From Jerome to Lulu, June 14, 1863
Dublin Core
Title
From Jerome to Lulu, June 14, 1863
Subject
Peirce, Jerome
Lulu
Memphis, TN.
Description
From Jerome to Lulu
Creator
Jerome Peirce
Source
Jerome Peirce Collection, National Park Service
Publisher
HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington
Date
1863-06-14
Contributor
NPS, Civil War Study Group, Josef Rokus (Transcriber)
Rights
For educational purposes with no commercial use. Courtesy of National Park Service, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, FRSP 16095-16102 (FRSP-00904).
Format
4.99 X 8.13
10.16 X 8.13
4.99 X 8.13
Jpg
10.16 X 8.13
4.99 X 8.13
Jpg
Language
English
Type
Text
Identifier
Letter #128
Coverage
Memphis, TN.
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
LETTER TRANSCRIPTION
Memphis Tenn. 14th June 1863
My ever dear little Lulu,
What do you think of your Papie that he has not written one letter to his little daughter? You will not think he forgets you, will you? For he has sent some little flower or token often because you could feel of it and carry it about with you and he thought it better than anything he could say to you.
Well, what do you think made Papie try and write you now? Yesterday as I was sitting on the steamboat which we live in now (Aunt Mary or Hattie will tell you what a steamboat is.) a little girl on the next boat called out to a soldier near me, “Mr., what do you think my name is?” Well, he couldn’t tell, of course, so the little girl said, “My name is Ar-lie.” I thought of your dear Mama’s name and I asked the little girl what she thought my little girl’s name was as I have one at home. She said, “Her name is Katie.” I suppose she liked the name, it is pretty. I told her if she would come over and see me I would show her Lulu’s picture for I then told her your name. [She] said she couldn’t swim and so could not come to me. I should liked to have seen more of her and told more about you but I couldn’t go to her and her mother called her in. She had black eyes and hair cut short and was very bright and talkative.
Now I suppose seeing this little girl made me feel like writing my little darling. Papa has taken a good many long walks since he left you and been very tired sometimes but he never forgets his dear little Lulu and her Mama, but he sees very few little children and perhaps that makes it so hard to talk to you. Do you ever look at the little boxes and pictures Papa sent you a long while ago? I know you do and you must never forget Papa and think he does not love you altho he is so far away. I know a good many who have left little girls at home and see them looking at their pictures as I do yours.
The pleasant summer is come and I expect you will happy times running about picking flowers and hearing the birds sing. How much Papa wants to lead you by the hand in some of the pretty walks but he cannot yet but there is a Good Being who takes care of Papa, Mama and little Lulu and all people alike.
Papie got your letter with the kiss. You must take a great many for Papa. I have a good friend sitting beside me who gave me an orange to eat for little Lulu the other day. You must send him a kiss and thank him just as much as tho you had it, for you know I could not send it in a letter.
Now have I not written you a good long letter. Grandma will read it so you can know what Papa says. I hope Lulu is well and a good little girl as I know you are. Does Grandpa ever take you out to see the [???] at the barn?
I must bid you “good by[e]” now. Mama will read this first as I send it in her letter.
You must write Papa often for he loves to hear from his little daughter.
Give love to all the good friends at home, Grandpa and [Grand]ma and all and accept with a kiss from
“Papa”
P.S. The friend who gave me the orange for you you may call “Uncle Ben” and [he] loves little children dearly although he has none of his own.
Memphis Tenn. 14th June 1863
My ever dear little Lulu,
What do you think of your Papie that he has not written one letter to his little daughter? You will not think he forgets you, will you? For he has sent some little flower or token often because you could feel of it and carry it about with you and he thought it better than anything he could say to you.
Well, what do you think made Papie try and write you now? Yesterday as I was sitting on the steamboat which we live in now (Aunt Mary or Hattie will tell you what a steamboat is.) a little girl on the next boat called out to a soldier near me, “Mr., what do you think my name is?” Well, he couldn’t tell, of course, so the little girl said, “My name is Ar-lie.” I thought of your dear Mama’s name and I asked the little girl what she thought my little girl’s name was as I have one at home. She said, “Her name is Katie.” I suppose she liked the name, it is pretty. I told her if she would come over and see me I would show her Lulu’s picture for I then told her your name. [She] said she couldn’t swim and so could not come to me. I should liked to have seen more of her and told more about you but I couldn’t go to her and her mother called her in. She had black eyes and hair cut short and was very bright and talkative.
Now I suppose seeing this little girl made me feel like writing my little darling. Papa has taken a good many long walks since he left you and been very tired sometimes but he never forgets his dear little Lulu and her Mama, but he sees very few little children and perhaps that makes it so hard to talk to you. Do you ever look at the little boxes and pictures Papa sent you a long while ago? I know you do and you must never forget Papa and think he does not love you altho he is so far away. I know a good many who have left little girls at home and see them looking at their pictures as I do yours.
The pleasant summer is come and I expect you will happy times running about picking flowers and hearing the birds sing. How much Papa wants to lead you by the hand in some of the pretty walks but he cannot yet but there is a Good Being who takes care of Papa, Mama and little Lulu and all people alike.
Papie got your letter with the kiss. You must take a great many for Papa. I have a good friend sitting beside me who gave me an orange to eat for little Lulu the other day. You must send him a kiss and thank him just as much as tho you had it, for you know I could not send it in a letter.
Now have I not written you a good long letter. Grandma will read it so you can know what Papa says. I hope Lulu is well and a good little girl as I know you are. Does Grandpa ever take you out to see the [???] at the barn?
I must bid you “good by[e]” now. Mama will read this first as I send it in her letter.
You must write Papa often for he loves to hear from his little daughter.
Give love to all the good friends at home, Grandpa and [Grand]ma and all and accept with a kiss from
“Papa”
P.S. The friend who gave me the orange for you you may call “Uncle Ben” and [he] loves little children dearly although he has none of his own.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
NOTE 1: Lucy (“Lulu”) Peirce was Jerome and Abbie’s second child. (Their first child, Charles Jerome Peirce, was born on July 10, 1858, but he died the same day.) Lucy was born on December 26, 1859, and she died on August 8, 1946, at age 86. After Lucy grew up, she attended Howe High School in Billerica, Massachusetts, and earned a degree from Salem Normal School (now Salem State University) in Salem, Massachusetts. She never married and taught English and history in several high schools in Massachusetts and New Hampshire for virtually the rest of her working life. She passed away on August 8, 1946, at age 86.
NOTE 2: Jerome sent flowers or leaves to Lulu somewhat regularly as mentioned in his letters. Seven of those mementos have survived and were enclosed in the envelopes with letters received by the National Park Service. The first of these is dated November 30, 1862, and the last is dated May 1, 1864, just a few days before he was killed.
NOTE 3: “Aunt Mary” was Allie’s younger sister, Mary Frances Jaquith. She was born in 1841, while Allie (Albinia) was born in 1834.
NOTE 1: Lucy (“Lulu”) Peirce was Jerome and Abbie’s second child. (Their first child, Charles Jerome Peirce, was born on July 10, 1858, but he died the same day.) Lucy was born on December 26, 1859, and she died on August 8, 1946, at age 86. After Lucy grew up, she attended Howe High School in Billerica, Massachusetts, and earned a degree from Salem Normal School (now Salem State University) in Salem, Massachusetts. She never married and taught English and history in several high schools in Massachusetts and New Hampshire for virtually the rest of her working life. She passed away on August 8, 1946, at age 86.
NOTE 2: Jerome sent flowers or leaves to Lulu somewhat regularly as mentioned in his letters. Seven of those mementos have survived and were enclosed in the envelopes with letters received by the National Park Service. The first of these is dated November 30, 1862, and the last is dated May 1, 1864, just a few days before he was killed.
NOTE 3: “Aunt Mary” was Allie’s younger sister, Mary Frances Jaquith. She was born in 1841, while Allie (Albinia) was born in 1834.
Original Format
Letter/Paper
Files
Collection
Reference
Jerome Peirce 1863, From Jerome to Lulu, June 14, 1863, HIST 428 (Spring 2020), University of Mary Washington
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