I have not yet determined the identity of this Philadelphia resident who signed her name “Sallie.” She wrote the letter, I think, to her friend, Beulah (Brown) Dudley (b. 1827), the daughter of Isaac Brown (b. 1787-Aft1870) and Sarah Lippincott of Burlington County, New Jersey. I thought initially that Sallie and Beulah were sisters but Sallie’s description of her father’s death in June 1862 does not square with census data, so I think they may have only been friends. Beulah married Enoch R. Dudley in 1858 which caused her to be disowned by the Society of Friends since the marriage was “out of unity.” Enoch Dudley’s parents were Thomas and Hannah Dudley, both of whom are mentioned in this letter. The Dudley’s were farmers in Burlington county, New Jersey.
Notwithstanding the author’s lack of identity, the letter still provides a great description of the excitement in the City of Philadelphia occasioned by the invasion of Lee’s army into Pennsylvania, the construction of fortifications near Harrisburg in response, and the calling out of the State Militia.
[Note: This letter is from the personal collection of Richard Weiner and is published by express consent.]
TRANSCRIPTION
Philadelphia [Pennsylvania]
6 Month, 18th, 1863
My Dear Beulah,
Thy welcome missive of remembrance dated June 5th reached me this morning in which I was glad to see you were all well and prospering. We, also, at the present time, are in good health, as usual.
My thoughts have gone back over the past several days recently, as it is a year since our father passed away to his immortal home and I have lived over the last week of his earthly existence, and in spirit renewed my watches by his dying and on this morn a twelve month ago, I closed his eyes and performed the last sad rites, that remained for me to do. And well I remember how sick I was after, and little did I think then that he, who was my stay, and comforter, would be so soon removed from me too.
I took Ellie last last second morning and went out to the cemetery to see where we laid him to rest and a sweet, lovely place it is. The birds were singing and the roses in full bloom, and everything so beautiful. I gathered a bunch of roses from the head of his & mother’s grave, and I pressed one for you, thinking it would find acceptance and I send it to you.
Our city was visited last evening by a terrible storm, commencing with a violent wind which did considerable damage to the trees, awnings, &c. and then the thunder and vivid lighting, which struck in several parts of the city, though I have not learned of any person being injured. It rained very hard & we had a succession of thunder showers all night long.
We have been living in a world of excitement since last second day on account of another visit from the Rebels. It was reported on that day that Gen. Lee was on the march for Pennsylvania with 90,000 troops and you may imagine what an excitement it produced. The governor issued a proclamation calling out the militia and the troops are now hastening to Harrisburg by hundreds. The New York 7th Regiment passed through this city last evening on their way. New Jersey has nobly responded to the call for help and New York is hastening to her aid with alacrity. The Rebs had got as far as Chambersburg—a small portion of them—and the people do not know exactly where they will next turn up. They have sent all the valuable state papers & effects from Harrisburg to a place of safety and all the city turned out to throw up fortifications for its defense, which are now completed.
Baltimore is on a sharp lookout for fear of a visit & is fully prepared to meet them. You cannot imagine what a state of excitement such news produces, but it is I suppose needless for me to write about it as you will hear all about it through the press.
On third day the Old State House bell rung out its tones calling the citizens together in Independence Square and it called not in vain, for there convened shortly an immense meeting of all classes who rushed together to see what could be done for the protection of the State Capitol. Oh it does the heart good to know the heart of the North is beating with such pure patriotism, that in an hour of danger like the present, so many brave sons are ready to rush to the rescue and protect from the Rebel hordes. Some of the responses to the governor’s call have been truly beautiful and stirred the depths of the heart in reading them. But the danger is not yet passed and when I next write, I may have something stirring to tell you.
Mary went to Trimble’s yesterday. Jane has gone up to Dr. Trimble’s and taken Gran, who is still quite an invalid. Armon has gone to Harrisburg & John is crazy to go too but his mother [Sarah (Davis) Trimble] will not consent to it. ¹
Emma and Hannah are coming home tomorrow and I expect there will be a great time of rejoicing there. I shall be glad too for they are nice company now. Sallie Bates was here when I got thy letter this morning. She sends her love and still promises to write soon. The letter before this I received last T day which contained the receipt of S. Dickson’s likeness. How soon the exchange was made. So great a distance in so short a time. The children I suppose, will soon have vacation. Tell them I know of nothing which would afford me more pleasure than to have them spend it with me. I was down to the Fair again last 6 day evening and saw Harvey and had quite a chat with him. He was asking all about all of you—particularly Mary—and wanted me to ask Mrs. Dudley for the likenesses of all the family from Thomas down, including thine. He asked me if Ned was still loyal and I told yes indeed, they all were &c. He seemed very glad. He knows everybody and everyone likes him and seemed to sell a good many flowers which were under his special care. Rachel Briggs wished to be remembered to thee & ask thee if thee had read John Bell Robinson‘s work on slavery which she was then doing & what thee thought of it.
Thee says my letters are all thee can depend on. Well, thought I, I have written so many uninteresting ones that I have sometimes thought of asking you the propriety of writing but once in two weeks because I often feel that what I send is not worth the postage which Thomas is so kind as to pay. How is dear old Hannah coming on? Thee says in thy last. She is calculating on staying two summers yet. Tell her that seems a long time to me. I think your new Alpaca dresses are beautiful. Alpaca is very fashionable here, but I have seen none like yours. Mary is all dressed up this afternoon in thy blue flannel gown and she thinks she looks very nice. I wish thee would send me a spray of Hawthorne blossoms. I should so love to receive it.
Sarah Dickson has just been here. All well there.
Write soon again. My love to all hands. Tell the children I shall expect a program of their school examination as the one they sent me before interested me much, and to write me a good long letter to make up for lost time.
Thine truly, Sallie
¹ Sarah A. (Davis) Trimble (1823-18xx) was the daughter of Armon Davis (1781-1857) and Anna Elizabeth [1783-1862], and the wife of Joseph Trimble (1815-1884). Joseph Trimble was a merchant and succeeded to his father’s business in Baltimore. In 1848 he relocated to Philadelphia and became a partner in the firm, Yarnall & Trimble, imparting merchants located at 147 S. Front Street. The family resided for a time in Camden, New Jersey. Their son, Armon Davis Trimble (1842-1915) is mentioned as having “gone to Harrisburg” with the militia.
Spared & Shared 21 