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[1] Mary Ann Goodrich's description of the "Great War Meeting" closely matches that appearing in the July 21st edition of the Owego Gazette. It reads as follows:

"Notwithstanding the drenching rain yesterday, Owego presented quite a manly appearance. The great heart of the people is thoroughly aroused, and nothing seems to prevent the patriotic men of old Tioga from doing their duty. The parade of the Firemen and Zouaves and the exercises on the park were therefore prevented. Ah-wa-ga Hall was densely crowded, whilst the streets and the stores were thronged with people. The Meeting was addressed in the afternoon by Hon. A. S. Diven and Rev. T. K. Beecher of Elmira, Col. B. F. Tracy and Wm. Smyth, Esq, and Hon. R. H. S. Hyde, of Berkshire. In the evening speeches were made by Rev. T. K. Beecher, and Dr. Doane of Washington. The Owego Cornet Band, under the direction of D. Wallis Reeves, enlivened the occasion with its soul-stirring music, while Miss Kate Dean, the celebrated singer, sang several patriotic pieces. The meeting in the evening was also favored with a patriotic song by Mr. McCauley, of New York. A series of patriotic resolutions were offered by A. A. Beebe, Esq, of the Gazette, and unanimously adopted."

[2] Rev. Thomas Kinnicut Beecher from Elmira, New York.

[3] According to an article in the May 22, 1862 Owego Gazette, Miss Kate Dean first gave a concert at the Ah-wa-ga House in Owego, New York on May 24, 1862 where the tickets for her performance were sold for 25 cents. She gave a number of concerts to the Federal soldiers in camps around Washington D.C. during 1862, accompanied by Millie Graham. An article appearing in the Washington Sunday Morning Chronicle, in regard to her camp visits reads as follows:

"Miss Kate Dean, the eminent vocalist, who has done such great good among the soldiers composing the army of the Potomac, by singing to them patriotic and inspiriting songs, during last week visited quite a number of encampments in the vicinity of the capitol -- among others, the regiment at Fort Ellsworth, Captain A. Von Patkammer commanding, and that of Colonel Christian, located at Fort Lyon. The reputation of Miss Dean had preceded her, and officers and men of both regiments united in tendering her a most enthusiastic welcome. At the latter fort a substantial stage was erected in front of the Colonel's tent, and neatly carpeted; and when Miss Dean appeared, attired in a unique military costume -- the regiment having been previously brought into line -- the cheers that greeted her and her accomplished companion were almost deafening. She sang a number of songs, in each of which she was several times interrupted by the plaudits of the soldiers. The singing of the two popular pieces entitled, "The American Standard," and "We're Going on to Richmond," composed and set to music expressly for Miss Dean by Professor Bagiolio, fairly took the men by storm. It rendered them almost wild with joy, and they evinced their gratification in loud and prolonged cheers. The success of Miss Dean at Fort Ellsworth was equally gratifying. It is her intention, we learn, to pay a brief visit this week to her home State of New York, where she will give a series of concerts, and then return to Washington, to resume her visits among the soldiers. We predict for Miss Dean that success at home which has everywhere attended her in the capital and its vicinity. The soldiers, especially, will regret her absence, and hail her return with joy."

[4] “Wilkie Collins was born on 8 January 1824 and died on 23 September 1889. In those 65 years he wrote 25 novels, more than 50 short stories, at least 15 plays, and more than 100 non-fiction pieces. A close friend of Charles Dickens from their meeting in March 1851 until Dickens' death in 1870, Collins was one of the best known, best loved, and, for a time, best paid of Victorian fiction writers. But after his death, his reputation declined as Dickens's bloomed. Now, Collins is being given more critical and popular attention than he has for fifty years. Almost all his books are in print, he is studied widely, and new film and television versions of some of his books have been made. Nevertheless, there is still much to be discovered about this superstar of Victorian fiction.” For a Picture of Wilkie Collins, click here. Source: www.deadline.demon.co.uk/wilkie/wilkie.htm

If you would like to read "The Woman in White," click here.

An advertisement in Harper's Weekly
September 1, 1860

[5] The source of this information was probably the August 21, 1862 edition of the Owego Gazette. In that issue, under local news, it was reported that "Lieut. E. B. Gere, of Co. G, 5th N. Y. cavalry, who was wounded in the battle at Orange Court House, returned home on Saturday evening last. He reports John Thorn as prisoner, and John Quinn, dead, both of his company." According to the book, Our County & Its People, Tioga County, New York, page 583, Eugene Gere was shot through the left shoulder in a cavalry charge at Orange Court House in Virginia on August 2, 1862. After the war, Eugene married Emily A. Truman, daughter of Lyman Truman and Emily M. Goodrich, a second-cousin of Augusta Goodrich.

Gravestone of John ("Jack") Thorn
Tioga Cemetery, Owego NY

[double-click on image for enlargement]

[6] A letter by George Flanders, also of the 5th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, written from Barnesville, Kansas on February 10, 1862, states that, "Our cook at present is Jim Goodrich assisted by some times one and sometimes an other of the boys, the cooks are excused from guard duty." Barnesville, now extinct, was located north of Fort Scott in Bourbon County.