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Fort Bennet, July 21st 1863 Adjutant General Thomas, General: I have the honor to forward this my application

Herewith please see testimonials from my officers. I have the honor General to remain &c.

England 25 Feb 1892 My dear Friend I send you just a few lines to thank you for your very great kindness

You say "Whoso touches my book, touches me," and with reverence I claim to take you by the hand, and

call you brother, yea, though you are also my Master.

I am My dear Brother Gratefully & lovingly yours Sam Thompson Samuel Thompson to Walt Whitman, 25 February

First Annex" (the Second Annex contains poems from a previously published miscellany entitled Good-Bye My

Talking to Traubel about the subject matter of these poems, Whitman said, "Of my personal ailments, of

"Queries to My Seventieth Year" reveals some of the ambiguous feelings he has about the year to come.

In "As I Sit Writing Here" he writes, "Not my least burden is that dulness of the years, querilities,

/ Ungracious glooms, aches, lethargy, constipation, whimpering ennui, / May filter in my daily songs

1Drift Sandsloc.04229xxx.00310[Sands on the Shores of my 60th year]about 1879poetry1 leaf6 x 14 to 20.5

x 16.5 cmhandwritten; Trial titles and notes, including Sands on the Shores of my 60th year.

[Sands on the Shores of my 60th year]

1Drift Sandsloc.04185xxx.00310[Sands on the Shores of my 64th year]about 1883poetry1 leaf6 x 14 to 20.5

x 16.5 cmhandwritten; Trial titles and notes, including Sands on the Shores of my 64th year.

[Sands on the Shores of my 64th year]

I have seen the copy, which you s o kindly gave to my cousin Phillips Stewart, and should li ke one as

your Mother telling me of your very severe illness in wich which you have our Heartfelt Sympathy (Both my

poor hand at it—and the trouble with cousin-Sarah she writes her letters so plainly—you must excuse my

that interests me just now and I will tell you all about—it is to take place this month) to two of my

wifes that can grace the parlor or grace the kitchen (if need be) this is the kind of wife, men in my

I could have written a more sympathetic letter (But then my heart is so full of my own sad Afflictions

Germantown 7 mo 1—57 My Dear Friend I received yours of the 29th last evening and hasten to comply with

enough light to find the true way, one thing has never failed me, that is to do this moment whatever my

Whitman is about to publish another edition of Leaves of Grass, leaving out all the objectionable parts, my

He that receives the inspiration knows the best, but I with all my ultra radicalism would be delighted

Germantown 6 mo 24.57 My Dear Friend Being a professed Associationist I am allowed the liberty of following

my attractions, when they are, what all the world will say, harmless, even in despite of common etiquette

case however I must say that I think your judgment of yourself is rather severe, I have not changed my

for any other solution, I only ask to use in refference reference to each, the terms that will convey my

You have made my heart rejoice by telling me of the breadth of the Revd Mr Porter, is it?

I have enjoyed some for my dinner." I espied a fat letter to Bucke on the table.

Longaker not over, but "things about the same," though afterwards said, "This is one of my mean days,

"I will give my ultimate in the morning—wait till then!"

On the 14th I always read the Lincoln poem and the description of the murder aloud to my grandchildren.Greet

place beside the three or four great death-chants of the English tongue; while his shorter poem, "Captain

, my Captain," which he will also read, is a pathetic tribute to the same noble name.

Said as to my inquiries: "I am bad again, very bad—somehow start into a new siege: it is my head, my

At my mention of the 3/4 length—"Ah! yes! that I take to be my right bower!"

s room dark on my entrance, he on bed, and alone in my room.

Adding after my negative response—"He is a good friend of mine, of Leaves of Grass.

I think that quite a work—at least, that was my impression at the time."

He spoke of this today and as illustrating his notion gave me a letter from his table and called my attention

I was compelled to [take] many car rides in my transit to "the city."

birth—to such an one there is a debt due of allegiance and profound gratitude.I thank you Sir, with all my

I go to my home in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, tomorrow.

I have not entered into the details of this subject—but my main conviction is clear. Oh!

Saturday, April 2, 1892All the papers moved to my house today. Bucke took supper at McAlister's.

without an owner: Anderton, near ChorleyLancashire, England15 March 1892Dear Walt,Just a line or two, my

dearest friend, my comrade & father, dearest of all to my soul, to express the triumph & joy & cheer

with which I think of you & with which I receive tidings of you.Outwardly sad enough, but deep within my

Be it as if I were with you, & here upon the paper I send you one as a token of my dearest love.

My stay very brief. I did not desire to do more than get proof.

The unlighted room caught me as I came near the house, aroused my apprehension.

Impressed to hear of my father's growing good opinion of German translation of Leaves of Grass.

—Why should I trouble you with my pains? You have pains of your own." He paused for a minute.

"Neither did I for the most of my life: I hardly knew I had a stomach or a head for all the trouble I

I am told that Stoddard is pretty sour on me—hates even to have my name mentioned in his presence, never

"I am always sure that in some way my friends hear all that I say about them: all the love I say about

My dear friend and fellow toiler good bye.Yours faithfully,Joaquin Miller. Saturday, April 21, 1888.

No word from Bucke, but, "Every couple of days I have something from my Lancashire friends—some letter

I want a couple for my sisters, one for my niece, a couple for Lancashire, one for Symonds.

"It is my invariable test of a doctor, his not too-great certainty.

Ed says W. suggested to him: "I should rather eat my crust on my own dung hill than a good meal on another's

I wrote in one of my letters to Doctor that Stedman was mad.

To Brahms I owe my redemption from the ultra-Wagnerian school.

The fact is I renewed my musical youth by his acquaintance.

There was a time—not long ago, either—when the mere pleasure of locomotion—of having my arms and legs

"I do not think so, though I do not remember all my callers.

I confess that my curiosity is slight, though I might like Frank at close quarters.

W. said: "Too much is often said—perhaps even by me—about my Quaker lineage.

From my young days, with Colonel Fellows, I determined I would some day bear my testimony to that whole

W. said, "The thing appears to have been in today's Press—I sent my copy to Bucke.

If you can get occasion, I wish you would thank Walsh for me—tell him of my gratitude.

W. remarked, "It arouses all my dormant desires. What a treat to go over!

I expressed to W. my doubts about naming the magazines which had rejected him (in a note entitled "Two

Laughingly: "I even dictated to the Truth fellows the date on which to print my piece, but they took

I had hardly got in, had my greeting, and heard him say, "I am a little eased today at least of my cold

"I am in a very poor way bodily: I can hardly get to the door there: and yet I keep up my hope, my cheer

, I can almost say my buoyancy."

they are my father and my dear mother: the picture of my father is very good: that of my mother is not

Said: "I used to thrust papers, things, into my pockets: always had a lot of reading matter about my

He looked at me and seemed to see some distrust in my face. "You think I am condemning Lathrop?

I love him—honor him: if there's anything comes short it excites my regret: I judge no one."

My dear Mr. Burroughs,I have just finished your book on Birds and Poets.

accumulating thunder in my own way.

I get my hands loose now and then, and feel that I have done a little something.

Warrie came in for tray, and W. said, "Tell Mary I tried my best to make away with the whole thing, but

There was my column and a half.

of the letters I gave you last night he says—it is dated the 22nd—'I will now take up the thread of my

That is the question that always comes first in my mind when I look at pictures of Walt Whitman!

Called my attention to the package he had laid out and addressed to my old man friend.

Give them to him with my love." Package very liberal—magazines, etc.

s antagonism of some of my own notions which seem in line with his teachings and should, one would think

experiment: I would no more force my reading than my writing.

there are points here which I have not considered—which are not quite familiar table-talk to me—but my

first impression, my original instinct, (I can only give that) is adverse, critical, though not, of

have known so many yet so few—so few with the full equipment—one or two (not more than two) in all my

I said to W.: "I've still got the Rossetti letter in my pocket."

Therein: "Walt Whitman's note on his new book, 'Good-Bye My Fancy,' though it but fills half a page,

You know its history—that it came into my mind to write when I understood from you that Joe intended

He wanted my name over it. He is an inveigling cuss, anyhow—so good, too.

My main complaint of it is, that it is vague, misty, that it effects no end—hits nothing, so far as I

Whitman's Tribute to Lowell — The Good Gray Poet Speaks Feelingly of the Dead Poet's Fame": Let me send my

My appetite keeps at a high grade, probably three-quarters of the time, for about one-quarter it flunks

Told him I had read "An Old Man's Rejoinder" in Critic on my way over.

Perhaps your feeling is a little mixed with what you know of my criticism from the talks here."

It would be my argument still.

And this may account for my article; having these things in me, they were bound to come out."

Still we talked about constituency, and to my various remarks he rejoined: "There may be—there may be

am here—that I am listened to at all—as the boys said, when I was young there in New York, have got my

I quoted my observation made in a discussion about W.

I am, everywhere in my talking and writing, making your claims felt and shall continue to do so.

W. exclaimed, breaking in: "Read it again: I want to get it clear in my noddle for keeps!"]

I hope to be able please you with my treatment of your great work.

That country out there is my own country though I have mainly had to view it from afar.

"I have had my second bath today," he explained, "and that may in part account for my good condition.

my trump card—the abiding thing of all, and it is that I wish to point out.

That is one of the fruits of my receiving you downstairs instead of here yesterday afternoon.

"You know all about Eddy, my brother there. We put him there at the start because of Mrs.

"Very little—I could not say, nothing, but then my memory is such a devilish queer factor in my economy

I give this as my counsel, only—for you to chew on and do with what you think best.

It would be inconsistent with me, with my work, to plant guns, to threaten, to exact, to believe, even

me pick it up inquisitively, he remarked: "It was a young fellow I met up there at the time I paid my

It confirms my own observation. And there is Kossuth, too—living still—nearly 90!

But as you say—using my old story—I suppose the whole secret is that there is no secret—that he is natural—that

I left with him proof of his "autobiographic note," which he promised to send up to my house tomorrow

I said: "Let Ed get it of my mother when he goes up to the house"—to which—"That's so—that will do—though

I was so drawn to them—they seemed so significant—I took my scissors—cut them out—and shall try to keep

them, if I can—if they don't get mislaid and buried, like so much of my material.

He endorsed my set of plate-proofs as follows: First proof-sheets of November Boughs—to my friend Horace

But what mystifies me about it is, where the devil he got my sitting, my superscription, and when the

If you like, and I can put my hands on them, the letters may be transferred to your collection.

words, Whitman [or Walt Whitman or Walt]—mark my words, put them down: I want to say them now because

W. was lying down on my arrival but got up at once and hobbled to the chair, asking me what I had to

love—royal in his ways, offerings—as if he was always addressing you—take this pearl, take this gem, take my

horse and carriage—use them—take house, lands—take, take—my best linen, the whole entourage is yours—take

That is my habit—they call it my procrastination—it has always been my habit.

And while my friends always declare that I have lost much by it—my best opportunities, even—I feel for

If you had followed my original notion—which has not been my notion since—and had got it out at once,

"That is my price to Dave, and this man shall have the like favor."

I have met him—years ago, in Brooklyn—perhaps several times—and my impression of him then was what it

on margin how many copies he wished if any, and have paper downstairs, so I could get in morning on my

One piece on my 71st year—a proof came of it today—it probably will go into the November number—only

He had called my attention to the Inness picture several days ago—asked me—"What do you think of that

Referred again to the Gutekunst picture and to my copy of it.

—that in my old days, I more and more make morality so called take a back seat—relegate it—subordinate

As to leaving this place just now—it is impossible—out of the question: my legs would not take me if

If I went off somewhere into more complaisant surroundings—had servants at my beck, the best of food,

I might be tempted some——I could not be tempted enough to go—my decision would be finally reverse."

"I like to get all my relations with people personal, human.

Whitman.Some days ago came my parcel—many thanks—Mr. Grosairt's books included. That for Mr.

"They are poems—that is one of my purposes: to show the universal beat of the poetic.

How clearly I remember my anxiety—to get terms straight, to express the technicality of the trade, then

W. protests, "I am very weak—seem to lose my ambition.

On his bed "often and often," for "it is my only thorough relief."

Then he took up paper again and read the sentence—"To my notion 'The Kreutzer Sonata,' without for a

my friends, we must not forget that a little license is the very salt of liberty!'

Would he object to my making public statement of the new addition to "Leaves of Grass"?

adverse.Got up heavily, I helping him: stood there with his blue gown on, tall, massive: turned back my

my boy!

I could get about on my feet then: I don't know if I did not head the march."

been in my mind, although I have lost time in sending you an answer to your letter.

And so, having written my article I have drawn back, and don't now return again and again to V.

constituted Ralph Moore with power to watch the constructive details, he assumed the power to set me my

In my postal card reply to you I suggested the following Friday at this office, and not hearing from

My own counsel would be, don't tone down or up: let go—give way to the spirit—it must come up right in

He has not seen my manuscript. Wonders if I can let him have a glimpse of the proof?

My question would be, where is the poetry anyway? I do not see it—not a glimpse of it.

With W. nearly an hour—though on my first coming he spoke of "the bad day" he had had, "a weary congregation

Will send you $5 the first of every month.Inclosed find $10, which please hand to Walt with my love,

I am very very busy and cannot say more tonight.Sincerely yoursJ H Johnston Will you destroy my letter

W. said, "I sent them copies of my leather-covered book: did they get them?"

That has often been on my mind."

My first glimpse of him by sunlight this week. Face pale, eyes bad—a generally haggard aspect.

W. again: "I for my part accept the cheap cover just as it is: it has a meaning."

My dear Mr.

have read was a mere newspaper exaggeration, and in sending you this wish I send the assurances of my

Shall let my Rossetti questions hold over.

Darkness thickens—my heart trembles on its throne—the end not unprobably near.To my mother's house a

few minutes (this my birthday—a solemn birthday—my mother giving me with tender hand an old cherished

with a louder voice than love in this modern world—and with so many sick and sad I cannot think of my

These are my warm Christmas wishes for Walt and you and me and all people.Very cordially yrsElisabeth

Tenn. was the bright particular star of my youth and early manhood—is a man who makes this dull earth

had been much better today—and after I had entered his room and he had offered his big hand—clasped my

I raised my eyes—was it his sister? Something to outwit this scoundrel in Burlington?

This simply crossed my mind—I made no mention of it.

I was on my way to Thomas concert tonight. Campanini to sing.

It is loyal, generous, correct, and true, and doesn't labor to prove that "My Captain" is the best of

This piece of Stoddard's amounts to nothing at all—I could write more myself, though my knowledge of

Davis, and when she asks him how he is, he replies curiously—'still doing my old business—still making

And W. then laughing: "I am still at my own business—still making baskets and baskets."

I had never had him break loose so about my work.

He wrote my name on it. "That dismisses it for good."

Often I would read my proofs at the hotel.

W. gave me my personal copy—the complete W. W.—to-nighttonight.

I left it at the house this morning on my way to Philadelphia.