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very thankful to you for the kindness you have shown and Still Show to our poor boy i cant express My

from Culpeper William Did not think of asking what it would cost to Send him on to his frinds the captain

a Coffin they buryed him as Decently as they could by pining him up in a thick woolen blanket the captain

mother, how are you nowadays—I do hope you feel well & in good spirits—I think about you every day of my

see women in the hospitals, mothers come to see their sons, & occasionally one that makes me think of my

dear mother—one did very much, a lady about 60, from Pennsylvania, come to see her son, a Captain, very

as it was that time that my hand was cut in the artery, & I was liable to gangrene myself—but she and

breakfast in my room in the morning myself, & dinner at a restaurant about 3 o'clock—I get along very

He had held the rank of captain since November 1, 1862, and after the war he attempted unsuccessfully

to secure a commission as a captain in the regular standing army (Jerome M.

machine, and that I must consign myself to the fate of the rest....Meantime I make about enough to pay my

neck, draws my face down, &c. quite a scene for the New Bowery.)

My beard, neck, &c. are woolier, fleecier, whiteyer than ever.

Now you write to me good long letters, my own boys.

This room is up on the fifth floor, (a most noble and broad view from my window.)

Fred, I wish you to present my best respects to your father.

John Frederick Schiller Gray was a captain in the Twentieth New York Infantry and later held the same

.On May 1, 1863, Gray excused his neglect in replying because of his military duties and "bothering my

brain with the detestable clerical duties incidental to my position": "I have just come from my Mother

, who, together with my Father, desires to be kindly remembered to you. . . .I lead a very different

I'm damned if I wouldn't have given up all my hopes in the future to have had you and my little girl

If so I suppose we will march to Aquia Creek, and go on board of Transports  My own oppinion is that

I have my house nearly finished, and was going to have a nice warm place.

Sims, a captain in George's Fifty-first New York Volunteer Regiment, had been the subject in part of

letter to his mother on December 16, 1862: "I have come out safe and sound, although I had the side of my

jaw slightly scraped with a peice of shell which burst at my feet."

going to have a sepperate command and that Fortress Monroe is to be the place of rendezvous, and if my

Capts Sims and Wright (from this Regt) are home now, and when they get back I believe it is my turn,

come and see me as it is here, and if I can get a chance to come home I shall want the money to pay my

I had my log house almost finished, when the orders came for us to get ready to move, and was going to

Sims, a captain in George Whitman's Fifty-first New York Volunteer Regiment, had been the subject in

letter to his mother on December 16, 1862: "I have come out safe and sound, although I had the side of my

jaw slightly scraped with a peice of shell which burst at my feet."

as when you left,  I am still liveing in Capt Francis's tent as I have not been able to get one of my

Francis, also of Buffalo, New York, was promoted to the rank of captain to replace Hazard when the latter

Daily Eagle for January 5, 1863, a factual report of the activities of Brooklyn soldiers, especially Captain

give even a mere resume of the movements, service, fights, marches, sufferings of the 51st since, as my

He likes his position of Captain of Company G, in which rank he started from Palace Garden; and the men

Captain George Washington Whitman was Walt Whitman's younger brother by ten years and was wounded in

A letter from his Captain says: Five of our color guard had either been killed or disabled, when Byram

.; Captain George Washington Whitman was Walt Whitman's younger brother by ten years and was wounded

It is said the government purposes something of this kind—it will throw a good many captains & lieutenants

Mother, you tell him I sent him my love, and Nancy the same, and the dear little boys the same.

I find I have to restrain myself and keep my composure—I succeed pretty well.

Give my best respects to Dr. Ruggles.

3—I have been in my room all day, so far—shall have dinner in ½ an hour, and then down to Armory.

I find them of great use in giving me ideas about my business and they are too cursed costly to buy."

Captain John Mullan (1830–1909), an army engineer, was associated with General Isaac I.

requesting ten copies of the Daily Eagle, Walt asked Jeff in a letter dated April 28, 1863 for "5 more of my

Hart, a captain and acting assistant adjutant general in Company K of the Eighty-eighth New York Volunteers

Sims, a captain in George Washington Whitman's Fifty-first New York Volunteer Regiment, had been the

letter to his mother on December 16, 1862: "I have come out safe and sound, although I had the side of my

jaw slightly scraped with a peice of shell which burst at my feet."

I send George papers now & then—Mother, one of your letters contains part of my letter to the Union,

It seems to be mostly as I intended it, barring a few slight misprints—was my last name signed at the

or think too deeply—So I go giving you all good advice— O Mother, I must tell you how I get along in my

of you & Hat right away)—one thing is I am quite by myself, there is no passage up there except to my

room, & right off against my side of the house is a great old yard with grass & some trees back, & the

Sims, a captain in George Washington Whitman's Fifty-first New York Volunteer Regiment, had been the

letter to his mother on December 16, 1862: "I have come out safe and sound, although I had the side of my

jaw slightly scraped with a peice of shell which burst at my feet."

On September 22, 1863, George informed Jeff that Captain Sims was in Brooklyn to recruit for the regiment

Jeff explained the situation on October 22, 1863: "It is not like you think in regard to cutting down my

you a few lines to let you now that I am well and have got safe to the regment and I have bin to see my

famley they are well wee are all m[o]unted an wee have got the pras of the finest regment in these pats My

Captain Francis M.

We are soon to see a thing accomplished here which I have often exercised my mind about, namely, the

Not at all, to my eye.

many respects of our constructive nation and age, and even so poetical, that I have even balanced in my

When a train comes to a bad spot in the road this Captain reins in his horse and stands there till they

I find this everywhere, and very pleasing to my sight.

companys of our regmet is at millsprings an 5 here they will return today they 70 prisners yesterd give my

Captain Francis M.

On March 17, Captain Whitman left Brooklyn to return to Newport News.

Captain John Mullan (1830–1909), an army engineer, had just published for the U.S.

Lane concerning Captain Mullan (see also Jeff's letter to Walt from April 20, 1863).

I have almost made up my mind to set it so that a 65 or 70 x 20 foot lot can at any time be made in front

Mr Lane compliments me highly on my bargain and says I have done well .

Sims, a captain in George Washington Whitman's Fifty-first New York Volunteer Regiment, had been the

letter to his mother on December 16, 1862: "I have come out safe and sound, although I had the side of my

jaw slightly scraped with a peice of shell which burst at my feet."

On February 1, 1863, Geroge wrote to Walt Whitman: "I have my log hut partly finished and should have

My old friend Bill DeBevoise is home sick with " weakness " I suppose you might call it.

My friend J. W.

Mason, (used to be in my party on the Water Works) was in Brooklyn on Saturday  He was then on his way

Would'nt it be good if he was home just now to build my "house"  I should like much to have it done by

All send their love to you and receive my best wishes for your health and success  I remain as ever your

Sims, a captain in George's Fifty-first New York Volunteer Regiment, had been the subject in part of

letter to his mother on December 16, 1862: "I have come out safe and sound, although I had the side of my

jaw slightly scraped with a peice of shell which burst at my feet."

cry" yesterday in reading of how you had to get along, and I myself could hardly keep the water from my

Hart, a captain and acting assistant adjutant general in Company K of the Eighty-eighth New York Volunteers

Moses Lane wrote to Captain James J.

Mother, when you or Jeff writes again, tell me if my papers & MSS are all right—I should be very sorry

ground is an inch and a half deep with snow—and it is snowing & drizzling—but I feel very independent in my

I have felt quite well of my deafness and cold in my head for four days or so, but it is back again bad

Dear mother, I wrote the above, in my room—I have now come down to Major Hapgood's office.

I find a good letter from one of my New York boys, (Fifth Avenue)—a young fellow named Hugo Fritsch,

Captain John Mullan (1830–1909), an army engineer, was associated with General Isaac I.

April 20th 1863 Dear Walt, I was glad to hear—from your letter to mother—that you had received my letters—containing

Captain John Mullan (1830–1909), an army engineer, was associated with General Isaac I.

John Frederick Schiller Gray was a captain in the Twentieth New York Infantry and later held the same

wensday Wednesday morning My dear Walt i have just got your letter with the shinplasters dident didn't

you get my letter when mary was here saying i got the other there is no letters miscarries that is directed

here i think i have had another attack of the rheumatism but not much in my hands so i can use them

but in my neck and shoulders i had not A very good night last night but am better this morning i am in

here the same morning he returnd returned poor man he said you was very kind to him indeed good bie my

In his April 19, 1863 letter from Winchester, Kentucky, Greenback wrote, "Captain Whitman is ordered

The pseudonym "Greenback" may be a pun: Captain Whitman, the one sending the greenbacks (dollars) to

noise & laughing & drinking, of a dozen young men, & I among them, I would see your face before me in my

it would be if I could leave all the fun & noise & the crowd & be with you—I don't wish to disparage my

there is something that takes down all artificial accomplishments, & that is a manly & loving soul—My

Well, it is now past midnight, pretty well on to 1 o'clock, & my sheet is most written out—so, my dear

dear loving comrade, & the blessing of God on you by night & day, my darling boy.

I do not know that I told you that both of my parents were dead but it is true and now, Walt, you will

be a second Father to me won't you. for my love for you is hardly less than my love for my natural parent

say much more of what the world calls educated & polished, & brilliant in conversation, &c, than you, my

Boston December 11, 1863 Walt Whitman— My dear sir— I went to the hospital in Pemberton Square yesterday

There seems a sort of hopelessness about this, and being unused to hospitals my feelings were far from

See Trowbridge, My Own Story, with recollections of noted persons (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1903), 179

On October 18, 1863, Babbitt was depressed—"dark clouds seem to be lying in my pathway and I can not

remove them nor hide them from my mind"—until he mentioned his beloved, Nellie F.

My dear Walt.

from the booksellers for the present, so I sent you today a package of such books as I could pick from my

Good-bye, my dear friend, and may the good angels help you in your good work. J. T. Trowbridge.

biography, The Ferry Boy and the Financier (Boston: Walker and Wise, 1864); he described their meetings in My

Though Trowbridge was not an idolator of Whitman, he wrote to O'Connor in 1867: "Every year confirms my

See Trowbridge, My Own Story, with recollections of noted persons (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1903), 179

Lew is so good, so affectionate—when I came away, he reached up his face, I put my arm around him, and

As to me, there is nothing new with me, or my affairs.

I manage to pay my way here in Washington, what I make writing letters for the New York papers, &c.

My love you have in life or death forever.

Good bye, my darling comrade, my dear darling brother, for so I will call you, and wish you to call me

However, on April 12, 1863, Sawyer himself had written to Brown: "I want you to give my love to Walter

Whitman and tell him I am very sorry that I could not live up to my Prommice because I came away so

soon that it sliped my mind and I am very sorry for it, tell him that I shall write to him my self in

a few days, give him my love and best wishes for ever" (Henry W. and Albert A.

reply until January 21, 1864: "Dear Brother, I hardly know what to say to you in this letter for it is my

Dear Sir, My brother wishes me to inform you of the state of his health, also of his journey home he

On October 18, 1863, Babbitt was depressed—"dark clouds seem to be lying in my pathway and I can not

remove them nor hide them from my mind"—until he mentioned his beloved, Nellie F.

On October 18, 1863, Babbitt was depressed ("dark clouds seem to be lying in my pathway and I can not

remove them nor hide them from my mind") until he mentioned his beloved, Nellie F.

biography, The Ferry Boy and the Financier (Boston: Walker and Wise, 1864); he described their meetings in My

Though Trowbridge was not an idolator of Whitman, he wrote to O'Connor in 1867: "Every year confirms my

On October 18, 1863, Babbitt was depressed—"dark clouds seem to be lying in my pathway and I can not

remove them nor hide them from my mind"—until he mentioned his beloved, Nellie F.

My Dear Sir : On my return, a few days since, from a long Western journey, I found your note respecting

go to-day to Montreal to be gone a week, and I have found quite tyrannical necessities at home for my

Of the O'Connors, Thomas Jefferson Whitman wrote on June 13, 1863: "I am real glad, my dear Walt, that

biography, The Ferry Boy and the Financier (Boston: Walker and Wise, 1864); he described their meetings in My

Though Trowbridge was not an idolator of Whitman, he wrote to O'Connor in 1867: "Every year confirms my

See Trowbridge, My Own Story, with recollections of noted persons (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1903), 179

partly scornful, or occasionally put a dry remark, which only adds fuel to the flame—I do not feel it in my

find that the deeper they go in with the draft, the more trouble it is likely to make—I have changed my

family, still I feel somewhat uneasy—about Jeff, if any one, as he is more around—I have had it much on my

have no doubt I shall make a few hundred dollars by the lectures I shall certainly commence soon, (for my

hospital missionary purposes & my own, for that purpose) & I could lend that am't to Jeff to pay it

From my own personal observations I think that the newspapers would give one the most perverted kind

On October 1, 1863, Babbitt was depressed—"dark clouds seem to be lying in my pathway and I can not remove

them nor hide them from my mind"—until he mentioned his beloved, Nellie F.

Dear comrade, you must be assured that my heart is much with you in New York, & with my other dear friends

Dear comrade, I still live here as a hospital missionary after my own style, & on my own hook—I go every

I have cut my beard short, & hair ditto: (all my acquaintances are in anger & despair & go about wringing

My face is all tanned & red.

Then around my majestic brow, around my well-brimmed felt hat—a black & gold cord with acorns.

New York, I had to be in Washington: I was never in the one place but I was restless for the other: my

Sq Hospital, Sunday evening Oct 4 Dear Madam, Your letter reached me this forenoon with the $30 for my

the midst of those it was sent to aid—& best by a sample of actual hospital life on the spot, & of my

in the way of thanks—is a country boy—always smiles & brightens much when I appear—looks straight in my

face & never at what I may have in my hand for him—I mention him for a specimen as he is within reach

of my hand & I can see that his eyes have been steadily fixed on me from his cot ever since I began

After Whitman gave this letter to Horace Traubel on July 27, 1888, he observed: "My main motive would

with surprises—with fancy turns of speech—with unusual, unaccustomed words—but to say them—to shoot my

Whitman included this entry among "verbatim extracts from letters home to my mother in Brooklyn, the

. & I am not with him any more—he has moved his office to his private room—I am writing this in my room

456 Sixth st—but my letters still come to Major's care, they are to be addrest same as ever, as I can

early, went down through the market, it is quite a curiosity—I bought some butter, tea, &c—I have had my

breakfast here in my room, good tea, bread & butter &c— Mother, I think about you all more than ever

George—I have no doubt the 51st is still at Crab Orchard — Mother, I hope you will try to write—I send you my

led the explosive Jeff to exclaim in a letter to Walt from December 15, 1863: "I love Mat as I love my

There would be but few tears shed on my part I can tell you. . . .

wrote Mother abt getting Jess in the Asylum—It does not seem to meet with her wishes—when I wrote you my

If my letters home don't show it, you don't get 'em.

enough to eat & drink, and shelter, in the moderatest limits) any more, since the last four months of my

Dear Sir I feel that as my brothers friend you have been neglecred but owing to sickness in the family

On October 18, 1863, Babbitt was depressed—"dark clouds seem to be lying in my pathway and I can not

remove them nor hide them from my mind"—until he mentioned his beloved, Nellie F.

[April 6, 1863] [Dear Brother Walt,] As I was abt putting these in the envelope my eye caught this blank

much of a beauty as ever…well, not only as much, but more so—I believe I weigh about 200 and as to my

face, (so scarlet,) and my beard and neck, they are terrible to behold…like a great wild buffalo, with

letter from December 29, 1862: "I wish you would write for me something…that I can present, opening my

Chase, however, kept the letter because he wanted an Emerson autograph; see Trowbridge, My Own Story

I am real glad my dear Walt that you are among such good people.

series of lectures & readings &c. through different cities of the north, to supply myself with funds for my

As he wrote Jeff, he hoped it would enable him "to continue my Hospital ministrations, on a more free

by the window in Major Hapgood's office—all the Potomac & Maryland & Virginia hills in sight—writing my

shall send him some papers to-day—I send papers quite often—(why hasn't Jeff sent me the Union with my

are well—I have rec'd another letter from Mrs Price, she has not good health, I am sorry for her from my

Mary's mother-in-law, wrote to Whitman from Farmingdale, Long Island, on September 25: "I have raiced my

Curtis, and the other friends, I will briefly say, tells daily & nightly & shall tell to the best of my

power, upon my dear boys here, in hospital.

Good by, my friend. Walt Whitman to James Redpath, 12 October 1863

After this sentence Whitman deleted the following: "Do you want to print my new little volume of poetry

He wrote in a letter dated May 14, 1863, "my profoundest help to these sick & dying men is probably the

Dear friend, My idea is a book of the time, worthy the time—something considerably beyond mere hospital

interest I surely think—in some respects somewhat a combination in handling of the Old French Memoires, & my

own personality (things seen through my eyes, & what my vision brings)—a book full enough of mosaic,

I have many hospital incidents, [that] will take with the general reader—I ventilate my general democracy

know the people generally now are too (far more than they know,) & would readily absorb & understand my

could easily publish a small Book, but the one you propose...implies an expenditure that may be beyond my

I find them of great use in giving me ideas about my business and they are too cursed costly to buy  

letter to his mother, Louisa Van Velsor Whitman: "Mother, when you or Jeff writes again, tell me if my