Letter 62
INDIRECT NEWS FROM THE SOUTH & descriptions of Laura & sarah
Mrs. Polly L. Look to Mrs. Laura G. Lincoln Wyoming, Wyoming Co., May 30th, 1864
My dear Friend,
I have delayed answering your very kind letter, hoping I might in some way get some news of our dear children in Virginia. This afternoon we received a letter from our son Saml. saying he saw a man in Syracuse who knows Charles, Loomis and Josiah, and saw them as late as last January. When this Mr. Williams left them they were all well. Loomis and Charles Lincoln were on their farm at Marion. They were also making plows, which we presume is the reason they are not conscripted. They were in good health. Mr. W. said he was well acquainted with Loomis and always went to see him when he went to Marion. Mr. W. thought Josiah had been able to keep out of the army upon the strength of a clause in their conscription law, which exonerated those who produced over a certain quantity of produce for the government. In answer to the question whether Josiah was a secessionist (as has been represented), Mr. W. said he could not tell from what a man says there on that subject what his real sentiments are. But J. told him if he should be impressed into the Confederate service he should see the other side (North) of the Confederate line first. He said he could get there in ten hours with a horse. They are about sixty miles from the Federal lines. We feel as if they could get here yet if they determine to come. Mr. W. is a reliable, intelligent man.
We are all in comfortable health. Laura is a stout, healthy girl. Sarah is not quite as stout, but not a feeble child. She is subject to fainting turns, I think rather out-growing it. She was quite ill a few weeks last winter and we thought best to keep her out of school one term. She grows very fast, is very large for her age and so is Laura. How I do wish you could see them. They are both very promising girls. We think but very few equal to them. Sarah is the very image of her mother, a sweet, good child. Laura’s teachers tell me she is a good scholar. They both have many very warm, sympathizing friends in this place. It would be a very great pleasure to me if we could see each other face to face. Oh, how many, many times we could talk over that we can not well put on paper. I will hope and hope on that we may yet meet on earth. It would give me the greatest pleasure to visit my native place, but at my advanced age I can hardly expect to. And were I to take a journey I should feel it my duty to visit my dear mother. She is in comfortable health, able to attend church and visit with her neighbors. She was ninety-one last Feb., and I feel the infirmities of age seventy-three next Sept. My mother lives in Ohio and should I be permitted to visit her I shall call on your daughter Mrs. Stone.
I trust that we shall all feel our hearts enlarged with gratitude that we are permitted to learn so much of our children’s welfare, that they were safe at that time and not on the battlefield and feel to pray earnestly that they may still be protected and be once more permitted to visit us. Laura and Sarah Belle both with to be remembered to yourself and their relatives. They often talk and plan a visit to your place, dear children, how I wish it could be. Please write me as often as is convenient. I must stop as it is late. May Heaven’s blessings rest upon you and Yours is the prayer of your dear friend, P. L. Look
Mary (Polly) Loomis Look
Letter 64
"FATHER HAS COME"
Laura L. Look to Mrs. Laura Lincoln, and same to Mrs. Willard Stone
Wyoming, Aug. 15th, 1864
Dear Grandmother,
It is with greatest of pleasure that I write to tell you that Father has come, but we have waited a long, long time. He came last Friday very unexpectedly indeed and we are so glad. He left all well in Va. No one knew the day he left but Mother and Uncle Josiah. He told every person that he intended to come this fall but did not say when. He says he will write you a long letter in a few days. I have not time to write you a long letter this morning as I want to write to Auntie Ellen. Grandmother received your nice letter last week and says she will answer it soon. She wishes me to give you her best regards. Please write West Boylston when you get this. Father expects to stay three or four months. Give my love to Uncle and Auntie. In great haste,
Laura L. Look
The letter to Mrs. Stone says he went to Columbus, Ohio and from there to Cleveland.)
N. Loomis Look to Mrs. Laura Lincoln Wyoming, N.Y., Aug. 23, 1864
Dear Mother Lincoln,
I intended to have written you when I first reached here, but the satisfaction of visiting my parents, brothers, sisters and children after so long an absence, finding them all together enjoying so many blessings, has given me so much pleasure I have thought of nothing else. I left my own family and Brother Charles’ well. I suppose you would like to know something of his wife. She is a sensible, unassuming, industrious woman about his age, and exemplary member of the Presbyterian Church, devoted to her domestic affairs and loved by the children. Her name was Harriett Clarke and I think they are calculated to make each other happy. Charles has kept out of the army so far by being a mechanic and more use to the Confederacy at home than in the army, and I think there is little danger of his being taken away. Many of the necessaries for comfortable living are scarce and high, but there is no danger of our suffering as we have the advantage of exchanging flour and meal for many things we could not buy with money.
I came on horseback with one other man. We came through Tazewell, Mercer, Raleigh and Fayette, where we met the Federal pickets. We traveled nearly one hundred miles without meeting a single traveler. The country for that distance is a perfect desolation. It was always sparsely settled and mountainous. It has been traversed several times by both armies. Most of the settlers have left it, their houses and fences burned and stock driven off. We lived on dried beef and crackers, carried with us, and fed our horses on grass. You will imagine we were glad to get to the Kenawha river, where we found an abundance of everything. My return will depend upon the situation of affairs in Va. I intended when I left to have gone back in Oct. I think now it is very doubtful about my returning so soon.
Give my regards to Brother Lucius and George and Sister Gennia. Your affectionate son,
N. L. Look
Nathan Loomis Look to Willard and Ellen Stone, in Ohio. Wyoming, N.Y., Nov. 6, 1864
Brother and Sister Stone,
I should have answered your letter before this but did not know what to say until I decided what to do this winter. Sister Susan will start for Louisville on Wednesday next. And I expect to stay here a week after they leave and then follow them to stay through the winter, unless affairs take such a turn that I can get to Marion sooner. I will stop and see you on my way, if you are still there, and I hope you won’t leave before if you move at all.
I had a letter a few days ago from my wife, written the 5th of Oct., and one from Brother Charles written some time before, but more satisfactory as it came by private hands so he could write what he pleased. They are all well and getting on comfortably. Hoping to see you soon I will write no more at present. I remain, your brother,
N. L. Look
TO: 1865
