1847: John Henry Elliot to Deborah Maria Elliot

This letter was written by John Henry (“Hal”) Elliot (1813-1895), the son of John Elliott (1783-1865) and Deborah Bixby (1786-1880) of Keene, Cheshire county, New Hampshire. He wrote the letter to his younger sister, Deborah Maria Elliot (1811-1862). Hal graduated from Harvard College in 1835. He became the treasurer and trustee of Ashuelot railroad, secretary and director of the Cheshire railroad, and a member of the Governor’s staff and also of the New Hampshire Legislature. Hal was married in August 1848 to Emily A. Wheelock. I believe the “George” mentioned in the letter was George Alexander Wheelock (1817-1906), Emily’s brother.

We learn from the letter that Hal was on his way to New Orleans but he does not give us an indication of the purpose for making the journey.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

*Addressed to Miss D. M. Elliot, Keene, New Hampshire*

Charleston [South Carolina]
22 February 1847

My dear Maria,

Thus far “en route” & in good condition. I wrote Father a line from Boston and also from New York but I reserve particulars for you.

We had quite a Keene party as far as Boston, consisting of us three, Mr. Edwards, Mrs. Parmelee, and two daughters, and “Capt. Paige.” By the by, the two Parmelee girls are quite tolerable, far more so than I expected. I saw Lucinda Greble, but in my haste I neglected to call & I wish if you would write her, you would make a bit of an apology for me as I am quite ashamed of my negligence. Miss Loldell enquired after you. Miss Prentiss was in town & John W. & Mary H. to see “the children” dance. I called a moment at Mr. [ ] and heard of James there.

We left Boston the 11th instant & arrived in New York the next morning by way of Worcester and Norwich I spent Friday evening (12th) at Lucy’s & the night. She wished me to bring my trunk up & make my home there but I could not well leave George alone. She was quite pleased with your present & with her little [ ]. She is trying to find another house, more to her mind. W. K. T. I saw on Saturday. Said he had written you a few days previous. I went over to see Lisa on Sunday and dined there. The children there are dreadfully noisy. William gave me a couple of letters to New Orleans.

We left New York Monday the 15th & put up at Philadelphia in the afternoon. Went to the Water Works, Girard College, foggy & disagreeable as the weather was. Next morning it was worse & rained some so we pushed on to Baltimore and then to Washington, same day. We remained there 3 days in a mist, however we spent most of our time at the Capitol & did not mind it. Robert Smith was very civil. Mr. J. H. J. I did not see. I met Miss Savage [?] & Mrs. Bunker [?] at the Patent Office. Mrs. B introduced me to her husband [and] was polite enough to invite me to his house but I did not call.

The U.S. Patent Office in Washington D. C. in 1846

Friday morning the 19th at 3 o’clock in the morning we left Washington by steamboat 40 miles, then by railway 110 miles to Richmond, but rain continuing, did not stop, & went on 23 miles to Petersburg, then 65 miles to Weldon (N. C.), then 155 miles to Wilmington, then by steam packet 150 miles to this Palmetto City, making in all without stopping at all 517 miles!

George was quite tired out and had the headache & was sea sick—it being quite rough. As for me, I enjoyed tossing much. The sun rose clear as we came up the harbor this morning, much to my joy as I have not seen his face since leaving New York before. From Petersburg to this place we had a droll collection of passengers. There was so 20 volunteers going to the wars resembling Jack Falstaff’s army. There was about 100 slaves being taken on to Texas for cotton growing—men, women and children! Then there was two or three officers of the Regular Army who were at all the battles in Mexico, one of them knew Lt. Daniels very well. They left us here and went directly on to New Orleans today. And lastly, there was some half dozen of the barbarians of the country we traversed, drinking constantly. No ladies, I reckon, travel on this route. No man would ever desire to but once—I mean from Richmond this way. The country is hideous—very thinly populated, poor soil, vast forests of yellow pine & nothing [about] its mild climate makes it habitable at all— so much of most of Virginia & all of North Carolina. But things appear rather better here under a bright sun. The soil, to be sure, is poor, but whatever grows, grows without blight. I saw peas six inches high today & peaches in blossom &c. If New England’s fertile valleys had such a climate, what paradise it would be! I expect to find the union in the Mississippi Valley. We shall go hence after resting here a few days.

This is a queer old place, almost shabby, but on the whole I like it. Tell Mother that the cooking here is not as inviting as to make a man injure himself in eating. Today, being the birthday of Washington, was a great parade here of military. Also the races having closed, a Grand Fandango Ball comes off tonight. George & I thought of going but could not find the placard, so gave it up.

*There were numerous slave sales occurring in and about Charleston at the time but perhaps it was this notice in the Charleston Mercury that caught Hal’s eye.*

There is to be a sale of Negroes tomorrow by auction. We shall be there to see.

Tell Father that the Railroads south of Washington are not fenced in at all, cross all the highways at grade, have no warning boards, & go at the rate of about ten miles the hour! all flat rail on hills & as rough as a common road, but, however, it is in keeping with the people & country.

I have many things to say but my scraps of paper will not permit. These scraps I found in my dressing case—the best the House here affords. You will see in the envelope hereof which I can’t write legibly upon. I hope you will write me at New Orleans as soon as you receive this. I feel very anxious to hear of and from home. I shall write and send papers as often as I can for convenience in this half-civilized land. I miss my Esc____ very much. Has the umbrella turned up? Only think—the flies are buzzing about here as in June!

Well now, good night. Pleasant dreams. I hope Mother does not trouble herself about my safety. I shall no doubt get on very well. May the Infinite One guide you& bless us here and everywhere, now & always, and write us in His own good time. With love to all. I am your affectionate Brother Hal

While researching this letter, I found this letter posted in the Daily National Intelligencer on 24 February 1847 describing a visit to Charleston, South Carolina, at approximately the same time as Elliot’s visit.