Lucy Curtiss, Warren, Conn., April 4, 1865

Lucy Curtiss, Warren, Conn., April 4, 1865

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Appomattox Campaign (1865)

Copperhead movement

United States. Army. Connecticut Artillery Regiment, 2nd (1863-1865)

Lucy writes to her brother Homer about the fall of Richmond, her visit to a neighbor with Copperhead sympathies, and mail delivery in town.

1865-04-04

Warren Conn, Tuesday Eve
April 4th, 1865

Dear Homer -
I am all of a glow to-
night for “Richmond is ours”
it seems as though the work must
be nearly done now - but in the
midst of our exultation over
the “glorious victory”, we cannot forget
that many brave boys have fallen
in the struggle - + we do not yet
know but that our friends are
among the number, your letter
(No. 36) came tonight announcing your
safety up to Thursday Eve - We were at
Mr. L. Taylors when the mail came in -
+ after I heard the news I expressed
my approbation of the state of
affairs pretty freely before I
recollected that the family was quite
quite coppery in its proclivities.

[Page 2]
I did not wish to irritate them in
their own house + should have held
my peace if I had thought in time
but it is too late to mend the matter
now + I was so glad - We have
received letters from you quite fre-
quently of late - but among them
all there has been no “No. 33” - There
has not seemed to be any break in
the story -+ I can hardly think any
link has been lost - but certainly
we have had no No. 33 - Three seems
to be an unlucky number with us.
Perhaps it will be as well to omit it.
I reckon you did this time - Didn’t
you? Letters are considered public prop-
erty now + I usually read those parts of
yours which I think will be most
interesting to them to a select company
behind the counter at the P.O. Mr Swift
is always eager to “know it all” - Last night
I went in when he was trying to put
up the mail - he was so excited over

[Page 3]
the good news, that he made
but slow progress, would stand
with a paper in his hand + look
at all the boxes over + and over again in
search of the right one - finally he
gave up + said he did not know where
the boxes were _ but it was no matter
as he had got the Dailies up all
right - Misses Taylor brought the mail
+ he was about as bad off as Orlando,
I laughed to see them fly round -
After such a scene you can imagine
how chilly I felt when I walked back
to Mr. Taylors to tell the good tidings,
to see their solemn or indifferent
looks, I don’t see how any one can
help being glad of such success -
We could hear quite a war like roar of
cannons last night but whether
it was in honor of State or National
Victories, couldn’t say - Possibly they
would economise powder + kill
the two birds with one shot--

[Page 4]
Wednesday a.m.
Mother is having quite a wood piling
mania of late, has got the wood
room pretty well filled, by much
hard work - She has kept at the
business so steadily that it has
become a standing joke(?) with
Fannie + I to say when Mother is
inquired for that she is out
piling wood - She has been at it
this morning till she is very tired
+ cannot write - We cannot manage
her at all - She is “dreadfully set in her way”
Last week we had a letter from Myra.
She wrote but a few words, said leg
was no better - + sent Charlie +
Winnies picture carte. As a work
of art it is like all western pictures
I have ever seen, a miserable failure
but the children are nice - Charlie
is as handsome as - well for the
prettiest of our family - His features
are delicate as girls. Winnie looks
just like Kit - Cy says the boys
have frequent battles in which Winnie
invariably comes out conqueror +
I should judge he would by
his looks - If you would like to
see them we will send them
to you - Charrie cannot look
at them without laughing till
she is decidedly red in the face
My pen is awful - You know I
can write better sometimes - Lucy

ALS