American Civil War Letters - February 11, 1864 - He Is Safe From His First Battle, She Is "Lonesick"

You did go through the fire in very deed! You must have suffered much with fatigue, and the smarting of your burns.

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I find it hard to believe that Marcia Grennell was "little used to writing," but perhaps that's why such an honest simplicity comes through in these letters.

And being new to writing doesn't stop her from embracing a new word!

Previously, I have been sharing these letters out of order - scanning them as I found them in a box, to minimize handling. I have since scanned the lot and sorted them into folders (there are 70!) so that I can now transcribe and share them in the order in which they were written.

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Springfield Feb 11th, 1864

My Dear Husband

I feel so anxious about you that I can hardly think of any thing else or feel any spirit to do any thing. I hope I shall soon hear that you are safe. I dare not think what if it should be otherwise. Yet I pray that I may be prepared for the worst.

I have just received a letter from Abe. He says if I get short of money I may go to uncle Davis and get a month's pay of his. Is not that kind? I hope that I shall be able to get along without accepting his offer.

I have also received a letter. Daniel Smith's folks, they wrote that Thanks [?] husband is in Vicksburg, the Capt. of a negro Co.

The girls have gone to singing school. The little ones are in bed and I am left alone.

I went to the prayer meeting at Dr Knight's last night. The minister made a sort of class meeting of it, called upon each one to tell their feelings and made appropriate remarks to each.

Sophy Bingham is very sick. The Dr says she cannot live. How many Deaths there has been here, and Abe wrote that they had had more deaths in that Reg in three weeks than they had in the 16th in ten months. He has been able to do duty all the time but has wished he had no duty to do.

Feb 12

I received a letter from you - or two, I ought to say - this morning.

You are safe! You did go through the fire in very deed. You must have suffered much with fatigue, and the smarting of your burns.

I see you have different paper and envelopes. I hope you have not lost all your things. But if you have, your life is spared and I thank God for that. All the rest is nothing in comparison.

I think it will be so that I can send stockings by mail if you wish.

You say you have not received any thing from me. I have sent 4 letters and 2 papers. I wish you would tell me just what to put on. You know I am so little used to writing. I feel very ignorant.

Almost every one that I meet asks after you. Dea. Lewis says "we miss brother Grennell in the prayer meetings." Mrs Davidson also spoke about it. Mr Tenney, Wolson, James Whipple, H Harlow, and other enquire after you.

I mention these names, thinking you may like to see a familiar name, if not face. Mr Chickering also. They are to leave one week from today.

Aunt Betsey is up to Mr Whipple's, and Anna has gone over to Mr Barney's, to see their baby. She said she was "lonesick." A new word, perhaps you think, but an expressive one, or one that will express my feelings since I read of the fight where you are.

I thank you for writing so often. Do continue to do so.

The man has just brought two loads of wood. It is beech but is solid and good. It seems to me you ought to have had a letter before this. I put one in the office Jan 26 and 29 and Feb 3 and 10. I hope you will get some of them.

We are all well

from your wife

Marcia S Grennell

[Postscript added to first page:]

Mrs Smith has just been in to enquire after her brother who belongs to Co. D. His name is Fletcher. If you know about him please write, also, about the other boys from here, so that I can report if asked. She says that Mr Smith has a brother at Newbern.

I hope you will find all things work together for good both for your remporal and spiritual welfare.

Yours,

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.

Where archaic and mis-spellings do not hinder understanding, I have transcribed them as written.

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.