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Peleg Wadsworth to Elizabeth (Bartlett) Wadsworth, 18 February 1796
Manuscript letter
Philadelphia 18thFeby1796
Between the hour of 11 & 12 at Night.
At this very hour of the Night sixteen years ago, My Dear, were we awaked with the Cry of the Centinel[sic] – Who comes there!!! the Rushing of the Enemy, the Clashing of Arms & the discharge of vollies[sic] of Musketry into the very Room where the moment before we had been fast clasp’d in each others Arms in sweet & profound Sleep – were scenes too indelicate for your Sex.
How shocking, my Love, must have been your Situation, in ten munites[sic] afterwards, to be left in perfect Desolation? Your windows & doors ds dasht[sic] to pieces, your house like a Butchers (p. 2) Stall – dying men on the Floor, your house on fire, & your husband wounded & carried off!!! Well do I remember your fortitude, your parting look & my own reflections as I pass’d on, at the Deplorable Situation in which you & your sweet plidges[sic] were left, at that inclement Season & in that inhospitable place –
So little did I think, in that attack, of living surviving sixteen years, that I was only intent to sell myself as dear as possible.
But we have surviv’d my dear & our enjoyments since have been great – perhaps the greater for that Disaster –
At least we have added a fine string of little Boys & Girls to our Row which (p. 3) with those we had before will probably constitute much of our future hap-piness – I think they bid fair for it. Let us with grateful Hearts enjoy all the Good things within our reach and acquiesce in all the divine Dispensations ~
With all our Misfortunes our Lot has been far above the Generality – nay there are few that have enjoy’d more happiness than we have –
It is now twelve, the hour of assault is past, I am Safe & Sound & must seek re-pose, instead of your sweet arms, in solitary Sleep. Adieu my Love, & believe me to be your affectionate Husband
P Wadsworth
[Notes:] Bagaduce attack / Capture of Gen Peleg Wadsworth / at So. Thomaston, Me / letter From Phila. Feb.18.1796
[Addressed:] Mrs Wadsworth
Between the hour of 11 & 12 at Night.
At this very hour of the Night sixteen years ago, My Dear, were we awaked with the Cry of the Centinel[sic] – Who comes there!!! the Rushing of the Enemy, the Clashing of Arms & the discharge of vollies[sic] of Musketry into the very Room where the moment before we had been fast clasp’d in each others Arms in sweet & profound Sleep – were scenes too indelicate for your Sex.
How shocking, my Love, must have been your Situation, in ten munites[sic] afterwards, to be left in perfect Desolation? Your windows & doors ds dasht[sic] to pieces, your house like a Butchers (p. 2) Stall – dying men on the Floor, your house on fire, & your husband wounded & carried off!!! Well do I remember your fortitude, your parting look & my own reflections as I pass’d on, at the Deplorable Situation in which you & your sweet plidges[sic] were left, at that inclement Season & in that inhospitable place –
So little did I think, in that attack, of living surviving sixteen years, that I was only intent to sell myself as dear as possible.
But we have surviv’d my dear & our enjoyments since have been great – perhaps the greater for that Disaster –
At least we have added a fine string of little Boys & Girls to our Row which (p. 3) with those we had before will probably constitute much of our future hap-piness – I think they bid fair for it. Let us with grateful Hearts enjoy all the Good things within our reach and acquiesce in all the divine Dispensations ~
With all our Misfortunes our Lot has been far above the Generality – nay there are few that have enjoy’d more happiness than we have –
It is now twelve, the hour of assault is past, I am Safe & Sound & must seek re-pose, instead of your sweet arms, in solitary Sleep. Adieu my Love, & believe me to be your affectionate Husband
P Wadsworth
[Notes:] Bagaduce attack / Capture of Gen Peleg Wadsworth / at So. Thomaston, Me / letter From Phila. Feb.18.1796
[Addressed:] Mrs Wadsworth
Archives Number: 1005/4.1.1-03#38
U. S. National Park Service
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Courtesy of National Park Service, Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site (1005/4.1.1-3#38)
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Peleg Wadsworth Papers (1005/004.001), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Correspondence - Outgoing (1005/004.001.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, Letterbook - 1794-1807 (1005/004.001.001-003), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Correspondence - Outgoing (1005/004.001.001), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, Letterbook - 1794-1807 (1005/004.001.001-003), (LONG-FileUnitName)
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Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Code: LONG
Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938
Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938
NPS Museum Catalog Number : LONG 27923
Title: Finding Aid to the Wadsworth-Longfellow Family (1610-1971) Papers, 1610-1971 (bulk dates 1745-1950)
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#WL
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#WL
2021/06/03
02/18/1796
Manuscript letter in the Wadsworth-Longfellow Family Papers, Peleg Wadsworth and Family Papers, Peleg Wadsworth Papers, Correspondence, Outgoing, Letterbook - 1794-1807. (1005/4.1.1-3#38)
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Organization: Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: LONG_archives@nps.gov
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: LONG_archives@nps.gov
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