Auburn April. 5th
My dear Augustus,
I received your letter
a few days ago – the river will I hope soon
be open and then the communication will
be much less delayed than at present –
Fred came home a week ago – two or
three days before I expected him – he
has grown some since his last vacation and
seems to feel much older than 17 – has been
to two or three parties at Schenectady this
winter – Clarence will not be home until
some time next week – Your father has
gone again to New York and from thence
to Florida – he tried to delay his visit to
Florida until the opening of the river but
was unable to do so – Since I wrote I
have made a short visit at Canandaigua
Your father was going to Bath ^Rochester^ on business
so I took Fanny and went with him to
th see Aunty – I remained with him him only
one night – Aunty and Frances think they
will defer their visit to us until June –
The last news from Mexico have disturbed
me very much although the loss on our
side is probably not as great as was at

first reported still it is an immense sacrifice
of human life and has made many
desolate families – this war is full of horrors
and has occasioned me many sleepless nights
but these are vain reflections – It is a
charming reflect thought that our bible
promises us a time when “there shall be no
war any more” –
We have had a cold backward Spring
there is no prospect yet for gardening –
it may however be the means of preserving
our fruits which coming forward so
early the last two years has been destroyed
by frost – Our lame horse is nearly
well – we shall drive him again in a few
days – the snow has gone at last but
it has left the worst roads imaginable
Willie is happy in the sunshine – he
is very anxious to have a gun and shoot
pigeons of which there are a great abundance
this season – the sky is fairly black
with them at times –
I see by the papers that you have a
new chaplain appointed for West Point
has he come yet? and how are the
people pleased with a presbyterian? –
Are they not chiefly Episcopalians?
It would seem strange to me to hear any

service but ours in that pretty little church –
We have a clergyman pro tempore whom
I like very much and have some hope
that he may be established here – he
is a young man by the name of Ayrault
has not yet taken priests orders –
Aunt Clara is well and sends love –
You will excuse a short dull letter for
I am under the influence of as sick
headache – Fred sends love – God bless
and preserve you – your affectionate
Mother –

Cadet Seward
U. S. Military Academy
West Point
AUBURN
N.Y
APR
6