I had rather a tedious journey & do not think I shall ever travel the road again alone, with a baby

Joseph Culver Letter, August 28, 1863, Page 1Carlisle Penna. Aug 28th 1863

My Dear Husband

I reached this place safely & in health yesterday afternoon. I had rather a tedious journey & do not think I shall ever travel the road again alone, with a baby. I could tell you of a host of troubles, I had on the way which do to laugh over now, but I think would occupy too much time & space to enumerate Suffice it to say I had to change cars five times, & get my baggage checked as many, & wish one exception the only attention or politeness I received from a man was from a black one – long may he live – who got up and offered me his narrow front seat rather than see me stand up with a baby in my arms, while his white brethren comfortably kept their seats, I sat down and cried, I could not help it, I believe they thought I was a bad woman or they would not have treated me so. – –

I found no one at the Depot who knew me so sent a boy with my card to the house, & Hanna & Charlie came right down after me. I had written them when I would come but they have never received the letter. Mrs Zug was at the Depot when the Cars came but there was so great a crowd did not see me or if she did, failed to recognize me. I was very kindly received by the whole family, & I think I shall love them very much & enjoy my visit exceedingly. Mother is well & Father is better than he has been for some time. Mrs. Zug was visiting her friends in Carlisle and staid here last night. Her husband came after her today. I like them very much. Harry & Jennie ware up last night, they have gone to house keeping in town. They expected to have gone to Philadelphia today to attend the funeral of his brother, who died at Vicksburg. He was married in June an hour before he left for the Army. They received notice that his body hand not come & will not go till it does. You will be surprised to learn that in next November Jennie “Wins a silk dress.” Her twins were born the 24 of October, instead of September as we always thought. Wes. spent last evening with us, & his wife and children this afternoon. They seem very kind. I do not think he looks much like you but Charley does. I would have known him anywhere. Charley commenced going to school this week He entered the Freshman Class in College & is very busy with his books. Hanna is very busy with her household affairs but always has time to run up to inquire if she can do any thing for me. I occupy the room over the sitting room I believe I am turned around for I cannot tell whether it is East or West. Did you occupy this one too. It over looks your mountain anyhow & I take great pleasure in looking on it. It is much longer & not so high as I expected to see. I think Cumberland valley very beautiful judging from what I saw while riding on the Cars so different from the monotonous scenery of our Prarie State Fruit they tell me is not very plenty here this fall Father is having some cider made of apples while blew off during a hard storm last friday It is very nice Your Oleander sits in the yard & is thinning I am sorry not to see it in blossom It must be beautiful There were two letters awaiting me here when I arrived one written the 9th & the other the 20th I was so glad for them they seemed like a sort of an introduction Oh Frank you do not know how my heart failed me on my way to Carlisle particularly after I left Harrisburg when I was so near my journeys end It is well no [?] were offered for turning back In former letters I told you of the reason Mother did not come with me Se was to start home the day after I left Utica Frankie is not very well He took cold on the way & two new teeth are coming through which accounts for it I ment to have written you last night but was so very tired went to bed as soon as visitors left

My arms are swollen from the elbow up to the shoulder in the inside lifting and carrying Frankie so much I could not do much with him in the cars he would be crawling & bumping around on the floor & against the seats. But I must close. May [Home?] bless thee.

Ever Your Wife
M M Culver

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