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Dr. F. B. Gillette to Walt Whitman, 23 December 1867

About This Item

  • Title: Dr. F. B. Gillette to Walt Whitman, 23 December 1867
  • Date: December 23, 1867
  • Creator(s): Dr. F. B. Gillette
  • Whitman Archive ID: loc.02116
  • Source: The Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, 1839–1919, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 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: Alex Kinnaman Elizabeth Lorang Kathryn Kruger Ashley Lawson John Schwaninger Caterina Bernardini Cristin Noonan Marie Ernster Paige Wilkinson Amanda J. Axley Stephanie Blalock
  • Cite this page: Gillette, Dr. F. B.. "Dr. F. B. Gillette to Walt Whitman, 23 December 1867." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 09 May 2025. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: loc.02116.xml (TEI)
 loc.02116.001_large.jpg Post Hospital Natchez, Miss Dec 23d, 18671 Walt Whitman; Dear Sir,

I write this, to let you know, how glad I am Walt Whitman was born; and that he writes—Oh! that there were more of the same sort, our country needs them. I hope some day to grasp your hand, and hear you speak.

"Democracy"2 made me yell with delight; it put things into shape that I ran all in a heap before.

Go on, and may God bless you and your efforts, as a true American.

Respectfully F. B. Gillette acting [illegible] in chg—  loc.02116.002_large.jpg  loc.02116.003_large.jpg see notes Jan 5 1889 from Dr. Gillette on "Democracy"—no answer  loc.02116.004_large.jpg

Correspondent:
Dr. F. B. Gillette was the acting assistant surgeon at Port Hospital in Natchez, Mississippi.

Notes

  • 1. This letter is addressed: Walt Whitman. see notes Jan 5 1889 from Dr. Gillette on "Democracy"—no answer [back]
  • 2. Whitman's essay "Democracy" was first publishied in The Galaxy 4 (December 1867), 919–933. It was later incorporated into Democratic Vistas (New York: J. S. Redfield, 1871). [back]
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