Abby Howland Woolsey to Eliza Woolsey Howland.
April 14, 1861.
What awful times we have fallen upon! The sound last night of the newsboys crying till after midnight with hoarse voice, “Bombardment of Fort Sumter,” was appalling. Cousin William Aspinwall was seen at a late hour going into the Brevoort House — no doubt to give what little comfort he could to Mrs. Anderson. This storm, which has been raging a day or two at the South, and has just reached us, has scattered the fleet sent to reinforce and provision Fort Sumter, and the vessels can neither rendezvous nor co-operate with Major Anderson who is there without food, without help, and without instructions. Is Providence against us too?
