[JULY 1863 CIVIL WAR HOME FRONT LETTER NEWARK NEW JERSEY CONFEDERATE RAID ON WASHINGTON, BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG; JULY 4th LETTER; WOMEN’S STUDIES] HANDWRITTEN LETTER/ALS DATED FAIRLAWN [NJ] JULY 4th, 1863, POSTMARKED NEWARK NJ JUL 6 1863
, envelope present, from an unidentified woman (signature illegible) to Mrs. Carlisle P. Patterson, Brentwood, near Washington City, D.C., 4 pages 5-1/4” x 8” as folded with cross writing, about 550 words,
Civil War conflict content on the first 2 pages excerpt
, “I long to hear from you most particularly just now to know you are hearing all this excitement…how your trembling nerves must have quaked when you heard of the [Confederate] raid within 15 miles of Washington…what does Kil [husband] think of the state of war among us this time…present uncertain state of our country…dreadful battle [Gettysburg, July 1-3] at this moment waging among Fathers and Brothers…blood of our country to be sacrificed to political ambitions…we are in [God’s] keeping…how very uncertain the end is…how suddenly a terrible move turns the tide of battle…I have violated a resolution…never to talk or write about the war…God will end it all rightly…”, continuing for the rest of the letter with news about mutual friends and acquaintances; letter authenticated by seller with lifetime guarantee;
NOTES:
the “raid” the woman letter writer was referring to was the
Battle of Fairfax Court House, June 27, 1863…fought during the Gettysburg Campaign of the Civil War
between two cavalry detachments from the Union Army of the Potomac…Confederate cavalry leader Genera J.E.B. Stuart was keen to restore his prestige after two humiliating encounters with Union cavalry, and as the main body crossed the Potomac into Maryland, he received permission to detach three brigades and ride around the entire Union army to gather supplies and intelligence, and damage lines of communication…At Fairfax Court House, Virginia, on 27 June, one of Stuart’s brigades was surprised by a small detachment of the 11th New York Cavalry which initially drove them into the woods, but were so heavily outnumbered that they had to retreat. Although technically a Confederate win, this small engagement had a major impact on the outcome of Gettysburg, since it delayed Stuart’s arrival, depriving Lee of essential knowledge of the enemy’s whereabouts.” (wikipedia);
Mrs. Carlile P. Patterson/Eliza-Lizzie Patterson, recipient of the letter
, was the wife of Carlile Pollack Patterson (Kil), 1816-1881, a former steamboat captain who lived in San Francisco with his wife during the Gold Rush, was at the time of the letter a civilian hydrographic inspector in the U. S. Coast Survey whose work  included preparing charts and other material to help the Union navy blockade Southern ports…the position was traditionally held by a naval officer, but with Patterson’s experience and connections, he was appointed…in 1874 he was appointed superintendent of the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey…Eliza-Lizzie was from the prominent D. C. area Pearson family, owner of the estate Brentwood outside of Washington, after which the area now part of the city is named…Lizzie Patterson was a confidante of president Grant’s wife…three years after her husband’s death in 1881, Congress enacted a private bill, House bill No. 4689, entitled ‘An act for the relief of Eliza W. Patterson’ to provide financial relief for her in her latter years in recognition that her husband Carlile had not taken a salary while serving as superintendent (various online sources) /// CONDITION: well preserved, folds as mailed with envelope present, scrawled but mostly readable handwriting.