Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885 to Kate Van Naven
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00686.15 Author/Creator: Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885 Place Written: Johnson's Island, Ohio Type: Autograph letter signed Date: January 29, 1865 Pagination: 1 p. : address Height: 31.6 cm, Width: 19.8 cm Order a Copy
Gerrit S. Van Valkenburgh writes as a prisoner of war in Ohio to his sister, Kate, in Wisconsin. He seeks some sort of reconciliation with his family. He begins by asking "Can you take me by the hand, and greet me as a Brother? or will that world Rebel - Traitor, come to your lips before the [other one]?" Says he has not heard from her in a long time, and asks for an update from her. He adds that he is glad that all the husbands of his sisters have decided to stay home rather than fight. He saw a sleigh the other day for the first time in five years and mentions that it reminded him of "those good old days when I used to handle the ribbons & glide over the snow." He met a friend of Kate's in Kansas when he was first captured, a F.M.M. McDowell whose sister went to school with Kate. He says he was "Un-Yankee-like" and offered him help. He comments that he is not at liberty to write as he would like. He thinks she will take this chance to chastise him while he is down, but hopes she will believe he is honest in his beliefs. Letter was enclosed to his brother Frank as he did not know her address. Signed "G.S. Van Valkenburgh."
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