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I know you must be lonely without usNear the end of July, James finally received a letter from Augusta which told of the details of her trip from Leavenworth, Kansas Territory, to her hometown of Owego, New York, with her two-year-old son Johnny in tow. While in Chicago, they took a side trip to Woodstock, Illinois.
St. Louis [Missouri] My Dear
Husband [James], I hope you
have received my letter written from Leavenworth. I have taken quite a different
route from what I expected when leaving home. My through ticket would have taken
me on a long trip through Illinois & the agent here has changed it &
given me one to take a boat to Alton & then by railroad to Chicago where it
is due tomorrow morning at seven. We take the boat here at four this afternoon.
We reached St. Louis about nine this morning making a quick passage. The water
is low too but we had very good company & so far have got along well. It has
been very warm & John has been a constant companion. He is getting used to
it & is a better boy, not quite as fretful. I dress him cool as I can. I
keep well – do not eat the ________ ________ ________ careful. Have slept well
both nights on the boat. They have run all night too. Monday
morning, July 18th. We are safely at [your] cousin George [Griffing’s
in Woodstock, Illinois] this fine morning & both [of us are] quite well. I
do hope you are well & getting along well. We left St. Louis about four
o’clock Friday. In about two hours, we reached Alton & went right on the
[railroad] cars & kept moving all night & at light next morning were in
Chicago. I had to pay 25 cents to be taken from one depot to the other & had
just $1.55 left at the Woodstock depot in Chicago. I felt anxious & worried
but then I would tell the ticket agent how I was situated & ask him [to]
trust me until I came back. I asked the price of a ticket to Woodstock &
behold it was $1.50. So I had all my worry, fuss & anxiety for nothing. I
paid my fare & had five cents left which I spent for John in apples. They
were for sale all along the road & he had some given to him at different
times. My fare thus far has been: To
Leavenworth $5.50 I reached Woodstock just before noon Saturday, [July 16, 1859] & went right to Mr. [Josiah] Dwight’s who lives close to the depot. All were well & seemed glad to see me. It is very warm here – much more so than in Kansas – although here at cousin George’s there is a good breeze blowing. Cousin George
[Griffing] came down to Mr. Dwight’s in the afternoon, but I was tired & so stayed
there until last night when they came for me in a buggy. Today we are going to
see Mrs. Burlingame who lives near here & tomorrow some of them will go with
me to Crystal Lake to see [your] cousin Franklin Griffing. [1] Expect to start at nine
o’clock on the [railroad] cars & stop over until the two o’clock train
& then get into Chicago to take the night train East. [Franklin] lives close
to the depot at Crystal Lake. Cousin George will have some money ready for me.
Oh dear! How much it’s going to cost – it’s too bad. We shall go soon
& I will finish this after our return. Cousin George’s wife & myself have spent the day at Mr. Burlingame’s and had a very pleasant visit. Mrs. Burlingame sent her love to you & Mr. Burlingame also. They own forty acres near town & have a young & very beautiful grove of oaks about their home. She has two children – one a girl nearly 17 and a pretty one named Lucy. Her boy Willie is five & a good little fellow. It has been 15 years since we saw each other and she looks so old and broken, but the same happy, cheerful smile & pleasant words are there. He preaches in Woodstock now. Please send him one of your Conference Minutes directed to Rev. A. G. Burlingame. Cousin George
has the finest calf I ever saw. Mrs. Dwight has four children – Charles, Julia, Eddie, and Josiah. Cousin George’s five boys [are named] Theodore, Willie, Addison, Freddie, and George.[2] [George is the] baby, born the Christmas before [our son] John and is another little fattie. They say he & John look alike. Currants are ripe & oh how good they taste. There are but few apples here & corn is very low – cut off by frost. I hope there will be a letter in the [post] office for me when I get to Owego. Write all about how you get along. Ever your affectionate,
Topeka [Kansas Territory] My Dear
Cutie [Augusta], I feel better.
I was right glad to get your letter this morning from Woodstock. I was very
anxious after you changed your route at Leavenworth fearing something might
happen to you. This warm weather and I began to look for a letter much sooner
than I ought and I guess I worried quite as much as you did. But today it has
come announcing safety, thus far. I shall look for a good long one from you in a
day or two where I trust you are enjoying yourself right well. What do they say
about you – that you bear much resemblance to the young girl that left there
near four years ago, for better or for worse, or that you are just her shadow or
an improvement? What about [our son] Johnny? Will they claim the little sun
browned, white-haired border ruffian boy as any kin? Is he a good boy now? You did not
say anything about yours or Mr. Stratton’s relatives at Woodstock. Did you
call on any of them? I knew you would like the cousins there, only I guess they
thought you made a short stay. I should have thought you would have stayed a day
or two longer. I am afraid they will think the most you wanted was the money.
What did cousin George [Griffing] say about our business? Did he say when he
would settle the rest? Has all been paid in to him yet? How much did he let you
have? Did he say whether or not it was drawing interest? And did he say my
accounts were right? We are having
quite cool weather since the rains. I have been sowing buckwheat today – the
patch below the calf pen – and ploughed and harrowed in that east of the
millet. When I came from town this morning I found a large loaf of bread on the
floor near the backdoor done up in a yellow pocket-handkerchief. It was light
& spongy and I have just been eating some in milk for supper. It’s first
rate. Do you want some cucumbers pickled? There are lots of them on the vines I
noticed today. How much did
it cost from Woodstock [Illinois to] home? Find out what the fare is from Owego
through to Leavenworth direct. See how much you paid over in fare. I think your
fare high from Chicago to Leavenworth. You must make all a right good visit for
me. Give my love to all inquiring friends. Have you seen
[my] mother yet? You must not forget mother’s likeness as well as [my brother]
Sammy, [his wife] Melly, and [their children] David & Ella on one plate. You must spell mother
occasionally if she still has to sit all day long with towel in one hand and fan
in the other. Have [your brothers] Ralph or Steve procured a cage for your bird? Has [your sister] Seddie concluded to come back with you? What a grand idea it would be for Father Goodrich and mother to come out too some time and see how and where their children live. I think such a trip would renew their age and make life’s later hours linger more pleasantly. And then Mary, i.e. our Mary – i.e. your Mary – i.e. Mary Goodrich or Mary Griffing, if either of them should only come and teach our “young idiots to shout” just for one summer, what an uproarious noise there would be and how pleasant on all hands. And then if [your brother] Ralph’s shingle protruded from one end of the Topeka House, advising the people where they could learn how to get out of almost any scrape, how handy it would be for us; i.e., me. And then you know we should have some hope of seeing [your brother] Steve sometime, wouldn’t we? – Finis. Click on Image for Enlargement
Pages
1 through 4 of James Griffing's Letter
Topeka [Kansas Territory] [Dear
Augusta,] You ask how I
get along? Well the best I can with just as little indoor work as I know how. I
generally get coffee for breakfast, boil an egg or two, get two or three onions,
and sometimes cook some codfish. My ham is all gone. I notice the potatoes are
growing finely and soon shall have plenty of them. I milk one cow (the oldest)
and use most of the milk so that I shall not probably churn more. I have plenty
of butter yet. Have churned more than I have used. I have not washed either time
yet, i.e., garments. The hen in the
keg hatched about ten chickens so that there is about thirty of the smallest.
The largest are just large enough to fry and I expect to lead some of them to
the block, as occasion requires. It is a very cool pleasant day. The air is
clear and everywhere things look beautiful. The morning glories in the garden
are beginning to blossom; there are two colors, red and purple. They beat the
cypress running. The cypress blossom is crimson. Saw [your brother] James in town when up. He is through at Ward’s. Has had his likeness taken and intends to send it soon. May be you will get it before this. He continues to work for Lindsey on other jobs. Our neighbors are all well. They ask about you every time I see them, hardly stopping to ask about myself -- how I poor lone mortal flourish. After trying to convince them that I am of some consequence, I tell all I know about you. -- James Click on Image for Enlargement
Pages
1 and 2 of James Griffing's Letter
Owego [New York] Dearest James, Our people
think I get my share of letters for a few days. Just three from you & one
from Aunt Mary [Goodrich in Hartford]. I hope before this you have heard of our
safe arrival here. I knew you would be anxious if we came to St. Louis by boat
& I felt worried too. But as we came so well, think it full as good a way for
us as the other would have been & the fare was the same both ways. We are
all well here. It is Sunday eve & I have just put [our son] John to bed
& this nearly our bedtime. Stephen, Sarah & myself rode over to meeting
this forenoon & Ralph & Mary walked. Mr. Peck preached. The church is a
very neat & pretty one. The pulpit is at the back end so that we do not have
to go in facing the congregation. The gallery is over the doors & the
congregation do not turn around & face them while singing – quite an
improvement. This afternoon there was preaching at the schoolhouse by Tom
Nichols, a Presbyterian not yet ordained & a son of the Canewana Nichols. This forenoon
John stayed with ma & was a good boy. This afternoon we took him. Mary
Griffing was down [from your mother’s hillside home today]. Says [your] Mother
is not feeling very well but is able to be about. She goes back to her school in
the morning. Rhoda [Goodrich] Stiles & husband were at meeting. She is very thin &
changed, but they tell me I look worse than she, and that I am hollow eyed, but
that I am looking better than when I came. The folks did think that John was
almost a colored boy when he came, and I presume would not have acknowledged him
if I had not been along. But they think him improving in looks, and his boyish
ways seem to please them. He talks a little better. For instance, as I have not
yet weaned him, he calls for his “dinner” which sounds like “dinnah” –
and soon as he sees any preparation for riding, says, “I ide, I ide” instead
of ride. I asked him tonight to send a kiss to papa & he gave me a sweet
scotch kiss. He wants to kiss all the younger ones he sees. He behaves very well
& keeps well. Wish you could have eaten with us. James
Goodrich’s likeness has not come yet – hope it will before long. Tuesday
evening. Sarah, John & I have been to Aunt Mary’s today & Mary came
after school, Ella Griffing coming with her & here to stay tonight [with
us]. Ella is a very prettily behaved girl. Says she has commenced a letter to
you but it did not suit her & she tore it up. I told her she must write.
Says all are well. Mary went to her school Monday morn. Your letter to Mrs.
Sarah A. Goodrich came yesterday – better be careful how you write – Mrs. or
Miss & not make a mistake. Pa & [my
brother] Steve with one & 20 hands are at work in the oats. They have to
reap a great many of them as they have fallen down. After school
last night, Mary & I walked over to the [Owego] Village. [We] called at Aunt
Betsy [Goodrich] Platt’s. Aunt Betsy, Aunt Fanny & Frank [Parmele] are at home now.
Mrs. Dr. Hay is there on a visit. They made a great many inquiries about Kansas.
I am going there before long to make a visit. They have a few of the Lawton
Blackberries & think they are not as good as recommended. Will it pay to
take grape cuttings or small roots? I can get some there I think. I bought you
three pairs of gloves for 34 cents, the very cheapest I could find. The cheaper
ones were entirely too small. I send one in this letter and another some other
time. Am sorry you lost your suspender. Your old ones I think are in that barrel
that stood by the window upstairs. They are near the bottom & are ready to
wear I believe. The cucumbers
please put into a strong brine. If you have alum, put in an ounce or so & it
will not take as much salt as without. If no alum, make the brine strong enough
to bear up an egg. Hope you have good success. I think the hens do well. I am glad you
get along as comfortably as you write. I know you must be lonely without us. We
do not make much headway visiting, as I have had my clothing to fix, &c
making considerable work. Mrs. Marion Catlin’s daughter Celinda died with
consumption & was buried Saturday. Lathrop Finesdale’s wife (Charity
Brink) is just alive with consumption. They live in Ephraim’s old house. Aunt Mary
[Goodrich] writes to have me come & make them a good visit [in Hartford,
Connecticut]. Says Mrs. Knapp & family are at Mr. Beach’s. That Alfred
[Beach] is very low & that Mrs. Beach is worn out both bodily & mentally
& is very low in the retreat. It is dreadful. I would like to go there but
cannot, unless someone else supplies funds. I don’t know what you will think
of me but I did not say anything to cousin George [Griffing in Woodstock] about
your matters. I hoped he would [say something] to me & expected he would,
but waited in vain. He told me to write & he would send me more if I wanted.
Or what was better, come that way [on my return trip] and he will let me have
some [money]. I have been sorry [ever] since that I did not say something
of how matters stood. They would liked to have had me stay longer there but knew
I must be anxious to come home & did not think hard of me at all. What had I
better do about going there? [Sister] Sarah
says she will answer her letter before long. Uncle George Stratton’s daughter
lived a few miles out of Woodstock & I could not very well go there. Cousin
Joe Goodrich & his relatives have all moved to Sterling, Illinois. It has
not been very warm any of the time since we came. I received the letter to Mr. Smyth, [the Editor of the Owego Times,] but have not sent it & thought I would not. He did receive at least one of the other letters you wrote and I did not feel inclined to take him this, thinking he did not care for it. All send love. I do hope you will get along well. I often think of & wonder how you can get along. Ever yours, The glove is so bulky I will send it in a paper. Click on Image for Enlargement
Pages
1 through 4 of Augusta Griffing's Letter
Topeka [Kansas Territory] Dear
Cutie [Augusta], I went to town
Friday morning expecting I should get another letter from home. Yet it came not.
Yesterday evening I walked over to Brother Curtis to see if one had come and
still none. He said I looked disappointed, but I am sure I could not have looked
worse than I felt. When at town Friday, Mr. Gardiner came to me and said Charley
Bowen would like to have me come over, and as it was just what I was calculating
to do, I went and found him very sick. [He is] having a run of the bilious
fever, hardly able to speak, [and] is obliged to have watchers. He was a little
better the day I was there but seemed is in so much pain. His good companion
seems nearly worn out. She has no girl [to help her] and I am afraid will get
sick herself. I took care of him for a while and had her go upstairs to rest
herself, but after awhile she came down not having slept a wink. Said she could
not. The children are very good or she could not possibly stand it long. I hope
he may get better. Dr. King, homoeopathist, attends him. And what do
you think has happened at Ex Naylor Dow’s? Why one morning last week Mrs. Dow
found herself the sole possessor of a bright-eyed little girl. How pleased they
both are. They are both so fond of children. Mrs. Dow thinks she never was
thankful before. She is getting along very well. That Lady (Mrs. Goodale) who
stayed at Mr. Rice’s during his absence is acting as nurse. They think of
calling the little one Grace. When up [in
town], I bought me one of those lanterns I have been wanting so long at Mr.
Hamilton’s. I did not know but I might be awakened some of these nights by the
blowing of the stage horn and you know I should want something to light my
company in. But more particularly I got it to go out and protect my chickens. A
few mornings ago I found 8 [of them] dead behind and in the corner of the barn.
I expect the work of a polecat. They have eaten up all of Bowen’s [chickens].
He put some strychnine in an egg and placed it where they could get it handily
and poisoned three – an old one and two young ones – two or three others
keep under his house and he cannot get them out. I would do the same but am
fearful I may poison some of the chickens. And now
Cutie,
I only wish I was with you today and could see yourself and my darling boy. How
have you been and who all have you seen? And do you get any stronger than when
you left? Is Johnny a good boy? Be careful not to let him have his own head and
way too much. A little discipline and care now will be worth more than a great
deal by and by. Is he kind and affectionate still, and do you suppose he would
know me? Has he been sick any since he left? And have you? Have you visited my
mother yet? And does she look as healthy as when you left? Has she seemed to
grow old fast? I wish you would write quite often. I don’t think I ever was so
glad to get letters. I wish I could get one every time I get mail from the
[Post] Office, which is two or three times a week. How many letters have you
received from me? I went out
with Brother Curtis after grapes. We only got about one pail, half-full apiece.
I put mine on paper upstairs to dry. I guess she made hers into pies as she gave
me a nice pie to bring home last evening as well as some ginger cakes. She is
real good to me and I wish you could bring her some acceptable present when you
come. I can’t cook anything to taste good. Even pancakes which I used to make
first-rate taste doughy and heavy. And my biscuits are heavy, won’t rise, and
are scarcely eatable. I got two tomatoes ripe this morning for the first, which
I sliced up & put sugar on and were quite good. Corn will soon do to eat. I
don’t know when we shall get potatoes. They were put back by the dry weather. This paper is dirty and hardly fit to write on. Please let no one see it. I keep very well. Mr. Crawford’s boy was mistaken about Curtis & recently only went to fasten up the schoolhouse. Have made no bargains as yet. Mr. Naylor wants to sell and Mr. Curtis to buy but cannot agree upon terms. Tell Johnny his kittens began to play about. The pigs are growing finely. Weather is fine. I expect the threshers in 8 or 10 days. Kiss darling for Papa. Keep well dear. Write soon. Yours ever, -- husband James Click on Image for Enlargement
Pages
1 through 4 of James Griffing's Letter [1]
Franklin Griffing, b. 20 September 1814, was a brother of George Griffing of
Woodstock, IL. Franklin and his wife, Lodema Thompson were living in Crystal
Lake, IL at the time but later moved to Colorado Springs, CO.
[2] George Griffing’s five boys were: Theodore Leonard Griffing, b. 4 July 1840, William Henry Griffing, b. 10 March 1845, Addison Griffing, b. 16 January 1848, Frederick Murray Griffing, b. 4 March 1852, and George Butler Griffing, b. 25 December 1856. The three eldest boys all enlisted in the federal service during the Civil War. The eldest, Theodore, served in the 36th Illinois Volunteer Regiment, also known as the "Fox Valley Regiment," Company H (a.k.a. "The Woodstock Rifles") from September 23, 1861 until he died on November 21, 1862, from wounds received at the Battle of Perryville. He was promoted to Captain of his company after the Battle of Pea Ridge, receiving news of his commission on September 5, 1862. William -- the second eldest son – also died in the service in 1865.
The following diary entry of Wallace P. Benson, who served with Theodore Griffing in the Woodstock Rifles of Company H, provides a first-hand account of the Battle of Perryville in which Theodore was mortally wounded leading his Company:
A couple of days later, the following letter was written by Orren Benson -- a brother of Wallace Benson who also served with Theodore Griffing in Company H. The letter was written to family and friends at home in McHenry County. It was published in the October 18, 1862 issue of the Woodstock Sentinel.
The following letter was published in the Woodstock Sentinel on November 12, 1862 after the battle of Perryville which took place on October 8th. Private Wallace P. Benson, the author, was wounded when the 36th proceeded down Springfield Road in order to secure water. On November 26, 1862, the Woodstock Sentinel ran the following death notice:
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