Letter Addressed to My Dear Hattie, Havana, Cuba

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Terms of access:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

Letter Addressed to My Dear Hattie, Havana, Cuba, 1864, July 27, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Summary

Extent:
.01 Linear Feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Letter Addressed to My Dear Hattie, Havana, Cuba, 1864, July 27, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Background

Scope and content:

6 page letter from Will to his wife Hattie dated 1864 July 27. He describes the perilous trip in their steamer boat to get to Cuba and the close call the ship had with a larger Spanish ship that seemed certain was trying to ram their bow. He describes Moro Castle and the buildings and landscape of Havana. He also describes at great length the wares of the ladies about town and the dressings adorned on the riders and horses who pull carriages. In one section of his letter, Will laments that because the first hotel they tried was full, he and his father were forced to board at a hotel filled with secesh men.