Offered is a very interesting original 4-page folded Civil War era letter dated August 5, 1863, complete with its original mailed cover and a unique little enclosure slip. The letter was mailed from Camden, New Jersey, to Mrs. Jeremiah Wilbur in New York City.
Historical Content Highlight: The main letter is written by a young woman discussing upcoming travel plans and family health, but page three features an excellent update on her father, a Union soldier who has been serving since the first year of the war. Given the August 1863 date, her description of his grueling summer campaign is highly evocative:
"We have not heard from Father for more than a week, at which time he was just starting again on another chase... for two months they have been in such active duty that he is never able to write more than a page at a time... He keeps wonderfully well not having once been sick in the twenty two months he has been away..."
Cross-Writing & Enclosure: Adding to the historical charm, the final page features "cross-writing"—a second letter written perpendicularly in darker ink over the main text to save postage and paper. This second writer details intense family medical emergencies, including a bout of Dysentery and a midnight "Hernia or rupture" requiring the doctor.
Also included is a fantastic little enclosed slip regarding seeds for "Cos Lettuce," noting it is "crisp and juicy... cannot be procured in the Stores - recently introduced from England."
Condition: Good antique condition. The main letter is highly legible in light brown ink. The cross-writing requires a bit more focus to read but is entirely decipherable. The paper has standard mailing folds. The cover has a nice, clear Camden, NJ postmark tying a 3-cent Washington stamp (Scott #65). Please review all photos for exact condition.
Transcription of Letter & Cover:
Cover (Envelope)
[Postmark: CAMDEN / AUG / 5 / 1863 / N.J.] [Stamp: 3-cent Washington, Scott #65, tied by circular grid cancel] [Modern pencil note:] CIVIL WAR 1863
Mrs. Jeremiah Wilbur Care of Messrs. Wilbur & Price 25 Pine Street New York N.Y.
Enclosure (Small Slip)
Cos Lettuce. crisp and juicy in the summer season — cannot be procured in the Stores — recently introduced from England — will save some seed and send it to Mrs Wilbur this fall — may be sown from early spring to begining of Summer E. Scott
[Reverse:] Cos Lettuce free to
Letter (Main Text)
Camden Aug 5th 1863
My very dear Cousin,
Your lovely letter came yesterday and I am going to do just as you said, come as soon as I can which will be Friday morning in the six o'clock train from Camden; I am afraid this will be a little sooner than you expected me, but I am going from your house to pay Mr Hyde a visit before return-ing so that I feel I have not much time to lose. I am very glad to hear that cousin Mary is still getting bet-ter, only I want her to stay just weak enough for me to take care of her when I come, or to play she is at least, for I should enjoy nothing more than to have some care of her, or to relieve you in any way of your many cares.
I do thank you very much for your loving thoughtfulness in trying in so many ways to make my visit a happy one, which it could not help being if you were all alone, but with so many whom I want so much to know and love I am looking forward to a very, very pleasant time. I only wish Aunt Matty were going with me, or in my place; she does seem so perfectly miserable and worn out that sometimes it hardly seems right in me to leave her, but of course she won't listen to that. Grandma has not been at all well for two or three weeks, and yester-day she was taken quite ill again; we hope it may only be the very warm weather which she has felt very much, but we all dread a fever. Of course if Grand-ma should not get better by Friday I shall not leave home, she came down to breakfast this morning but she
gave up entirely, we cannot tell how ill she really is. Grandpa too has been home from bank nearly a week, not at all well; I wish they could all be sent off some where for the rest of the sum-mer, but I know it can't be.
We have not heard from Father for more than a week, at which time he was just starting again on an-other chase; he says if they ever get into a settled camp for any length of time he is very anxious to write a good long letter but for two months they have been in such active duty that he is never able to write more than a page at a time, which is a great privation to us as all through the winter his letters were so very beautiful and interesting. He keeps wonderfully well not having once been sick in the twenty two months he has been away, at least if
he has been he has never let us know. Fanny said she would try to write you a few lines for herself, she has been trying to for more than a week but she is so constantly busy or exhausted or that she is scarcely able to. With love to all, especially Cousin Mary, I am your own loving Cousin [Signature obscured by cross-writing]
Letter (Cross-Written Text on Page 4) (Written perpendicularly across the page in a darker ink, seemingly by a different family member).
Dear Love, any chance to let you know how dear you are to me I would gladly avail myself of - tho' only a fading word on this up hill rugged path. It's not that I have not thought of you all, and dear Mary in particular, that you have not heard, but my dear old parents, have needed more time than I could give them, for much of my time is given to my wretchedness, and inability. When I last wrote your Mother was just taken sick, it continued a week the Dr. attending, and turned into Dysentery. Then Father was taken of a severe spell in the mid-night with his complaint Hernia or rupture, we had to call David up & send for the Dr. he kept his bed some days, and we were all very anxious as to the result. Mother was taken yesterday morning with fever, & lays wretched. she is fighting against it. I will send for the Dr. before the day is over. Dear Belle is too happy at the prospect of her happy visit which can't but do her great good in every way. I rejoice to hear of Marys improving. Keep up good courage. With much love to every dear one I am your own loving Sister [Signature blends into the main text]