Walt Whitman to Teunis G. Bergen, 15 January 1849

About This Item

Title: Walt Whitman to Teunis G. Bergen, 15 January 1849
Date: January 15, 1849
Creator(s): Walt Whitman
Whitman Archive ID: bhs.00001
Source: Brooklyn Historical Society. Transcribed from digital images or a microfilm reproduction of the original item. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.
Contributors to digital file: Cristin Noonan Amanda J. Axley Marie Ernster Erel Michaelis Paige Wilkinson Kassie Jo Baron Jeff Hill Stephanie Blalock
Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "Walt Whitman to Teunis G. Bergen, 15 January 1849." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 11 May 2025. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
Source File: bhs.00001.xml (TEI)

bhs.00001.001_large.jpg Brooklyn, Jan. 15. '49 T. G. Bergen, Esq: Dear Sir:

It would be a great obligation to me, if you would present the enclosed bill and start it on its passage, so that I could get my pay as quickly as possible.—For, like most printers, I am horribly in need of cash.—

Do, my dear sir, oblige me, in this matter, if possible.

Yours truly Walter Whitman

Correspondent:
Teunis G. Bergen (1806–1881) was a Brooklyn official acquainted with Whitman. Bergen was a member of the 241st regiment of the New York State militia, where he achieved the rank of Colonel. Trained as a surveyor, Bergen enjoyed a succesful career in the field before turning to politics. He served on the Kings County Board of Supervisors as the Supervisor of New Utrecht for twenty-three years (1836–1859). In 1864, Bergen was elected to the United States House of Representatives as a Democrat. He held this office until 1867.