The author of the following letter remains unidentified though I believe there are enough clues in it to figure it out with more time and effort. We know that the author was born in April 1843 and that she likely had a brother with the first name of “Smith” attending Amherst College. I thought at first he might be William Smith Clark who taught there and led the effort to raise a company of students at the college in 1861 and actually received a commission later that year, but I can’t find any evidence that he had a sister that young. [See: “Some of the sweetest Christians” The Wartime Education of Amherst’s Boys in Blue by Bruce Laurie]

The author wrote her letter from Canandaigua, New York. It isn’t clear if she lived there or was only temporarily residing there. It may be that she was actually from Rochester, New York. Various cousins are named but I could not make a connection. She wrote the letter to her cousin Kate who may have had two brothers, Austin and Lyman who were early enlistees in the war.

Her letter speaks of the danger that the City of Washington was in until troops were sent to bolster its defenses. She also speaks of the reality of war: “Now that we are convinced the rumor of war is not a mere transient gust of enthusiasm, but has become a stern, sober reality, is not the condition of our country awful? Only think of the horrors of a civil war. I think that there is great cause to fear that the prosperity of America has vanished. You know the old adage, ‘United we stand, divided we fall.'”

Transcription

Canandaigua [New York]
Saturday eve, May 11, 1861

My dearest cousin Kate,

Many thanks for your dear kind letter for which I truly  beg pardon for not answering before, [and] also for the paper you sent me yesterday which brought intelligence that was more soothing and tranquilizing to my feelings than anything I had before read. I either hear read, or read myself, the daily news and knew that  [the City of] Washington was considered safe at present from any attack that could be made upon it. Yet it gave me great pleasure to realize for a certainty that one to whom neither my patriotism nor yours would be willing to have harm some felt himself safe and secure. But oh! how dreadful, how painful must have been the suspense before aid arrived, hemmed in as they were and surrounded on all sides by those Rebel  secessionists and feeling every moment that they were liable to be  attacked.

You were very kind and thoughtful to write to me about the death of little Zany Pound. How sad and beautiful he left this vale of tears for a home of perfect love and happiness in the arms of his savior. I should think that his death would establish a new bond of sympathy between darling Alice and cousin Almina. I can almost imagine the sweet spirits of dear little Eddie and Zany in that other and more glorious world where their souls may entwine the tendrils of their affections around pure spirits and live on forever in the presence and “bask in the smile of that Being who alone is Love.” It must have been a hard struggle for Cousin Alex and Almina to give their pet child up, but perhaps they have not forgotten the right use of adversity. Afflictions from Heaven are angels sent on embassies of love. They are commissioners to show us the insignificance of earthly greatness and “to wean our affections from transitory things, and elevate them to those realities which are ever blooming at the right hand of God.”

You must miss cousin Lyman and Austin very much. Do you never have any anxious thoughts about Washington and Austin’s safety? Now that we are convinced the rumor of war is not a mere transient gust of enthusiasm, but has become a stern, sober reality, is not the condition of our country awful? Only think of the horrors of a civil war. I think that there is great cause to fear that the prosperity of America has vanished. You know the old adage, “United we stand, divided we fall.”

Canandaigua has become quite a rendezvous for soldiers. Troops are constantly passing through on their way to Elmira. Col. Tyler’s Zouaves were in town Friday and Saturday. They left Saturday evening. A large number of ladies and gentlemen were at the depot to see them depart. Just before starting, a number of the zouaves mounted upon the top of the cars and sang the beautiful national anthem. It was the saddest sight I ever beheld—to see so many brave and loyal hearts on their way to almost certain destruction. When the signal was given for their departure, there was hardly a dry eye among them and one of their number remarked that they were too fine [of] fellows to perish upon the field of battle.

I read in the Rochester paper that Dr. Helmer was a going as assistant surgeon. Have any of my other acquaintances enlisted from Lockport? They have formed a large company of the students of Amherst College. Smith was very anxious to enlist and wrote home to that effect. The thought of his  wishing to go made mother almost frantic. She wrote back that he must not think of such a thing. I think upon the whole that Mother’s health is much better this spring than in the winter and I sincerely hope and trust that in a few years she will be able to be about.

How is cousin Amy this spring? Give a good deal of love to her for Mother and I and tell her that I love her more and more every day if possible. I thank her very kindly for her kind invitation to visit her this summer and of course should be delighted to visit her, but I expect to go to Burlington in the fall and shall be quite busy getting ready. I shall remain there a year without coming home. I expect to be very lonesome and homesick as eight weeks is the longest time I ever spent from home and that at your house last summer.

I saw Charley Farlinghouse a few days ago. He said that they were all well at his house. Mrs. Farling talks of visiting you in the summer. A few weeks ago Tuesday was my eighteenth birthday and I received from Father a chased watch and chain. Do you not think it a nice present? Also from my anonymous friend a very pretty gold pencil.

David Cussoot was buried nearly three weeks ago. Hannah Smith, Aunt Lucy’s daughter, has been here since. She appeared quite cheerful. She says she thinks her Father and Mother enjoyed themselves most during the past six months of her Mother’s life than ever before and that his death was hastened by his continually grieving after her. As I wish this letter to go out this evening, I will not write anymore. Please give my love to Alice, cousin Lyman Walter Spalding and all, and hoping to hear from you

Please remember me to Martin when you write.