Webmaster: griffing@fnal.gov

James did write the letter he promised to send to Mr. Ostrander giving the particulars of Nelson Ostrander's death. In return, he received the following letter from William Seward, Jr. -- a brother of Nelson's fiancée.

27 Beaver Street, New York City [New York]
September 27, 1864

Rev. J. S. Griffin[g]
Lincoln, Nemaha County, Kansas

Dear Sir,

The only apology I offer in addressing you, an entire stranger to me, is that I was most intimately connected with the Messrs. Ostrander who died recently in Seneca [Kansas], and am of those who most keenly feel the stroke, which our Heavenly Father has seen fit to inflict upon us. Their father, Mr. P. M. Ostrander, learning that I intended writing you, wished me to inform you that he duly received your kind and sympathizing favor of the 13th inst., and begged me to say to you that he and indeed all his friends felt under the greatest obligations to you, and the kind friends who so tenderly watched over and cared for his sons during the sickness which preceded their death. We all feel truly thankful that they fell into such kind hands for we well know how much more they would have suffered had it been otherwise.

As none of us have ever been able to ascertain how Nelson was rescued after having been left for dead on the battlefield, or how he and his brother Lewis were carried from there to Seneca afterwards, we take advantage of the kind offer you make “to give us any information we would like to have” to ask you to ascertain if possible and give us all the particulars concerning the sad affair.

My brother has already written to Mr. Nash, but fearing that it might possible fail to reach him, I send these lines in the hope that from one or the other we may learn all the circumstances. Hoping that I may soon have that pleasure, melancholy though it be, and praying that God may ever have you in His kind care and keeping, and that He will abundantly bless you in your labors for the salvation of souls, I remain dear Sir, truly your friend, -- Wm Seward, Jr.

Will you please inform me whether there was sufficient property to cover their expenses, or whether there was anything left? Please direct to Wm Seward Jr., 27 Beaver St., New York City

On a separate slip of paper inserted in the same envelope was the following:

Please destroy this.

My sister having been engaged to Nelson [Ostrander], you may well suppose that her agony of mind is intense. To ascertain whether he left her anything or mentioned her frequently during his illness could be, you can well imagine, very comforting to her. She has not heard a word from any of the ladies from the fact that they have very properly written to the mother. If you could learn anything without mentioning that I make the request, please do so and let me know on a separate sheet as I wish to show the letter you write to the family. Truly your friend, -- W. S. Jr.

Letter Received from William Seward, Jr.