Auburn June 18^th 1848
My dear Son,
I write very uncertain whether my
letter will ever come to your hands – I cannot
express my thankfulness that the Treaty is ratified
and you are once more at liberty to leave the
Army without having shed the blood of a fellow
being – Now I know my dear child that with
your education and associations it is impossible
for you to feel as I do on this subject but war,
a war of aggression especially, is so at variance
with all our Saviours teachings that I cannot
feel the profession of a soldier to be the calling of
a Christian. I hope you will by this time have
thought seriously of resigning your commission —
Though I do not wish to vex you with importunities
I feel it my duty to speak plainly on a subject
which lies very near my heart – Do not fail
in return to say all you think and feel let
it be ever so much in opposition to my sentiments –
The confidence of friends requires entire freedom
from all reservation – such confidence I give
and hope to recieve from my children. We have
had rumours of the ratification for 10 days past – the
official intelligence has not yet arrived at Washington
though there seems no reason to doubbt that it is on
the way – we have the vote in both houses of Congress

your letter dated the 21^st came Wednesday – you do
not speak of the treaty as confirmed though I think
at that time it must have been settled at Quartero
I am quite impatient to know whether there is any
prospect of our seeing you here and when, though
the danger to which you are still exposed from
pestilence is ever before ^me^ , I hope and trust in His mercy
who has hitherto preserved you – Immediately on
the reception of the intelligence of the ratification your
father wrote to the Adjutant General to ascertain
the destination of your Regiment, designing to write
to you himself – The Adjutant General answers that
the 5^th Infantry will for the present be stationed at
Pass Christian Miss. — There I shall direct another
letter in the course of a week or so – As the old
regiments are the last to leave Mexico it will yet
be some time before yours will embark. I am
indebted indebted to you for no less than three letters
the uncertainty of your w place of destination has preven-
ted my writing before – Your letters of April 2^d and
May 1^st came at one time – We were all much
entertained by your account of your visit to the
Mountain – I am glad you did not attempt a
second ascent – your constitution is such that
I think you would have endangered your eyes
more than would have been justifiable – Grandpa wished
much to hear more of your excursion – I shall
write little except to say all are well – I will
direct this letter to Vera Cruz not knowing any

safer method – Your father is now in New York
Grandpa Seward has been very low but is better now–
Fanny has had a slight attack of Scarlet fever
from which she has entirely recovered –
I will direct another letter to Pass Christian soon
May God bless and keep you from all harm —
your affectionate Mother —
You haveing not spoken of a letter I sent in February
enclosing one from Aunt Clara – did you receive it?