Charlie

 

New Haven Mch. 1^st '62

 

Dear Father:

                        Yours enclosing Frank's letters, came duly to hand. I forwarded the letters, which by the way were very interesting to me, to Mrs Mackie with the request that she would return them to you. I had a short letter from Frank by the same steamer that bro't yours. There was nothing important in it. I have written him. It is quite comforting to know that he is so well situated, and I sincerely trust he will do well. It seems Columbus is evacuated. If so, Geo. is safe for the present. There have been vague reports in the city for twenty-four hours, of an advance on the Potomac. It is / said five private letters have been received here, speaking of the crossing of the Potomac by Banks. Secy Stanton denies that Banks has been defeated, as the report had it, but does not deny that an advance has begun. I suppose there can be little doubt of the result. Sam. Huntington has received a letter from his brother this week, dated Feb. 6^th. Have you heard from Frank? There is no local news here, except the doings of last Sat. which I "threw into" the Bulletin, and which you probably saw. I suppose you have heard of Pres. Felton's death—It is no such loss to the country as Pres. Woolsey's death would be, though of course they will miss their president at Harvard. The College Fast, if I except the weather, which was doleful enough, passed off very pleasantly and I hope profitably. In the morning / Prof. Thacher addressed the Freshmen, Prof. Dwight the Sophomores, Prof the Pres. the Juniors, and Prof. Porter the Seniors—the classes choose their speakers in order beginning with the Freshmen. Do you realize what a thoroughly holy Pres. Woolsey is? His remarks and Prayers on Thursday seemed to carry all up with him to the very third heavens. Certainly the College is blessed in its head. In the afternoon there was a church prayer-meeting in the Philosophical cabinet. I suppose you didn't forget us at your Thursday evening meeting? Junior Exhibition takes place one month from to day. If you remember, the class has to pay all the expenses, which amount to about $300.00. The collector called on me yesterday and I told him he might put me down for $0.00—was that right. If I was to speak $5.00 towards the expenses, would / come hard enough, but as I am not, I have concluded to let the dancers pay for the fiddling. I was invited to a party at Judge E. K. Foster's last Wed. eve. but didn't go. And that reminds me, that I am bootless. Not only cant I go into company, which would be no privation, but I cant appear among men in decency. I believe Jones has my measure, and if you will send me a pair of boots soon, you would add much to my comfort & health. It is rather damp weather to be walking around with leaky boots. I hoped the pair Frank gave me would last through this term, but they have not. If you do not see fit to send any, I can get a good pair here for $5.00. It seems as if I had not heard from home lately—Doesn't Mother owe me a letter? I should be very glad to hear from her. What is Theo. doing?      With much love to all

Your aff Son

Charlie—

 

Have you

sent the

last Atlantic?

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