Transcription Project

This letter is regarding:  Civil War
Status:  Completed

Pages:  3
From:  H. Clark
To:  William and Nancy Turner Wyman
Others mentioned:  Thomas Wyman

Document Date: 1863 October 18

Sunday Oct 18th 63

Dear Uncle & Aunt,

I acknowledge the receipt of your letter bearing date of Sept. 27th for which I feel very pleased to think you have not forgotten me. Please excuse me for not writing oftener. It is hard work for me to write. I have not forgotten you. I think of you often. Our family are all well except myself. My health is poor. I am troubled with a scrofulous sore on my ankle and am having quite a hard time with the rheumatism.

We have four girls and one little boy about 3 years old. We lost one little girl about 6 years old. She died with the diphtheria one year ago last August. 1862 was a hard year for me and my family. We was all sick except my wife a long time.

Dear uncle, you write of visiting Keene. Next winter I hope you will visit us. If you can at any rate, I will try to visit you at Keene, if my health will permit, and you will let me know what time you will be there.

I am glad you have so good an office. It will help you in your old age. You ask when will their cursed rebellion have an end. That is not for me to say, but when our officers find out that the white men are as good as the niggers, then I think they will compromise in some way, so there will be white men enough left to take care of the niggers and the Abolitionist and dough faces of the north will learn to mind their own business and the South will also learn to have some regard for their own interest. Then, they will learn a lesson that they never learnt before. Then, I think the rebellion will end. Our officers are too well paid to have the war come to an end very quick. Call me Copperhead or anything you please, I have a right to my own views and so have you.

My best respects to you all,
Hiram Clark

Write soon. Good night.

NB   I have not heard anything from Thomas Wyman for two or three years. He was in California last I heard from him. Luese too lives in Charleston, VT So you see that she and I are all the Wyman decent alive left in these parts.

H. Clark

Hiram Clark  –  Hiram was the son of Silas Clark and William Wyman’s sister, Betsey Wyman Clark.

Keene  – William Wyman was born in Keene, New Hampshire where many of his relatives remained.

Doughface   –  In the years leading up to the American Civil War, “doughface” was used to describe Northerners who favored the Southern position in political disputes. Typically it was applied to a Northern Democrat who was more often allied with the Southern Democrats than with the majority of Northern Democrats.  Wikipedia

Copperhead  –  In the 1860s, the Copperheads, also known as Peace Democrats, were a faction of Democrats in the Union who opposed the American Civil War and wanted an immediate peace settlement with the Confederates.  Wikipedia

NB  – Nota Bene is a Latin expression meaning “note well.”

Click to Enlarge

This letter is regarding:  Civil War
Status:  Ready to be proof read

Pages:  4
From: Surgeon S. Hyram Plumb
To: John W. McFadden, Esq.
Others mentioned:  Major General Benjamin Butler

Document Date:  1865 January 1
Where written:  Washington ,D.C.

Headquarters 1st Brig.
Jan 1st 1865

John W. McFadden
Sterling

My dear Friend,

Allow me to tender you the “compliments of the season” and not only that but to wish you yet very many years enjoyment of a virtuous and vigorous life.

To be able to look back upon an active & well spent life, while slowly ripening and mellowing by the frosts & sunshine of age must constitute of conditions of calm & heartfelt satisfaction., second only to the immortal felicity to which it is the prelude, may that pleasure long be yours, and the great future which it so well foreshadows you sure inheritance.

Be assured Sir, your many acts of kindness and confidence in me will be ever most warmly cherished. Do not consider this mere sentimentality or affectation on my part, but only a frank expression of these feelings which I take pleasure in keeping warm, and in sometimes expressing.

About the 10th of Dec. & again last night we have a slight falls of snow, just enough to whiten the ground with two or three cold days with each storm. With these exceptions, the weather here has been mild and pleasant. With us at home, we have in winter many cloudy days when it does not actually storm here all winter. When not actually storming, we have a succession of bright, sunny, beautiful days. I do like this climate and if I did not have a family who are not acclimated here as I am, I really think I would never return to our cold, cloudy climate to live, but those family ties will no doubt bring me back to remain “when this cruel war is over” if not before.

But, I do think that we are now seeing the “beginning of the end” of this struggle and that 1865 will see National unity and peace fully established. Butlers great Wilmington expedition has been a stupendous fizzle, but fortunately he did nothing & consequently lost nothing. If the expedition have the effect to lay him with the other fossils up on the shelf in the Museum of Natural history, it would not have been in vain. This war was a great iconoclast. It has broken many popular fools and dissipated many popular fallacies.

Do you yet find any chance to dispose of my mill? I am still anxious to sell it. If not sold, I wish you would rent the house and garden for me. If you can compensate yourself out of the rent, I wish you would do so. If you cannot, I will cheerfully pay for any trouble you may have.

But, if I can not sell that, I have too much invested in it & the property is really too valuable to leave or give away. And I have lately been thinking that rather than to practically abandon that, I have better invest some two thousand dollars more or less in that vicinity, if there is a chance to get some good bargain in a farm. I would not be limited to that amount precisely if a good chance should turn up. If in a location where I would wish to live, I should want buildings which would be first class for that town. if in a place where I would not wish to live, I should prefer cheaper buildings, but productive land, for I do not intend in any event to give up the practice of my profession. I am wedded to that for life & intend to live & die in the harness.

Pardon me Sir if I am asking too many questions or troubling you too much, but I should be glad to hear from you as soon as convenient.

Please remember me most kindly to your brother Benjamin and to John C. Also to your good wife. And believe me sir,
………………..Very truly your friend
………………..& obedient servant
………………..S. Hiram Plumb

My correct address is:
……………….Surgeon S. Hiram Plumb
……………….Headquarters 1st Brig.
……………….2nd Div., 2nd Corps
……………….Washington, DC

Ce

click to Enlarge

This letter is regarding:  ?
Status:  To be Transcribed

Pages:  1
From:  John Titus
To: William Titus

Document Date: 1845 April 25

William,

I promised news. The subject was settled respecting help here. I would write you Burton is here &  I am working his man. Am paying him $8.00 per month until other arrangements, if any, are got rep huor that a line man into the corner house of Backett’s on this lot at amount of $25.00 provided you dobat buy it. Backett is now anxious to sell, and will call on you next week to know about it  leave here next Monday for New York.

The saw mill runs very well, have plenty of sawing. The grist mill runs well. thuls enough to keep it running in the daytime.

If tuslet is purchased, I think we have better negotiate a ban-they pen on this lot near the mill a hay bin near the soce so that we can let the water from the na into the tubs for mixing srill hugs actually you lus man profit there any other stock. Our goods amount all sold though our assostence to begins to some down new goods at In & Hannibalvile.

John Titus

What does Elan do Wnte about Hosses. Can he allow $85 for the Gny aud  I think he would be willing to allow the 100 for the bug by then tin.

Click to Enlarge

This letter is regarding:  Replacing the Postmaster
Pages:  2
From:  William Titus
To:   Montgomery Blair

Document Date:  1862 March 17

March 17, 1862

Hon. Montgomery Blair,
PM Genl [Postmaster General]

……..I am informed that a Politition [Politician] has gone forward to your honor for  my removal as P.M. [Postmaster] at this place.
……..I am not aware that any charges can be brot [brought] against me other than Political. If so, please inform me the substance and I will summon to you the objection. Allow me to state, in this locality we have two political parties. The applicants for a change of P.M. are of the Ultra Abolition School fincaters of the north with no constitutional views thrown on this President and his Cabinet in any more manor to prosecute the war unless coloured with unconditional emancipation.
……..The party to which I belong and most sincerely endorse believes in a most vigorous prosecution of the war for the subjugation of the rebils fincaters and coming connection to his maker, that to be loyal is to sustain the constitution & the flag of the federal government, leaving slavery to its chances. And allow me to say, that President Lincoln need his places by the assistance of abolition botns, but his approvals has come more from the Democratic Party & from principal, than the other.
……..This office is a small affair and of itself of minor consideration, only claiming a business of less than $60. But, though friends of the department were lissevens of knowing how your  Honor stood affected towards Abolitionism advised me to write, informing you of party lines in this locality. I trust you will not accept it as an intrusion, for be assured such action as you may take will meet my approval.

With great respect,
I am your obedient servant,
William Titus

And it will be no exaggeration to say that three fourths of the patrons of this office would endorse the sentiments of your humble shenin expnssin.

   Click to Enlarge

This letter is regarding:  The Civil War
Pages:  4
From:  Edward Drake
To:   William Titus

Document Date:  1863 March 26

Camp near Baton Rouge
March 26, 1863
Mr. Titus

Dear frend [friend],I received your letter and was very glad to hear from you. I am well at present and hope that you are enjoying good health. Around here, our regiment is very poor in health, a great many sick. James Gifford is dead. He died at the general hospital with a fever.

Whe [we] have had one fatiguing march through the woods tords [toward] Port Hudson, but it did not amount to ennything [anything] of importance. [It was] about like all our movements that our folks make and I don’t think whe [we] will ever whip the South. And I don’t think whe [we] had out [ought] to. I say give them thare [their] rites [rights] and they won’t need whippings.

Well Mr. Titus, I am glad to hear that the democrats are a doing so well. I would like to hear that the black Republicans never cood [could] get another vote, for I don’t think they deserve enny [any]. Whe [we] have here sum [some] forty or fifty thousand men a doing nothing, only bleeding our government and I think that it is purty [pretty] much near its last drop, for they do not pay us so promt [prompt] as they did at first.

Whe [we] have the report here that whe [we] are nine months Men and whether it is true or not, I can’t tell. But, perhaps you have heard something about it. Whe [we] hear that little John Se [saw?] the governor and he said whe [we] should be home in May. I hope it is true. I wish if you have herd [heard] ennything [anything] about it, you wood [would] rite [write] to me and let me no [know], for I feel anxious to get back and take the team for you. I think that will soot [suit] me better than soalgering [soldiering] dos [does] and tell Mrs. Titus I think often of what she sed [said] befoar [before] I left, that I wood [would] think of my children often and I do.

I tell you there is no place like home. I hope you will rite [write] all the particulars about thare [there] and give my respects to all. Tell Mary to ay [?] of good currage [courage], for the darkest our [hour] is just befoar [before] the brake [break] of day.

From your frend [friend]
Ever yours,
Edward Drake

You must excuse this riting [writing] for I have no place to rite [write], only my ne [knee].

Click to Enlarge

This letter is regarding:  political concerns
Status:

• • Ready to proofread the original image of the document and let us know if you agree with this transcription. info@FHHistory.Org
  • Research the information on the people mentioned and political circumstances referred to.

Pages:  1
From:  W. C. Beardsley
To:       William Titus
Others mentioned:  Mr. Tappan, Mr. Clark, Mr. King

Document Date:  1862 December 5
Where written:   Auburn, New York

Auburn  Dec. 5, 1862

Honorable William Titus

My dear Sir,

       I have your favor of 4th inst.  It is understood that Messrs. Tappan and Clark will act in harmony. At the same it is not expected that they will move very rapidly in making removals, and for the reason among others, which you suggest.

       We hope to clean the Augean Stables here in due time, & I shall be gratified to see Mr. King among the number who will occupy the places made vacant by the present incumbents.

       Republicanism, what a failure! It will require many, many years to repair the ruin they have brought upon the Country.

W. C. Beardsley

Definition of Augean Stables:
a condition or place marked by great accumulation of filth or corruption

Click to Enlarge

This letter is regarding:  possible employment for a young lady at $1.00 per week.
Pages:  1
From:  Charles Hill
To:       William Titus
Others mentioned:  Willard Johnson
                            Unknown Woman

Document Date:  1863 February 20
Where written:   Oswego Falls (now Fulton, New York)

Oswego Falls, February 20, 1863

William Titus, Esq.

My Dear Sir,

You wrote to Willard Johnson that your neighbor had a daughter that wanted employ in this mill. I can give her work at one dollar per week besides her board, for the present, if she proves to be a good worker and gets hold of the kind of work that we have for her to do. The work is not hard but it requires an active hand to make it profitable. I would like to have her come as soon as Monday next.

Very truly yours,
Charles Hill

Source: Fair Haven Public Library, Raymond T. Sant Document Collection
Transcribed 2021-06-01 by Robert Kolsters