Download

Download Full Text (11.3 MB)

Content Warning

The Charles P. McIlvaine letters were written in the 18th and 19th century and therefore may contain language that we understand today as harmful or offensive. You may encounter paternalist descriptions of Native Americans, racial slurs, or sexism. For more information, see our policy page.

Description

Family concerns

Date

12-12-1864

Keywords

letter, McIlvaine, Du Bois, daughter, family

Transcript

Cinc. Dec. 12, 1864

My own precious daughter,

So far away, + the winter between us. When shall I see you again, my own darling. I write you from the ship, We got up to your Uncle’s on Friday morning the 25th. Mr Hewson + Annie were there to meet us. He + [Emmence] came right home. Annie is just in Phila. Charly has gone to his [parents]. I did not tell you in my letter what danger I had been in + how the Lord delivered me. (The account in the W. Episcopalian is somewhat too strong. I was not “half drowned,” but near going where no deliverance could have come by man.) WE had 13 days out of 16 of almost [?] head gales of great force. On the 9th just as I had come on deck for breakfast + when I was standing as marked in the drawing enclosed, looking at the sea. Suddenly there came a crash over the whole ship as if all the ocean were upon it. An enormous sea the union of two cross seas had broken over + in the [hurricane] deck just before the cabin part. It broke in the windward bulwarks, + the windward door of the cross passage between the saloon + the stewards pantry, two [parts] of it [?] where I was standing, the ship [/] + leeward + the deck was filled on that side to the height of the bulwarks. I attempted with another passenger who was standing with me to reach the door of the saloon. I was [?] by the tide that poured through the broken door + thrown [?] I got up + was thrown again + it seemed as if I must be carried to the leeward bulwark + go over. The other passenger was thrown down with me. Just [??] afterwards appeared the Captain’s servant, a dear little boy in whom we were much interested was carried over + lost. I had risen the second time in the passage + was grasping out for the handle of the saloon door to hold by. The other man was before me + I could not reach it for him, + I would not try to support myself by him. The ship was just going to leeward again when I should again have fallen when two of the cabin servants ran to me + caught me + I got into the saloon. The other man was thrown [where] I expected to be +carried to the bulwarks + up + down the ship, sometimes swimming till he caught some support. When I got into the saloon (which is on deck _ under the [?] deck), I found it the floor covered with a flood. It took an hour to get the water out there so that we could have breakfast. Charley was there + did not see my danger Emmy was just coming out of her room below, + had she been a half minute sooner would have been in great danger. Every sailor on deck was hurt, two severely. The water went down the stairs to the state room deck, + the rooms on the leeside where [?] was, were a foot + some two feet deep in water. [?] on the other side excepted. It was an awful time. The Lord delivered me from an awful death, for during 13 days no boat could have lived in the sea, + for the ship to [slip] or [?] round to save any body would have been destruction. Charley was quite undisturbed in his courage + dear Emmy was wonderfully calm. I found after a few hours that I had strained the [?] of my right foot so that I became unable to walk. I still feel the foot very tender. Charley + Emmy are the best of sailors + travellers. Neither of them had any sickness on the ocean or the channel crossing.

When I got home I recd a most sweet, affectionate letter from your darling Emmy. (N. ?) addressed to me in N.Y. but [such] did not get there till I had left, most earnestly begging me to go to N.J. + see her + the Doctor. A letter from the Dr. to the same effect. Had I recd them before I left N.Y. I think I should have gone, though I was very lame. Dear sweet Emmy -- how I want to see her. My darling Mary I [need] to think of something to get for you abroad that could be easily sent you + I could not think of any thing but more fine handkerchiefs, which (six) I will send by mail.

[?] I want to know from [w] how his health is - how he is situated at Dubuque, whether you are pleased with the parish, what they do for you, how your helath + the children’s is - Are you keeping [house]? What has been done with the house at ? Parish? Bp. Whipple was in England before I left, but not in the part I was in, so that I did not see him. Your Mother is not very well. Give a great deal of love to [Warw] + George + Ogden + their sisters, whom I would give so much to see - Oh! that you were near me. My Mamy, you are dear to me beyond all expression. No [Father] were loved admired, humbled in, rejoiced in a daughter, for what God in nature + grace gave her, more than I am your [?] shall be ? where we shall be separated no more. Blessed be God that so early He made you His child, + his [?] on His gracious work in your heart to this day. To His love + help + peace & joy I commit you. Blessed I am bless my most precious daughter + all her[s]

Your dearest Father -

I want you to write me, darling [?] Washington too, + George again.

Letter to Maria Du Bois

Share

COinS
 

Rights Statement

No Copyright - United States