Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

September 2008

CINCINNATI, September 30, 1858.

DEAR LUCY: — I have just received Mother’s letter informing me of your safe arrival with the little ones at Columbus. I am very glad to hear it and much obliged to Mother for writing.

. . . . The political excitement here is very great. I have never seen such large meetings as we are now having. Processions and gatherings every night. Very lucky that it is so short a canvass. If it was a month I should want to run away. As it is I enjoy it vastly. Gurley will certainly beat Groesbeck and there is a fair chance for carrying everything else.

Lew Lee, our Republican “rounder” in the Fourteenth Ward, was blown up last night in consequence of the grossest carlessness. Anybody else would have died outright. He is the fellow who was shot all to pieces in ’56 and who a year ago was stabbed through the lungs, stomach, bowels, and throat and was on his feet in four weeks. He was in our office yesterday afternoon looking fresh and hearty. The papers say he will die but he won’t. He’ll be well in three weeks. I only judge by the past.

You are right popular. People ask for you constantly. I am sure you will have a pleasant visit. . . .

Sincerely — no, affectionately and lovingly, your

R.

September.—I read in a New York paper to-day that Hon. George Peabody, of England, presented Cyrus W. Field with a solid silver tea service of twelve pieces, which cost $4,000. The pieces bear likenesses of Mr Peabody and Mr Field, with the coat of arms of the Field family. The epergne is supported by a base representing the genius of America.

We had experiments in the philosophy class to-day and took electric shocks. Mr Chubbuck managed the battery which has two handles attached. Two of the girls each held one of these and we all took hold of hands making the circuit complete. After a while it jerked us almost to pieces and we asked Mr Chubbuck to turn it off. Dana Luther, one of the Academy boys, walked up from the Post-office with me this noon. He lives in Naples and is Florence Younglove’s cousin. We went to a ball game down on Pleasant Street after school. I got so far ahead of Anna coming home she called me her “distant relative.”