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Walt Whitman to George Washington Whitman, 6 December 1863

About This Item

  • Title: Walt Whitman to George Washington Whitman, 6 December 1863
  • Date: December 6, 1863
  • Creator(s): Walt Whitman
  • Whitman Archive ID: loc.00804
  • Source: Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, 1839–1919, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. The transcription presented here is derived from Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, ed. Edwin Haviland Miller (New York: New York University Press, 1961–1977), 189. 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 Tim Jackson Vanessa Steinroetter Alyssa Olson
  • Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "Walt Whitman to George Washington Whitman, 6 December 1863." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 29 October 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: loc.00804.xml (TEI)
Washington Dec 6 '63 Dear brother,1

I sent you a letter four days ago that Andrew was gone at last, poor fellow. I have written to Han. I did not go on to Andrew's funeral, (I suppose it was yesterday)—but I am very very sorry now that I did not stay while I was home—I am well—Write when you can—

Walt

Notes

  • 1. This note to George was written on the verso of Jeff's letter of December 3, 1863: "I have just telegraphed to you that Andrew was dead. Poor boy, he died much easier than one would have supposed. I do hope to God you will come on. I have been with him, Mary, Mother, Mat and I, almost all the time since you left. Mary and I watched last night. He has been dying ever since Wednesday morning—fully 24 hours—Poor Nancy, she takes it woful hard. Mary has acted like the best of Women. It is very affecting to see Nancy and the children. Mattie did everything that she possibly could. She watched with us till near 3 o'clock this morning. Andrew was very desirous of having us all around him when he died. The poor boy seemed to think that that would take nearly all the horror of it away." [back]
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