Metadata
Title
Sarah Josepha Hale to David E. Hale
Creator
Hale, Sarah Josepha Buell, 1788-1879
Date
1836-04-02
April 2, 1836
Medium
Manuscripts
Language
eng
Type
text
Collection
Sarah Josepha Hale Collection, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Identifier
46-M-148
Rights
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
Text
Boston, April 2d 18[?]6.
My dear Son -
This is the sixth letter I have written you since
you left Annapolis, yet I find by your letters that
not one of mine has reached you, I shall mail
this for Savannah, and write to the P.M. to forward
it you.
Your letters have all reached me, and
have been very welcome, I assure you. That from
[?] was the last. I have been very anxious
and concerned on your account. You are in my
thoughts constantly, by day, and by night, and most
earnestly do I pray that you may be preserved, and
returned to me safe and in good health. - Dangers
and hardships I know you must encounter; these
are the lot of your profession, nor would I have
you seek to be exempted from its duties when
your country requires your services. But
I am more and more dissatisfied
with your profession. I hope, if you are
returned once more safely to the
[peace?] establishment, that you will
in earnest exert yourself to enter
the civil engineering profession. -
I cannot feel willing to have you
continue in the army all your days,
and be liable to be sent to the Gulf of Mexico,
or beyond the Rocky Mountains. -
But we will talk over all these matters
when you come home from these
Indian wars.
I see by the papers that Gen. Gaines
has left the troops at Withlachochee [Withlacoochee] and gone to
New Orleans; and that there is some prospect that
the Indians will submit without more fighting -
this last item of news is, I fear, too good to prove
true.
There has been many rumors afloat respecting
disagreements among the commanding officers,
- but indeed we cannot place much reliance
on the accounts from Florida, the news of
one day being usually contradicted, in part at least,
by the next mail. Many of these rumors doubtless
arise from the free and easy suggestions of
the numerous letter-writers at Washington -
each on being solicitous to tell some great
things the [?], or party assertions of the
Capitol are caught up and transmitted to
ends of the Republic. I do not, therefore,
place much reliance on the reported
operations of the Army, till they appear
officially announced. - Pray write
yourself, as often as possible, and tell me
everything respecting your situation and
prospects which you can communicate.
Your brothers and sisters are very
well, and have no cause of trouble, except
concern for brother D. - William writes
me (he is still at New Hampton) that he
feels very bad about you, but hopes it will
turn out for the best. He is writing a
novel, has laid the scene in the time of
Chivalry; so I suppose we may expect
some warlike descriptions.
April 9th -
I had written the former part of my letter,
when I rec'd a note from Mrs. DuPré, saying
that she and daughter would be in Boston in
a day or two - so I kept my letter, in order to
add something more particular about your
sisters. But she has not yet come, tho' I learn
that she is at Greenfield. I had a letter yesterday
from you, date Fort Doane - thank
you for thus remembering that I
am anxious for you. I do hope the
affair will soon be over. The climate is
as much to be dreaded as the savages.
- But resolution and the good providence
of God will, I trust carry you through
all these hardships and dangers safely.
- I have this day rec'd a letter from
your sister Frances - I wish you could
see it - she has lately turned her thoughts to
the subject of religion - and trusts that she is
in heart a christian. She writes calmly
and meekly, but with the spirit of love
for her friends, and for every one which
she never before expressed. - She says, "I pray
often for brother David - and I feel, indeed almost
know that he will return safely." So you
find, my dear Son, that [their] there are true
and warm hearts beating for you. -
- Josepha has entirely recovered her health;
and F. says is "handsomer than ever." -
The Barbers send their best regards to you -
Elizabeth Ingalls says her love is the least she
will send you so far - and all your friends,
(and mine) here express many good wishes for
your safety and return. Yr. affectionate Mother
S.J. Hale -
My dear Son -
This is the sixth letter I have written you since
you left Annapolis, yet I find by your letters that
not one of mine has reached you, I shall mail
this for Savannah, and write to the P.M. to forward
it you.
Your letters have all reached me, and
have been very welcome, I assure you. That from
[?] was the last. I have been very anxious
and concerned on your account. You are in my
thoughts constantly, by day, and by night, and most
earnestly do I pray that you may be preserved, and
returned to me safe and in good health. - Dangers
and hardships I know you must encounter; these
are the lot of your profession, nor would I have
you seek to be exempted from its duties when
your country requires your services. But
I am more and more dissatisfied
with your profession. I hope, if you are
returned once more safely to the
[peace?] establishment, that you will
in earnest exert yourself to enter
the civil engineering profession. -
I cannot feel willing to have you
continue in the army all your days,
and be liable to be sent to the Gulf of Mexico,
or beyond the Rocky Mountains. -
But we will talk over all these matters
when you come home from these
Indian wars.
I see by the papers that Gen. Gaines
has left the troops at Withlachochee [Withlacoochee] and gone to
New Orleans; and that there is some prospect that
the Indians will submit without more fighting -
this last item of news is, I fear, too good to prove
true.
There has been many rumors afloat respecting
disagreements among the commanding officers,
- but indeed we cannot place much reliance
on the accounts from Florida, the news of
one day being usually contradicted, in part at least,
by the next mail. Many of these rumors doubtless
arise from the free and easy suggestions of
the numerous letter-writers at Washington -
each on being solicitous to tell some great
things the [?], or party assertions of the
Capitol are caught up and transmitted to
ends of the Republic. I do not, therefore,
place much reliance on the reported
operations of the Army, till they appear
officially announced. - Pray write
yourself, as often as possible, and tell me
everything respecting your situation and
prospects which you can communicate.
Your brothers and sisters are very
well, and have no cause of trouble, except
concern for brother D. - William writes
me (he is still at New Hampton) that he
feels very bad about you, but hopes it will
turn out for the best. He is writing a
novel, has laid the scene in the time of
Chivalry; so I suppose we may expect
some warlike descriptions.
April 9th -
I had written the former part of my letter,
when I rec'd a note from Mrs. DuPré, saying
that she and daughter would be in Boston in
a day or two - so I kept my letter, in order to
add something more particular about your
sisters. But she has not yet come, tho' I learn
that she is at Greenfield. I had a letter yesterday
from you, date Fort Doane - thank
you for thus remembering that I
am anxious for you. I do hope the
affair will soon be over. The climate is
as much to be dreaded as the savages.
- But resolution and the good providence
of God will, I trust carry you through
all these hardships and dangers safely.
- I have this day rec'd a letter from
your sister Frances - I wish you could
see it - she has lately turned her thoughts to
the subject of religion - and trusts that she is
in heart a christian. She writes calmly
and meekly, but with the spirit of love
for her friends, and for every one which
she never before expressed. - She says, "I pray
often for brother David - and I feel, indeed almost
know that he will return safely." So you
find, my dear Son, that [their] there are true
and warm hearts beating for you. -
- Josepha has entirely recovered her health;
and F. says is "handsomer than ever." -
The Barbers send their best regards to you -
Elizabeth Ingalls says her love is the least she
will send you so far - and all your friends,
(and mine) here express many good wishes for
your safety and return. Yr. affectionate Mother
S.J. Hale -