Letter from Bernard Hooe to Susan L. Hardin and John H. Hardin, 1865

Scope and content:

Written from Elizabeth, New Jersey. Letter laments separation of families caused by War and references Mark B. Hardin's situation as a prisoner of war.

Language:

English.

Biographical / historical:

The Hooe family was kin to the Hardins through the marriage of Lauriston B. Hardin to his first wife, Anna M. H. Hooe. She was Mark B. Hardin's mother. After Lauriston's (second) marriage to Augusta Lane Hardin, the children of that marriage, Susan L. Hardin and John H. Hardin, adopted the Hooes as their "Grandparents." In this letter, Susan's "Grandfather," Bernard Hooe (1791-1869), is writing for the first time after mail communications were established.

Other descriptive data:

To Susan L. Hardin

My dear children

The struggle in which all the energies of our dear people have been most zealously and patriotically enlisted may be regarded as now ended, and I avail myself of the earliest opportunity to begin a correspondence with you which would never have been delayed or suspended but for the distracted state of the country, necessarily interrupting all our social relations & friendly intercourse.

Since we had the happiness of seeing each other, sad changes have occurred in our respective families and gloom, amounting almost to despondency, has supervened as resulting from the desolation of our own firesides.

Within one year after the commencement of the late conflict in which your brother and my youngest son felt impelled to hazard all, in vindication of their inalienable rights, in addition to the sore privation of their society and intercourses, I have been subjected to the deepest affliction in the loss of your dear and devoted Grand-ma, as you were always pleased to call her, of whose presence and good counsel I was deprived on the 14th July 1862, since which time the world has, to me, appeared a desert, offering little inducement to a man of nearly seventy five years, to desire longer to witness its' constant fluctuations and instability.

And I regret to have learned that it has fallen also to your lot to have experienced a similar affliction in the loss of your Grandfather Lane, on which event I beg to assure you that you and your excellent Grandmother have my cordial sympathy and condolence.

You will desire to receive some information in regard to your brother, Mark Bernard, which, at this instance, I hasten to communicate, to relieve your anxiety in rogation to him. In the last battle of the army about Richmond, he was captured with a large number of Confederate officers and men attached to the command of Genl. Ewell, and they arrived in Washington City D.C. in the afternoon of that day on which the assassination of the late President, A. Lincoln took place, and but a few hours before that tragic event. The Prisoners, thus captured, were detained in the old Capitol Prison until 4o'c. in the afternoon of Monday the 16th of April, whereby an opportunity was afforded to many of his friends to see him.

Mrs. Johnston, his aunt, Doct. Johnston, his uncle Bernard and I were among those who enjoyed that privilege, and were gratified by a brief interview with him; and profited by the opportunity of furnishing such article of necessary clothing as he was then enabled to take with him and a small sum of money to supply such wants as were not likely to be gratified by the liberality of the United States' Government. After our hurried interview, the Prisoners were conducted to the cars, and were carried to Johnson's Island, (Sandusky, Ohio) where they arrived in about 48 hours, and were as comfortable situated as was consistent with their condition, deprived of their accustomed liberty.

In a few days after his arrival at that place, he wrote to me and gave the information above communicated to you; and has corresponded pretty regularly with his aunts Mrs. Johnston in Washington, and Mrs. Fowle & myself here.

His aunts have promptly supplied him with such articles of clothing as he has desired, the list of which was furnished by himself; and by a letter written by him on the 25th day of May, inst., and received by me on Monday last 29th May, the receipt of those articles is acknowledged by him, so that, as far as clothing may be necessary for his comfort, he has been abundantly supplied, according to his own declaration. A further sum of money has been also sent to him in pursuance of the privilege obtained from the authorities at Johnson's Island, and, as long as he may be detained there, every necessary attention will be given to secure his comfort.

Both his aunts and I have written to him, offering him all the consolation in our power, and we have made an earnest appeal to him to avail himself of the earliest opportunity which may be presented, and take the requisite oath of allegiance to the Federal Government, (there being none other now organized or recognized) and come again, and without longer delay, to his friends and relations. This we earnestly hope he will do, and thus place himself in a position to begin life anew, and establish himself in such position as cannot fail to ensure him success and prosperity.

Your uncle Philip B. Hooe was on the same battlefield on which it was your brother's misfortune to be captured, and in which too Genl. Corse, to whose staff Philip belonged, became also a Prisoner; but by sudden movement as Genl. Corse informs me by letter from Fort Warren, Philip was at the head of the column which escaped the fate of his comrades. I recd. from him yesterday a letter written at Lynchburg, Va. on the 25th of May, informing us that he expects to be in Richmond about this time, and hopes to be with his family in a few days. He was probably a paroled Prisoner embraced in Genl. Lee's surrender, and may thus be enabled to come home at once.

We will continue to look with ceaseless anxiety for the safe and speedy return of both our dear boys, of whose honorable deportment their friends here all feel most proud.

All the members of my family both here and in Washington are well and unite in kind regards for your dear Grandmother, Mrs. Lane, and in affectionate remembrance of you both. I sent your brother's address, which, if you wish, may enable you to write to him, if the mail communication between your residence and Sandusky, Ohio, (Johnson's Island) shall be open.

Subjects:

United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Home life
United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Prisoners and prisons
Correspondence

Names:

Hardin, Mark B. (Mark Bernard), 1838-1916

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