Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Adeline Seward, June 4, 1862
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Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Adeline Seward, June 4, 1862
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:srr
student editorTranscriber:spp:csh
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1862-06-04
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Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Adeline Seward, June 4, 1862
action: sent
sender: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Washington D.C., US
receiver: Frances Seward
Birth: 1844-12-09
Death: 1866-10-29
location: UnknownUnknown
transcription: srr
revision: tap 2018-01-30
<>
Page
1
Washington June 4. 1862
My dear Fanny,
The last ten days have been
a period of profound anxiety here, the
surprise and expulsion of Genl Banks
from Northern Virginia awakened alarms
for the safety of that army, the possession
of that county, the fate of General Mc-
Clellans
quarters even for the safety of this
Capital – I have devoted all
the time I could reserve from my
proper duties, to the War department,
where if I could do but little good
I could cheer and inspirit those
upon whom the chief responsibility
Page
2
of the government now rests.
To aggravate my cares,
persons got in there and tried to
sow the seed of difference between
members of the Cabinet and myself
and I have tried to meet and
counteract their intrigues. In a
period every body is stimulated
into activity, those who are patriotic
and magnanimous find occupation in
promoting the necessary operation of
the war in harmony with the
policy of the government. Those who
being [ paticular ]
Alternate Text: particular
are by nature wholly
lacking in wisdom, embarrass by
or counsels, those who are
suspicious jealous or ve[ ng ]
Reason: eful settle
discontent with a mercenary or
Page
3
rather reckless hand. The proven
safety which every one desires or affects
to desire is endangered through destruc-
tion of counsels. Hence it is that
however, by whatever accident a
state falls into civil war even
though it be a republican state, it
emerges from the crisis generally,
a moribund state. Society will
have peace and security even at
the cost of self government.
The last battle at Richmond
was a fearful one. I try to
indulge the hope that another
will be unnecessary. But the leader
of the Democrats
cause is desperate.
Nothing keeps me from my
family and home but the
Page
4
anxiety I feel, for the result of the
of Richmond
Your affectionate father
William H Seward.
Fanny A Seward.
Washington June 4. 1862
My dear Fanny,
The last ten days have been
a period of profound anxiety here, the
surprise and expulsion of Genl Banks
Birth: 1816-01-30 Death: 1894-09-01
from Northern Virginia awakened alarms
for the safety of that army, the possession
of that county, the fate of General Mc-
Clellans
Birth: 1826-12-03 Death: 1885-10-29
expedition and in some quarters even for the safety of this
Capital – I have devoted all
the time I could reserve from my
proper duties, to the War department,
where if I could do but little good
I could cheer and inspirit those
upon whom the chief responsibility
of the government now rests.
To aggravate my cares,
persons got in there and tried to
sow the seed of difference between
members of the Cabinet and myself
and I have tried to meet and
counteract their intrigues. In a
period every body is stimulated
into activity, those who are patriotic
and magnanimous find occupation in
promoting the necessary operation of
the war in harmony with the
policy of the government. Those who
being [ paticular ]
Alternate Text
lacking in wisdom, embarrass by
or counsels, those who are
suspicious jealous or ve[ ng ]
Supplied
discontent with a mercenary or
rather reckless hand. The proven
safety which every one desires or affects
to desire is endangered through destruc-
tion of counsels. Hence it is that
however, by whatever accident a
state falls into civil war even
though it be a republican state, it
emerges from the crisis generally,
a moribund state. Society will
have peace and security even at
the cost of self government.
The last battle at Richmond
was a fearful one. I try to
indulge the hope that another
will be unnecessary. But the leader
of the Democrats
Birth: 1820-07-29 Death: 1871-06-17Certainty: Possible
is fierce as theircause is desperate.
Nothing keeps me from my
family and home but the
anxiety I feel, for the result of the
of Richmond
Your affectionate father
William H Seward.
Fanny A Seward.