Walt Whitman to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman, 28 March 1866

About This Item

Title: Walt Whitman to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman, 28 March 1866
Date: March 28, 1866
Creator(s): Walt Whitman
Whitman Archive ID: nyp.00204
Source: Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection, New York Public Library. The transcription presented here is derived from Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, ed. Edwin Haviland Miller (New York: New York University Press, 1961–1977), 273. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.
Contributors to digital file: Elizabeth Lorang Vanessa Steinroetter Alyssa Olson
Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "Walt Whitman to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman, 28 March 1866." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 04 December 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
Source File: nyp.00204.xml (TEI)

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, March 28, 1866 Dearest Mother,

Your letter come safe this morning, enclosing Han's1—I was very glad to get both—Mother, I wrote you three letters last week, the second one was in a big envelope, & the last was a small one you ought to have got Saturday—I feel quite unsettled how to send any thing2—the letters seem to be so liable to be stolen—but I shall certainly fix it so as you get something every week, mother, some how—Seems to me George's arrangements, & the buying of the lots, &c. are very good—also the shop—As Jeff says, he must have patience3—Love to Matty & the children—& good bye for present, mother dear,

Walt.

Notes

1. The letter from Walt's sister Hannah Louisa Whitman Heyde (18231908) of March 24, 1866 (The Library of Congress) was almost cheerful, although she was "lonesome" and looked forward to Whitman's promised visit in the summer. [back]
2. On March 27(?), 1866, Mrs. Whitman added in a postscript: "i got all the letters you have sent." [back]
3. According to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman's letter of March 27(?), George was alarmed about his business prospects: "george is building his shop and he gets veary tired. he had never aught to have commenced to work at his trade he says. he had aught to have staid in the army" (Trent Collection of Whitmaniana, Duke University Rare Books, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library). [back]