit. She is not well - has the palpitation of the heart, bad.

Give my love to Mr Stoddard. Does he persevere in the Christian courses? Tell him my grandmother was a Stoddard from Cohasset, Mass.

I have just this minute seen Mr Chickering go by, and stept to the door to ask him if he could send you some testaments. He says he will, as soon as you write him at Montpelier, and give him your address.

I will send you five dollars or something. I have not a greenback, but will go down and get one if I can. I suppose our money would not answer for you.

We are all well this morning. Have not heard from Abe, et uncle Davis is still very ....

May the Lord preserve you

Marcia S Grennell

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This is a transcription of a letter that my great-great-great grandmother sent to her husband during his service in the American Civil War. It 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.

You can click on the original letters to see a high resolution scan for comparison.

I have dozens of letters from Marcia Spencer Grinnell to her husband Abel from this period, and will continue to share them as time and interest permit. The letters make for fascinating reading, and provide an intimate look into domestic life at the time of this conflict.

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CLICK HERE to read more letters from Marcia Spencer Grinnell and her family during the civil war.

Or CLICK HERE for a complete catalog of my work on Steemit, so far.