Auburn Jan 20^th 1849
My dear Son,
I am very glad to be once more
assured of your welfare – I have your letter
of the 9^th of December – at came 3 days ago –
Do my dear child write as often as once in
three weeks – that is about the time it takes
a letter to reach its destination – Since the
Cholera has been so fatal to your old
regiment, the 8^th I have had fears that it might
reach you – Remember that it can only be
arrested in the early stages, and do not
fail to attend to any premonitory symptoms.
I am rejoiced to hear you are in comfortable
quarters – I shall be able to sleep much better
nights myself in consequence – Have you
any ladies at the station —Mrs Pitney’s sister
Mrs Salisbury of Avon says an acquaintance
of hers has gone to some station of the 5^th
Regiment – I think the name is Robinson –
Whenever you can have access to the society
of well bred women you had better

improve it – Such intercourse is beneficial
to both parties – I believe my last letter
was written about Christmas – New Years
though a cold day, was fine, the sleighing
good – Our young gentlemen made some
visits at my particular request – Clarence
since his return from Geneva eschews the
company of ladies which is a great change
for him – He thinks visiting would in-
terfere with his studies – I received a
number of calls – Your Father myself
and Willie and Fanny each had a very
handsome New Years present from Mrs
Winslow of Troy, who visited us last
Summer – Father’s was a very handsome
dressing case – mine a beautiful breast pin –
Willie’s a complete set of large building
blocks and Fanny’s a tea set of the finest
china – I believe we were all equally
pleased – Your Father returned from
Washington, where he had been seven weeks,
a day or two before New Years – Last
Friday he went there again – Clarence
accompanied him to make a visit
at Orange County – not having

been there in two years – I heard from them
Monday – they were then at New York
Aunty and Frances were there too on a visit
Frances is still under the Dr’s care at Flatbush
her health is improving – they will probably
be there some weeks longer – Uncle Worden
is in Albany – their house is closed for
the present – Our new Governor Mr
Fish is installed in his new office – I think
he as well as Mrs Fish will be very
popular in Albany – They are both well bred
and pleasing in their manners – I should
like much to witness the Inauguration
of Gen Taylor – but it is a long way
to Washington – your Father wished me to
accompany him this time – but my children
as well as Grandpa require me here –
Grandpa misses Fred greatly – Fred
was so constantly in his room when
he was at home – reading almost
the whole time – Grandpa’s eye sight
is so much impaired that he can read
very little for himself – Willie is just begin-
ning to read but his eyes are too weak for
him to use them long at a time – his health
is much better this Winter than it was last

he is out in the snow so much, he reminds me
of the time when you were of his age – comes
in with his ears nearly frozen and his toes frost
bitten – Fanny rides on the hand sleigh every
day – Willie drives Grandpa to and from
the village with John’s pony – Our horses
are not safe for them – Fanny says I must
tell Augustus that his little sister is well and
that her Father brought her a new hat from
New York – She thinks she reads Grandpa to
sleep every day – she is so anxious to learn
to read that she will commence earlier
than I wish – When she hears Willie recite
his lessons she wishes to join in them all –
I heard last week of the death of Lucinda
Cary – it is a great affliction for her
Uncle and Aunt – She was very kind
and attentive to them last Summer when I
was there – I am often asked if you are not
very near California and do not wish to go
there – my answers to both questions are in the
negative – A large company has gone from
Albany including two nephews of the Secretary
of War – I expect your Father and Clarence
home in about two weeks – Fred writes that
it is very cold at Schenectady – it has been here
since Christmas – Aunt Clara is well and sends
love – Dieu vous garde – your affectionate
Mother

Lieutenant A. H. Seward
Fifth Infantry U.S. Army
Fort Towson
Choctaw Nation
AUBURN N.Y.
JAN 20