David Morris to Isabelle Morris and James Morris, letter, 13 November 1861

Name/Title

Entry/Object ID

2025.5.3

Scope and Content

David Morris, (location not specified) to Isabelle Morris and James Morris, letter, 13 November 1861; Keith Riggle Collection, privately held by Keith Riggle, 2015. Transcribed by Keith Riggle. The author of this letter, David Milligan Morris [1840-1917], was a son of Robert Morris and his first wife, Emaline Mills. The letter was sent to his sister, Isabelle (Morris) Atwood [1841-1884], and brother, James H. Morris [1844-1921]. David was a member of Company F, 33rd Illinois Infantry Regiment, during the Civil War. TRANSCRIPT PAGES 1-4: "November the 13th of A.D. 1861 Dear sister and Brother I this morning sat my self to rite you a few lines to let you know that I am well as usual and a little more so for common. The reason I havent rote sooner is I have not bin very well for some time past and when I felt like writing I didn’t have time to write. I am in sutch a hurry now that I can’t hardly rite. I wanted to have this rote so as to have to send it by Wm. Mcman. He starts this morning to take Wilson’s son home who died yesterday in the fore [worn?] night [because?] last I was detailed as a nurse to the hospital and I had Wilson and Dillman Hester to wait on and when I went there and looked at them I didn’t have any assurance that either one of them would live over night. They was both out of their hed neither one of them new any thing. I had the awfulst time with Wilson. I could hardly keep him on his [couteb?]. I would have to cath him and hold him until I could get him lay down again. long a bout one oclock he began to get worse and I seen he wouldnt live long for he kept on getting worse. I had to set up all night and no one to help me any and I didn’t get away from there till a bout 8 in the morning and then I had to walk about a mile and then I had to get my own breakfast and before I was done eating the news came that Wilson was dead. by the time i got my breakfast but didn’t feel mutch like eating any but ate what I could. Hester was a little better when I came a way and they say he is a little better this morning & William Mcman is gone so I will have to send this by mail. I want you to write as soon as you get this. James H. Morris I want you to write me every week and tell Joseph I want him to be sure and write. I want to hear from you all I want you all to rite and I will try and answer them. I seen George Mcfadden. I don’t know how to spell his name and I seen bill Taylor and bill Hammers at the Fredricktown fight and they didn’t any of them know me. I seen others there that I knowed. I seen charley Milligan. I was well acquainted with him he fought by George McFaddin’s side he was wounded. He was shot above the right eye I think I saw him after he was shot but I almost forget whitch eye it was. I must bring my letter to a close. I don’t suppose I will get to come home this winter. the colonel wont let any one come hom that is able to do duty. if a person is sick and cant go home alone he must say he won’t let any well man go home with him and a well person cant get a furlow. there is so many sick and unable to do duty that the colonel cant spare them. I must close so no more at present but remain your affectionate brother David Morris. Write as soon as you get this."

Collection

Keith Riggle Collection

Lexicon

Search Terms

Letters (Correspondence), Military, Morris family, Veterans--Civil War

Other Names and Numbers

Other Number

RIGK-AN001-0003

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Morris, David Milligan [1840-1917]

Person or Organization

Morris, Isabel [1841-1884]

Person or Organization

Morris, James H. [1844-1921]

Web Links and URLs

DOWNLOAD high-resolution JPG image - Pages 1 and 4, DOWNLOAD high-resolution TIFF image - Pages 1 and 4, DOWNLOAD high-resolution JPG image - Pages 2 and 3, DOWNLOAD high-resolution TIFF image - Pages 2 and 3

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Morris Series - Keith Riggle Collection

Acquisition Method

Digital

Acquisition Date

2015

Notes

The letter was passed from Isabelle (Morris) Atwood [1841-1884] and her husband, Dr. Elisha R. Atwood [1830-1902], to their daughter, Ella (Atwood) Morgan [1868-1944], and her husband, Frank Morgan [1867-1940], to their daughter, Julia Ethel (Morgan) McKuskey [1896-1967], and her husband, Frank McKuskey [1875-1935], to their son, Frank McKuskey [1919-1988], and his wife, Margaret (Watkins) McKuskey [1920-1991], to their daughter Susan (McKuskey) Campbell, to Keith Riggle, a 2nd-great-grandson of David Morris. Keith shared the letter with the Greene Connections: Greene County, Pennsylvania Archives Project in 2015. SOURCE CITATION: David Morris, (location not specified) to Isabelle Morris and James Morris, letter, 13 November 1861; item no. RIGK-AN001-0003, Keith Riggle Collection; Greene Connections Archives Project (GreeneConnections.com).