George Washington Whitman to Walt Whitman, 6 September 1871

About This Item

Title: George Washington Whitman to Walt Whitman, 6 September 1871
Date: September 6, 1871
Creator(s): George Washington Whitman
Whitman Archive ID: tex.00120
Source: Walt Whitman Collection, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin. The transcription presented here is derived from George Washington Whitman, Civil War Letters of George Washington Whitman, ed. Jerome M. Loving (Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press, 1975), 161. 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 Kathryn Kruger April Lambert
Cite this page: Whitman, George Washington. "George Washington Whitman to Walt Whitman, 6 September 1871." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 05 January 2025. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
Source File: tex.00120.xml (TEI)

Camden Sept 6th 18711 Dear Walt

I see by this morning's paper, that Starr & Co. has taken the contract for the 36 in pipes for Washington & I am thinking of trying to get the inspecting of them. Genl Greene2 I understand is appointed Chief Eng'r of the Dept. of Public Wks, but Major Elliot3 has the immediate charge of Water Dept.

Do you know Maj. Elliot and if so can you find out from him if he has any particular person that he wants to inspect the pipes. I would like to find out if it would be of any use for me to go to Washington & see him in regard to the matter. I do not care to go unless I have a good show for the work. I could refer him to Mr Kirkwood,4 Genl Greene, Mr Lane,5 Col Adams,6 Mr. Tracy, Davis &C.7 Walt cant you stop here on your return to Washington, if you could only bring Mother we would be delighted.8

George

Notes

1. At the time of this letter, George Whitman had been living in Camden, New Jersey, for three years, where he worked as an inspector of pipes for the city. In April of this year, he had married Louisa Orr Haslam. [back]
2. See George Washington Whitman's letter to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman from April 12, 1862. [back]
3. See George Washington Whitman's letter to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman from February 9, 1862. [back]
4. See George Washington Whitman's letter to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman from February 9, 1862. [back]
5. See George Washington Whitman's letter to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman from February 9, 1862. [back]
6. John Grubb Parke (1827-1900); see George Washington Whitman's letters to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman from July 23, 1863 and June 18, 1864. [back]
7. See George Washington Whitman's letter to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman from February 9, 1862. [back]
8. A parallel account of George Whitman's experiences in the battle of Roanoke Island appears in George Washington Whitman's letter to Louisa Van Velsor Whitman from February 9, 1862. [back]