Letter To Brother David from Rufus

Full Title

Letter To Brother David from Rufus

Description

A personal letter, recounting the illumination of the city the night before the assassination of Lincoln. The letter goes on to detail that the author heard that “President Lincoln, Seward, Capt Robert Lincoln, and Secretary Seward’s son were all murdered last night”. The author states they can “hardly believe it but still it may be so”.

Transcription

Martinsburg Va

Apr 14th 1865
Brother David
I received your leter [letter] last night and was going to answer it but had to go to town on a grand review
I tell you you ought to have sean [seen] us
we went through all of the principal streets of the town.
the was a grand illumination last night
the whole force was out on review.
first came our Regt [Regiment] then the first Vet. [Veteran] Md. Infantry then a batery of 32 lb parot [Parrott] guns.
then a brigade of cavalry.
it all passed of in good order
after the perade [parade] was over we went to camp
left our arms and went back to town to have a good time with the rest
I went to call on an aquaintance [acquaintance] of mine.
found him at home and his niece was there
his wife wanted him to go out on the street to the speakers stand with her and the house was all of a blaze with spermacitie candles
so it was not proper to leave it alone.
so you see that someone must be be left in charge and after a while I was prevailed on to stay with the niece and keep everything strate [straight] and in place.
wel by the way the lady was young and hansom [handsome]
her name is Ann Snyder.
she is nineteen years of age and can and does help her mother do the housework
she can get as good meal of victuals as any of our New England girls and can play Yankey doodle Star Spangled baner Hail Columbia and any other tune to perfection.
Apr 15th we herd [heard] this morning that President Lincoln Seward Capt Robert Lincoln and Secretary Sewards son was all murdered last night
we dont [don't] hardly believe it but still it may be so.
we shall hear for sertin [certain] this afternoon.
well now about the cymbols we dont want any
Anderson the man that wanted them herd that a n----r had som that he stowl [stole] from a rebel band so he went to see them and bought them for five dolars [dollars]
they ar [are] the best ones I ever saw
they are 14 inch and cost not less than fifty dolars.
wel [well] cant [can't] think of anything more so I will close
write soon
from your Brother
Rufus Merryan

[Transcription by: Mary Cotterman]

Source

Tucker Collection care of Museum of the Grand Prairie

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution to the Museum of the Grand Prairie, Champaign County Forest Preserve District. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast, or commercial use requires written permission. For permission please contact Museum of the Grand Prairie, Champaign County Forest Preserve District.

Tags

• transcribed

• army: Union

• man

• soldier: Union

• assassination details

• assassination night

• first reaction

• rumor

Cite this Item

Rufus Merryan. "Letter To Brother David from Rufus". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed December 3, 2024. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/436

Item Type

Letter

Creator

Rufus Merryan

Date

April 15, 1865

Region

Border states