These letters were written by 15 year-old Mary McClay (1847-1865), the daughter of Aaron K. McClay and his wife Margaret of Philadelphia. She wrote the letters to her brother, Alfred McClay of Co. E, 114th Pennsylvania Zouaves. One letter was written prior to the Battle of Fredericksburg and one after. Alfred received a gunshot wound in the right thorax during the battle and died on January 24, 1863.
It appears that Mary’s father, Aaron K. McClay—a journeyman house carpenter in Philadelphia, died in November 1848. Mrs. Margaret McClay, the janitress of the parish school of the Church of the Epiphany, was named in the Philadelphia Inquirer on 24 July 1858 as having survived a fire on the second floor of the school where she lived. Orphans’ Court Legal notices were posted in the newspapers in January 1850.
In the 1850 US Census, Alfred was enumerated in the household of John and Emily Ryner of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania—Emily being his aunt and adoptive mother. In the 1860 US Census, Mary is enumerated in the household of her Uncle, blacksmith Joseph Davis Wood (1811-1899) in Ward 29, Philadelphia. A History of Montgomery County states that Joseph married “Margaret Clay.”
Mary’s obituary notice was published in the Philadelphia Inquirer on 27 July 1865. It read: “McCLAY, — On the 26th inst. MARY, daughter of the late Aaron and Margaret McClay, in the 18th year of her age. The relatives and friend of the family are respectfully invited to attend the funeral from the residence of her Uncle Jos. D. Wood, No. 12__ Marvin Street, below Thompson, on Saturday afternoon the 29th inst. at 1½ o’clock. to proceed to Roxboro Baptist Cemetery.”
TRANSCRIPTION LETTER ONE
Philadelphia [Pennsylvania]
November 30th 1862
Dearest Brother,
I now take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know that I received your letter on Thanksgiving day. I had been anxiously waiting to get a letter from you. I was afraid that you would not receive my letter. I wrote on the 9th and I thought you would get it that week but you did not get it till the 20th.
I asked Mrs. E. Edwards whether she answered your last letter and she said she answered it before I did mine. Mother told me she would [send] The Chronicle to you to read and when you write again, let us know whether you receive it or not. She received your letter and Theodore [Wood] received your letter the same day, She sends her love to you.
I suppose you have heard that John [Wood] was married [to Emma Jones]. Emma and John are spending the afternoon with us. Last Sunday night Mr. [William S.] Hall preached the funeral sermon of W[illiam] H. Bird, E[phraim] Layman, and C[harles] P. Granger. I guess you recollect C. P. Granger, do you not? He belonged to Baxter’s Fire Zouaves. E[dward] M. McDonald is a little better today. The doctor has forbidden him to go up or downstairs for fear he might die. Tonight Mr. Hall is going to improve the life and death of Gen. F. E. Patterson.
Dear Brother, we have Singing School at our church. Mr. Neel is teacher. I belong to it. We have it every Monday night. He is a splendid teacher. I often wish you could be there with us. Harry Hallman has been very sick at Fifth and Buttonwood St. Hospital. The folks all send their love to you. This is all at present. Goodbye. Receive my best love and kindest regards.
From your ever loving sister, — Mary McCloy
Several of the young ladies send their love to you.
I will send you some writing paper.
Dear Brother, I have some more news to tell you. I went over to Mattie’s [Martha E. Hackett] a little while and while there, two ladies came there and they were talking about soldiers and said there was a young man wrote to her and was telling about Joseph Emely [Co. D, 114th Penn.] and then about Mattie’s brother [Horatio]. He is in the 81st Reg. encamped near Fredericksburg and Mattie wrote a letter to her brother and spoke about me and Mattie told me to tell you if you had time to try and see Horatio B. Hackett. ¹ He is a drummer boy in the 81st [Pennsylvania] Regiment and tell him you are acquainted with Mattie. She is well and sends her love to you.
¹ Horatio Balch Hackett (1844-1905) “attended public schools in Philadelphia, entered two apprenticeships, and enlisted after his father died as a drummer at 17, in Co. B, 81st Regt., PVI (“The Fighting Chippewahs”), July 25, 1861. He was promoted to 1st Lt. by muster-out, June 29, 1865, having served heroically, and received the nick-name “Rash Hackett, the Little Drummer Boy.” After the war, he returned to Philadelphia and served positions as a brakeman and fireman for the Philadelphia and Reading RR; letter carrier for the Post Office; a night inspector at the customs house; clerk and register of wills; state appraiser; and magistrate, 1887, 1892, and 1898. His wife was Jane P. Lukens. Senator Hackett died in office, July 12, 1905; an impressive memorial delivered in the Senate, chiefly from his neighbor and replacement, Vivian Frank Gable.”
TRANSCRIPTION LETTER TWO
Philadelphia [Pennsylvania]
December 25, 1862
Dearest Brother,
I now take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to let you know that we are all well and wish the few lines would find you the same but how hard to think it is not so. Dear brother, I feel very sorry that you were wounded but I hope you will soon be well again and be brought on to the city so that I could see your bright face once more.
What a dull Christmas it has been to me today—especially not seeing you here. Every Christmas before you [have] been home. Dear brother, I am looking forward to the day when you will be able to be brought home.
I suppose you heard of Mr. [William S.] Hall ¹ being sick. He is getting better. Last Sunday week Edward McDonald ² was brought to the church to be seen by the members and congregation for the last time. He has gone to be with Jesus and dwell with Him forever and ever, to meet those who have gone before him. I went over to [Rev.] Hall’s last evening and told Mr. Hall about your being wounded bad and he said if he was able, he would come on to see you and have you brought home. Mr. Hall and Mother are doing all they can in case you are brought on to have you taken to 6th and Master Street Hospital.
Fannie Leonard is coming to town soon to come on to Washington to her two sisters and Aunt Emily will come on with her and then she will have a place to go at night. She will come as soon as Fannie comes down. I guess that will be soon.
Mr. Hall is going to try to get a permit from Dr. [Paul Beck] Goddard to have taken to 6th & Master [Hospital] when you are brought on. Dear brother, I don’t know whether you received my last letter I wrote to you or not. I wrote it before the battle [of Fredericksburg] came off and Mother sent you a paper at the same time. It was the Christian Chronicle she sent you.
This is all at present. From your loving sister, — Mary
And if we never meet again on earth, may we meet each other in Heaven and meet loved ones there who have gone before us. Goodbye for awhile. — M. McClay
N. B. Please excuse all bad writing and spelling. Receive Mattie’s best love and my best love.
¹ Rev. William S. Hall (1809-1867) was the pastor of the North Baptist Church in 8th Street above Master Street in Philadelphia. The following year, Rev. Hall would have to give the funeral sermon for his own 28 year-old son, John F. Hall (1835-1863). He was mortally wounded at Gettysburg while serving in Co. B, 68th Pennsylvania Volunteers. Rev. Hall’s residence was on 1502 Franklin Street in Philadelphia. He was a widower—his wife, Massie Ann Rose, died in 1842.
² Edward (“Eddie”) W. McDonald was discharged 6 September 1862 on disability from Co. E, 72nd Pennsylvania, otherwise known as “Baxter’s Philadelphia Fire Zouaves.” He died on 13 December 1862.
Spared & Shared 21 