Patricia Burdick

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May
29
Today Male and I
attended service at New Rochelle
and dined with the Lockwoods.
A very pleasant time indeed. The
little girls are very interesting.
Yesterday they visited
us on the island and we carried
them home in the Genl’s barge.
* * *
My trip to Albany was
quite pleasant.
* *
The number of heroic dead
increased by two – Lawrence +
Clark. I can hardly think of it.
The bloody bloody sacrifice.

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Harts Island N.Y.H.
March 25. 1864

Jimmie Commands a
squadron of cavalry in Tennesee [sic]
having been commissioned Captain
by Gov. Johnson [?].
I am sill A.A.G. of this
rendezvous.
When I go to the field no
one knows
U.S. Grant Lieut. Genl.

Henrickson is an Ensign on
board Frigate Savannah.

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Harts Island N.Y.H.
le dix neuf Mars mil
huit cent soixante quatre

J’ai beaucoup d’éscrit aujourd’hui,
et je suis très fatigué ce soir. Mon
ami le premier lieutenant Male
revient de la ville de New York
par le bateau á vapeur ce
soir avec beaucoup de baggatelles [sic]
pour mon bureau, chandeliers
crachoirs, et les numerós [sic] pour
les quartiers des officiers.
Avec mes amis le
Capitaine Silis, mon instructeur
en français, et le premier lieutenant
Chamberlain je me suis promenè
ce soir. Nous portons avec nous

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nos pistolets et nous essayons
d’atteindre la cible à la distance
de quinze pas. Seul j’ai réussi.
C’est assez
Au revoir.

Le vingt Mars mil
huit cent soixante trois
[quatre]
J’ai été à New Rochelle
aujourd’hui, et j’ai passé
le temps très agréablement.
Le premier lieutenant Male,
mon cher ami, m’accompaquait [?].
Le capitaine Nilis, mon autre

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ami, est allé à New York.
Le général aussi va à N.Y.
Le ciel est obscur. Nous
avons essayé d’aller à l’eglise;
mais nous n’avons pas réussi
en trouvent l’eglise avant
la fin du service. Nous
visitons un etablissement appelé
le Priory où les mademoiselles
étudient. Mais nous voyons les
mademoiselles seulement à le
fenêtre. Nous voyons le lac, le
pont rustique, le grosse pierre,
et la petite église.
Le Général Stanard arrive
à l’île ce soir par le bateau

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a vapeur “Burden”. Il y a un
chemin de fer passant près
de New Rochelle qui joint
les villes de New York et de
Boston.

Le vingt et un, mil
huit cent soixante quatre.

J’ai etè au bureau un
peu aujourd’hui. Quand j’ai
fini mon dejeuner je me
suis promené au bout de
l’île : parce que j’aime l’air du

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martin. C’est bon pour notre
santè. Je porte tousjours mon
pistolet avec moi pour tuer,
s’il est possible, des oisseaux,
les canards, qui sont sur
la vive près du rivage, et
dont [?] il y a une immense quantité
ici. Je pense que nous les trions
bientôt, quand nous aurons les
fusils.

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Le vingt quatre, mil huit
cent soixante quatre

Ce soir avec le premier
lieutenant Male je suis allé
pour tuer les canards. Nous
portions trois fusils et une
grande quantité de munition.
Il y a une bonne quantité
d’oisseaux et nous avons en
beaucoup d’occasions de teur.
Mais nous me reussûmes [?] pas. Pourquoi
pas? Je ne sais pas. C’est obscur,
et inconnu.
J’ai commencé a lire un

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livre magnifique que l’on appelle
“Le vie de Patrick Henry par Wist.”
Je l’aime. C’est tres interessante.
J’ecrit, ce soir, une lettre à
mon ami M. Boothby de le
ville de Biddeford.

29
Yesterday with Male
I rode in the barge to New R.
and then we hired a team, to
go to Westchester. To see our
kind friends the Brownses.
Noyes suddenly appeared
Coming home got lost on the

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road, dogs barked furiously
lost whip in efforts to chastise
them, stopped carriage to hunt
for it, couldn’t find it, kind
hearted woman came out to
help me, light extinguished
twice, and the second time
poor woman fell + broke
chimney to the lamp, and
then she ran off up the
road to the “neighbors” and
borrowed a lantern, and
then we found the whip, +
I thanked the woman, and
asked the name of this kind
woman, + she replied

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Mrs. Devine + I replied
Certainly not human + surely
a sister to Florence Nightingale.

I am going to buy her a
lamp + send it to her. God
bless her.

Still reading “Martin Chez”
+ believe Tom Pinch the best
fellow ever put in print.

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11,,
Returned from N.Y. this morning
with Chamberlain. Heard Chaplain
last evening and advised the
vigor of his discourse.
“Du hast diamantes [?]

Capt. Crosby’s report
merits a place in the annals
of R.J. It is as good as
“Doesticks.”
Thackery is dead; but
Dickens remains.
“Antonio” explained to
me the merits of the Schleswig et
Holstein question while shaving

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this morning.
“Orderly, orderly, go up stairs +
see what’s the matter down here”
Good thing for Le Grand Benedict.
Webster’s d.b. on the monument
is not bad + the Conundrum either.

13,,
Capt. Sili’s [?] a native of
Belgium near Mons visits me
this evening + we talk French
together.
Read to him also.

Study considerable during the
day.

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[Two pages cut out]

Mephistopheles was splendidly sung
and acted. But the best voice was
Valentine’s. Miss Kellogg pleased
me more than ever. The scene
at the window was received
with applause. The choruses
were ever applauded. And the
return of the soldiers especially.
Its remarkable appropriateness
was the reason. On that day
the 2nd fire [?] Lovares [?] had been
welcomed home to the city.
My kids, “c’est opera”
and myself occupied No. 337
in the parquette [?] at the Academy.

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Purchased some French books which
Capt Silis says are good. Also
one of Jeremy Taylor’s compilations,
that is readable.
My Gen. order for ’63 are complete
and Raby [?] has taken them to
be bound.
Capt. Prescott gives me his
orders of ’61 and I hope to
succeed in obtaining the majority
of ’62.
Have heard nothing from
Jimmie yet. What does it mean?

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January 1864
7

Letter from Gen. Slocum today –
also L. At N.Y. yesterday –
Benedict has “gone to grief,” because
the 145th is consolidated + the officers
are mustered out.
* * *
Recruits are coming in rapidly,
the bounties to be given until March,
and there will probably be no draft.
The stringent character of the new
bill will also stimulate volunteering.

* * *

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30,,

Letters from Gen. Roger, Jimmie,
Chums, + L.
Another interesting case for
Lord Lyons, Sir Archibald + Will
Seward. A British Subject!!!
Un conversation avec le
General ce soir de les traites
de Madame Benedict et sa
consort.
What a world.

Letters to Jimmie + Genl. Roger.

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29
Some more presents and
some more French today.
Lieut. Chamberlain gave
me a beautiful place holder +
paper cutter, a sly poke at my
wonderfully studious manners, I suppose.
Also a beautiful knife. Mean to have
it marked + L’s, too.
Took a affidavit in French
today. What will Genl. Dix say?
Clothing Invoices from 4th. N.Y.C.
arrived today, 16¢ due. O.K.

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27th.
Funny Sabbath—unnatural +
unpleasant. This Evening Chamberlain
sits in my tent + I talk to him
about “my chum”, read bits of
his finest letters, play to him on
the Piano, + hear the young Rebels
story. The drummers however must
stop in the guard house tonight.
The Sergt. is right.

28th.
Sergt. Armstrong sends me
present of “Speers” + fine letter.
Received Excellent testimonial
from the Adjutant General or

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Attorney General of State of Maine,
through Col. D.
Father sends my term
bills + I write L. for the stray
one.
Binomial Theorems, the 4
forms + Problem of the Sights.
* * *
Madame Lemoine another
French lad helps me read
from “Literature d’Enfance,”
while I advise her how to
get her son released the Service. [sic]

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25 Christmas
Great time here yesterday. The
domestics were little out of order +
Mike has evidently very narrow
views about [carrot: the] marital relation. Mary’s
Irish trait was laughable. One
moment she was begging me to
put her husband on the horse +
punish him—yes draw + quarter him,
the next she was pleading with me
not to put him in the guard house.
When I interfere with man + wife
again_then_____.

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24
A “barbarous” present of a
sword + belt. + field glass and
gloves.
Christmas Eve.

Leters from father + Mr. Sc.H.B. [?]
Interesting time reading
European history, especially the
career of Napolean [sic]. Today looked
over Constitution + reviewed “4 forms.” [?]
Mustworkhardtomorrow [sic].

Capt. P left today + family.

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10th.

Received Roget’s wedding
cards + started in barge for
Harlem at 10.30 a.m. Arrived
at the church in season to
hear some excellent music before
the happy couple arrived entered.
Brides maids + grooms appeared
to be very happy.
Rodgers looked splendid
+ the whole affair was conducted
according to the most approved
focus of the 5th. Avenue. Suppose [?]
The pews on either side of
the middle aisle up which
the couple passed were crowded

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with very good [carrot: looking] representatives of
the fair sex. I got a fine seat in
the corner of the church, and
from behind one of the columns
I looked with safety at them
all. Although I was without the
white kids + immaculate linen
in which all the gentlemen flourished
still I don’t believe one of them
wished for the bride a happy future
more sincerely than I. Because
I knew Rodgers.
In a few days I shall try
to write him a note of good
wishes for himself + bride.

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Last Evening went to see pictures
at “The Artist Aids fund society.”
Liked Rosa Bonheim’s picture. Centre
figure of horse, especially his head,
very natural. How his eye glares as
he struggles with the bit. Light + shade
beautifully + strikingly shown in the
execution of one of the pair of horses
on the right. How natural the attitudes
of the two men to the left fixing the
bridle! A glorious triumph [carrot: of Art] evident
even to me.
“Open your eyes + shut your mouth.”
is very good.

________,,_________

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The owl has been very active
today.
12th.

Have been very busy today.
Letter from chum [?] on little bits of
paper. Exercised some. No time
to study. Must work tonight. Whether
I succeed in passing the Ordnance Board
or not I am determined to keep up
the Study of Mathematics. It is the true
kind of mental discipline that we
get from such studies. A good
mathematician ought not to have
weak thoughts on any subject.
Played two games of
chess with Lieut. Col. Perkins tonight.

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Splendid picture from L.
Chaplain of the 2nd. N.Y.C.
_____,,_____

17th.

Very stormy day indeed.
“Nelson bearing down with the whole
fleet could not see with his blind
eye the Admiral’s order to retire
but passed forward + won the victory.”

“Dr ____ first thought the
musical instrument has three instead
of four strings; but a subsequent and
fuller examination of the subject
showed that he was mistaken.”

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Gen. Stanard [?] called on us today.
All our names appeared in the Tribune
this morning.

20th.

Mr. Huggins of the Christian
Commission visits us today to scatter
his good tracks + pleasant words
among the men.
Mr. Brown is very grateful
because I let his boy go home
until transportation has been
furnished.
P.M. initiates me into
the particulars of another swindling

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operation.
“Van” makes me a present
of “Norma” + Rigoletto”.

Lt. W. H. Male gives me
a copy of Rhodes Air.

Send orderly to purchase a
book on European History + he brings
me [carrot: back] Chilos history of England telling
the story of Alfred’s letting the
cakes burn + of Robin Hood.

Armstrong’s dumb bells
are excellent to keep up
ones constitutional.

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The English veteran has returned
having been entirely successful
bringing both money + papers.

23
Last night listened to an
address from Wendall Philips [sic]
at the Cooper Institute. It was
very interesting to me, being the
first time that I ever heard
him. His opening + closing
sentences were the best. He
is decidedly the best orator
I have ever heard.
When quoting “John
Brown’s remark to Theodore

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Parker, an old grey haired man
at my left cried “yes + thank God
for it, too!”
The audience hissed when
he basted [?] the chief Justices so; but
W. P. was quite undisturbed.
I had read the address
before hearing it spoken + so was
prepared for those striking passages
where [carrot: he] says “Chattanoga + 200 pound
Parrot [?] Shell thrown 5 miles gave
sound sleep to the occupant at the
White House” + “Ward Beecher
by his matchless Eloquence has
melted the great heart of the
English people + welded it to
our side.”

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It remains to be seen whether his
criticism of Secy. Chase’s fin cial
system is just. And in his
examination of the “recreant”
Secretary’s Anti Slavery record
calling his principle “base metal”
unable to stand the test, eve
Horace thought him altogether, too,
severe.
In short it seemed to me
no one of the public men whose
names had been mentioned during
his discourse had by their acts
won his esteem so much as John
Brown.
Surely his thoughts on the
subject of reconstruction were very

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interesting. The debt of the South! Why
may it not be a proper subject of
alarm to our Government? It
certainly is no plain + straight
way in which the nation must
go even after its regeneration, its
resurication [?]. It is intricate +
beset with enormous difficulties.
And it will require all the
wisdom + patriotism + fidelity
of our best men to carry
the country through the trying
period [carrot: of reaction] which invariably follows
war.
But H.G. was sounder
in the views he expressed, and
certainly they were more in

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keeping with the views of the Audience.
Then the call for three cheers
for the President more clearly
developed the spirit + tone of
the assembly.
I shall long remember
this meeting at the Cooper
Institute.
Stopped at Lovejoys
after eating oysters + keeping
eyes open for a while.
What a world + what a city!

Sent Les Satchez to some one [sic].