Auburn Jan 1st 1845 –
My dear Son,
I have for four days past
been wishing to write to you but I have
waited that I might hear something
from your Father – You have probably
seen in the Journal an account of the
accident which befell him last Thursday
morning – Returning from Orange County
he took the stage for Albany at Hudson,
four miles from that place the axle-
tree of the stage broke, and your father
who was sitting with the driver was
thrown the distance of 15 feet upon
the frozen ground – his shoulder dis-
located and his body much bruised –
He was carried to the house of Mr Butler
of Stockport where his shoulder was
set and he received every possible attention
Two physicians from Hudson were in
attendance with the surgeon from
the village – The intelligence

was communicated to me by a letter
written by the surgeon which I received
Friday night – Sunday night I
received a second letter from the
hand of a stranger, written the
day following that of the accident –
this in addition to the former-
merly conveyed the information that
the physicians after a thorough ex-
amination had decided that no bones
were broken and that your father was
as well as the circumstances would admit
You can imagine how much anxiety I have
suffered the last four days – for the first
time, I became assured last night, by
the arrival of a letter in your fathers
own hand writing, that his situation was
not so dangerous as I had apprehended –
This letter was written with his lame hand
and consequently almost illegible, but it
was an assurance from himself that he was
comparatively comfortable. He says “My
right arm gradually submits itself to my will
but I cannot rest upon it, or make it effective
with a cane – At the same time the severe

spain ^sprain^ of the muscles of my right leg has rendered
it useless and more painful than the disabled
arm – Of course I have not been able to get in
or out of bed, to sit up, turn over, or aid myself
in any way – I suffer severely in my wounded limb
when I cough – But I am getting better every day
and hope soon to be able to return home” –
I fear he may yet be detained many days
but we have all much cause for gratitude that
his life is spared – He went to Florida
more than two weeks ago – indeed the same day
that his las[ t ] letter to you was written – Grandma [ ‘s ]
funeral was attended before he reached there but
as her remains were in the vault he had the
melancholy satisfaction of once more seeing her –
On his return the accident occurred –
I have been looking for a letter from you for a week
past – I trust that nothing has prevented your writing
but preparations for the examination – I am able
to sit up much of the day, and indeed more
comfortable than I have been in many months –
“Miss Frances A. Seward Jun” as Fred calls her
is well and hopes to be tolerably well looking by
the time her eldest brother comes home – She has
a mark on her forhead similar to yours in other

respects looks as Willie did when an infant though
somewhat larger – Aunty Worden left me
the Thursday after your father – she and
Frances accompany Uncle Worden to Albany
next Monday
Clarence is home spending the vacation – he says
he is obliged to study very hard at Geneva
Aunt Clara is well – Willie says tell Gusy
that I had 9 presents Christmas – All wish you
AUBURN
N.Y.
JAN
1

[right Margin] “a happy New Years” May god bless you –
Your affectionate Mother
Augustus H. Seward
U. S. Military Academy
West Point