Wednesday Dec 9^th 1846
My dear Augustus,
I have made two or three
ineffectual attempts to answer your letter
which was kindly written before my
last had reached you—The wreck
of the Atlantic was a terrible affair
when I l received your letter speaking
of the death of Lt Norton we were
just engaged in reading the melancholy
details in the papers—many heart
rending scenes are described—and still
it is difficult for us to form an adequate
idea of the horrors of the reality.
I think if you have read Capt. Van Pelts
statement you will exonerate Capt
Dunsan from all blame—Capt Van Pelt
says that the nearer approach of the
Mohegan would only have hastened
the catastrophy without in any manner
aiding the sufferers—this must
have been the opinion of Capt Dunsan
when he took down the distress flag
The effects of that gale were very
disastrous in the lakes many vessels

were wrecked and some lives lost—
I thought at the time I had never known
a more violent storm—I observed it
more particularly because your father
left home Wednesday night for Cooperstown
the rail road was obstructed by the
snow and he walked over snow
drifts more than half the distance
from Fort Plain—it being nearly
impossible for a sleigh to get along
without passengers—
Fred is at home yet. Clarence will
come some time next week—how happy
I should be to have you too with us—
We have had no sleighing yet—the
roads were never worse—there has
been much difficulty in getting wood
it has been sold for $5 and 6 per cord.
all are impatient for sleighing – Willie thinks
he would be contented with sufficient to
slide down hill and draw Fanny—She
goes out every day with him—
Grandpa continues to go out two or three
times every day—his health is very good
this winter though the hand of Age is
every year more and more perceptible—
Aunt Clara is well and always
sends her love—she takes the same

painful interest that I do in all that relates
to the Mexican War – We have some
portions of the Presidents Message by Telegraph
he appears to be providing for a continuance
of the War for more than a year to
come – Aunty has written for me to
come out there Christmas and bring the
children – I may go but it very doubtful
I fear Clarence has been rather busy
in circulating the report of Frances engage-
ment – I have heard that he spoke of it
as quite certain at Albany and Orange
County – he did wrong, as he had
no authentic information on the subject
and it would not have been kind if he had
it is never wise and often detrimental
to ladies to speak of such matters as settled.
William Henry Miller son of Uncle Lewis
is here on a visit—Catherine Miller
Uncle Ezra’s daughter is to come in
a few weeks and will probably spend
the winter with Aunt Clara—
We have no clergyman yet—though
one is expected about Christmas. A
Mr Iginbrought (I don’t know how to spell
his name) from N York—he formerly
preached at Rochester—May God bless
you my dear child and restore you once
more to your home and Mother—

Cadet Seward
U.S. Military Academy
West Point
AUBURN N.Y.
DEC 10