Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, October 18, 1848
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, October 18, 1848
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:tap
student editorTranscriber:spp:msr
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1848-10-18
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, October 18, 1848
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
receiver: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
location: Fort Smith, AR
transcription: tap
revision: crb 2018-07-18
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Page
1
Auburn Oct 18 – 1848
My dear son
I sent a long letter to Pascagoula
the 7th of this month and three or four
days after received yours dated the 3d
saying you were about leaving for Arkansas.
I wrote at the same time to your father
pressing my desire to go to you, if possible,
as there seemed no prospect of your coming
home – He was at Washington at the time
and immediately wrote to Gen. Taylor
for you a furlough – His request was seconded
by the Secretary of War
with some other personal friend
Your father has since returned home and
thinks there is no doubt but leave will be
granted – I have some doubts – though I
know Gen. Taylor will do what is right –
should it interfere with the Army regulations
it would be unreasonable to insist – If you
left Pascagoula at the time you mentioned
you would probably be on the Arkansas
River before any letters would reach Pascagoula
In that case were a leave of absence granted
you will not be apprised of it until
Page
2
you arrive at Ft Smith – Anticipating this state
of affairs I write at this time –
I hope you will be able to come home if you
do not and there is no prospect of your
doing so I shall try to come to you some
time within a year – Your father wrote
to you at Pascagoula with directions to forward
the letter – You will probably get my
letter with his so I will not repeat much
that I then wrote – We are all well – I
busily engaged arranging the house and preparing
for Winter – Aunt Clara
We all hope you may come home –
Lieutenant Hunt
I see by the Courier that the 4th Regiment was
to leave the 4th of October – they will not
probably reach New York before the 20th
I should be very glad to see him but
hardly expect it – May God bless and direct
you – your affectionate Mother –
The Whigs are very confident about carrying
this state for Taylor – Pennsylvania is thoroughly
Whig for the first time in many years
Page
3
Oct 19th
My dear Augustus,
Last evening I met at a party Lieutenant
Palmer
to allow a furlough under two years – From some
observations that he made I infer that the influence
of friends in getting a furlough is esteemed rather
unwarrantable interference by some of the officers –
You know Palmer and can judge of his the weight
of his opinion – It would give me little
pleasure to see you if by so doing I should occasion
you any uneasiness or embarrass you in your
relations to others – I wish you to act, if you
receive this letter before a decision is made
without any particular reference to my feelings
on the subject –my wishes being subordinate to
your own in this matter – I shall be much grieved
if you fathers kind intentions have given you any
trouble –
Auburn Oct 18 – 1848
My dear son
I sent a long letter to Pascagoula
the 7th of this month and three or four
days after received yours dated the 3d
saying you were about leaving for Arkansas.
I wrote at the same time to your father
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
ex-pressing my desire to go to you, if possible,
as there seemed no prospect of your coming
home – He was at Washington at the time
and immediately wrote to Gen. Taylor
Birth: 1784-11-24 Death: 1850-07-09
askingfor you a furlough – His request was seconded
by the Secretary of War
Birth: 1786-12-12 Death: 1857-07-04
and Maj. Kirby
Birth: 1794-02-08 Death: 1849-07-20
with some other personal friend
Unknown
of the Generals –Your father has since returned home and
thinks there is no doubt but leave will be
granted – I have some doubts – though I
know Gen. Taylor will do what is right –
should it interfere with the Army regulations
it would be unreasonable to insist – If you
left Pascagoula at the time you mentioned
you would probably be on the Arkansas
River before any letters would reach Pascagoula
In that case were a leave of absence granted
you will not be apprised of it until
you arrive at Ft Smith – Anticipating this state
of affairs I write at this time –
I hope you will be able to come home if you
do not and there is no prospect of your
doing so I shall try to come to you some
time within a year – Your father wrote
to you at Pascagoula with directions to forward
the letter – You will probably get my
letter with his so I will not repeat much
that I then wrote – We are all well – I
busily engaged arranging the house and preparing
for Winter – Aunt Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
send much loveWe all hope you may come home –
Lieutenant Hunt
Birth: 1819-09-14 Death: 1889-02-11
has not passed here yetI see by the Courier that the 4th Regiment was
to leave the 4th of October – they will not
probably reach New York before the 20th
I should be very glad to see him but
hardly expect it – May God bless and direct
you – your affectionate Mother –
The Whigs are very confident about carrying
this state for Taylor – Pennsylvania is thoroughly
Whig for the first time in many years
Oct 19th
My dear Augustus,
Last evening I met at a party Lieutenant
Palmer
Birth: 1809-04-15 Death: 1862-06-18
– I learned from him that it is not customaryto allow a furlough under two years – From some
observations that he made I infer that the influence
of friends in getting a furlough is esteemed rather
unwarrantable interference by some of the officers –
You know Palmer and can judge of his the weight
of his opinion – It would give me little
pleasure to see you if by so doing I should occasion
you any uneasiness or embarrass you in your
relations to others – I wish you to act, if you
receive this letter before a decision is made
without any particular reference to my feelings
on the subject –my wishes being subordinate to
your own in this matter – I shall be much grieved
if you fathers kind intentions have given you any
trouble –