In this second installment of Mary H. Huckins Munro's July 7th, 1864 letter to her husband Bendent Baird Munro, she describes her departure from Lansing by stage and arriving at her family home in Eaton Rapids. There, she is reunited with her sisters Martha and Eliza along with her brother David who is on furlough from the war. The original spelling and grammar have been retained. To Lansing from their to the Rappids. Supper & logeing and stage 2+ quaters. I sarted very early with out any breakfast. Arived at Eaton Rapids all safe except an afful head ache. I left my things at the hotel & went to Mary Hamblins and went to bed & was not able to set up any more til three. I went back to the hotel. Mother went to Powerses grocery and told them. They sent to Lusetts Marky & Eliza were their & Marky came down post hast for me. Martha was their & you can not gess how else? Wel it was David. He is home on a furlo of sixty days very and is very low. You would hardly know him. He has been sick ever since he has ben their. He has sent for the Docter last night. He said he thought he could help him but I am rather fearful. The lord knows best. E had 3 letters from Den yesterday. He is well but sais he is so poor we hardly know him. He is in Mississippi. Martha went home this morning. She was about sick or was real sick but was better. I feel some better. E is pretty poorly. If you want a shirt to ware their is wone in the midle drawer if you do not have a clean wone. NOTES *"I left my things at the hotel & went to Mary Hamblins and went to bed & was not able to set up any more til three. Mother went to Powerses grocery and told them." An 1860 map of Eaton Rapids lists a "A. Hamlin" under "Groceries and Provisions" along with "M.J. and D.H. Powers" as "Carriage Makers". *"Martha was their...". According to 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Martha Huckins (1837-1912) was Mary's sister. (North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952) *"Wel it was David. He is home on a furlo..." David Huckins, Mary's brother, served as a private in the 6th Regiment, Michigan Heavy Artillery, Company H. He enlisted in July of 1863. He died on August 3, 1865, three months after his sister Mary's death, and was buried at the Jefferson Barracks in Lemay, Missouri (U.S., Civil War Draft Registrations Records, 1863-1865, U.S., National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962). *"E had three letters from Den yesterday." "E" refers to Mary's sister, Eliza (1834-1867), who married Dennis (Den) Ford of Eaton Rapids. Ford served as a private in the 6th Regiment, Michigan Heavy Artillery, Company G. He died on December 3, 1864, and is interred at the national cemetery in Mobile, Alabama (North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, National Cemetery Control Forms, 1928-1962). *"He is in Mississippi." The 6th Regiment was on duty at Vicksburg, Mississippi from late June 1864 until July 23rd. *If you want a shirt to ware..." In the original letter, this sentence is boxed-off in the left margin.
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Mary H. Huckins Munro had little less than a year to live when she wrote to her husband Bendent Baird Munro in the last years of the Civil War. In this first installment, her letter, originating from Eaton Rapids, Michigan, gives us glimpse into the world of the 19th century train traveler but also the timelessness care between spouses. Mary's original spelling and grammar have been retained.
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John A. StempienJohn A. Stempien maintains the blog and website, Family Munro and is the co-editor of The Liberty Hyde Bailey Gardener's Companion. He lives in west Michigan with his family. Archives
June 2024
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