Lucy Webb Hayes Civil War Correspondence

Lucy Webb Hayes Civil War Correspondence

Military Ohio; Presidents and Politics; Civil War; Hayes, Rutherford Birchard, 1822-1893; Hayes, Lucy Webb, 1831-1889; Morgan's Ohio Raid, 1863; First ladies

Lucy Webb Hayes wrote these three letters to her husband, future president Rutherford B. Hayes, during the Civil War. In the first letter dated June 13, 1861, Hayes expresses her joy at having received her first letter from her husband since he went away to fight. She also writes that she would be happier if she could join him, which she later did when Hayes was stationed in the Kanawa Valley in West Virginia. The four-page letter was written from her home in Cincinnati. A second four-page letter from July 1863 documents Morgan's Raid into southern Ohio. The final three-page letter, dated April 24, 1865, shows Lucy Hayes' preparations for meeting her husband upon his discharge and their ensuing trip to Washington, D.C. for the Grand Review of the Army. All three letters include news of the Hayes family and notes from the children to their father. The letters are approximately 5" x 8" (12.7 cm x 20.32 cm). Lucy Webb Hayes (1831-1889) was born Lucy Ware Webb in Chillicothe, Ohio. Lucy and Rutherford B. Hayes were married in 1852 and had eight children, five of whom survived to adulthood: Birchard, Webb, Rutherford Platt, Fanny, and Scott. She is noteworthy as the first wife of a president to be called "First Lady" and the first to have graduated from college. As First Lady, she banned the serving of alcohol in the White House, giving her the nickname "Lemonade Lucy." A strong anti-slavery supporter, Lucy worked for many social causes, including scholarships for American Indians and donations for the poor. When Congress banned children from rolling out their Easter eggs on the grounds of the Capitol, Lucy invited the children to the White House. The tradition continues today.

Hayes, Lucy Webb, 1831-1889

Unpublished material (archives/manuscripts)

1861 - 1865

Nick Kelly

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http://www.ohiomemory.org/u?/p267401coll36,13130

Fremont (Ohio)

No

[corresponds to page 1 of Lucy Webb Hayes Letter to Rutherford B. Hayes, June 13, 1861]
Lucy W. Hayes
June 13, 1861 [underlined twice]- Mar [underlined twice]
Cincinnati. June 13 th [superscript]
Dearest Ruddy,
I cannot tell you how
happy your first letter made me- I
felt certain - satisfied that you loved
me as dearly and truly as in all the
past years- How rapidly time passes
away we are now almost old folks
and yet it is but a few months in
feeling- I was down street to day
and when I came home found your
dear letter and read it and reread it
till I almost knew it by heart- I can
sympathize with your feelings as the men
were sworn in- what a solemn sight
it is- and oh how my heart fills
with joy and feelings too great
for utterance crowd upon me as I
think of our brave men- This morning
as I was going down street a young man

[corresponds to page 2 of Lucy Webb Hayes Letter to Rutherford B. Hayes, June 13, 1861]
dressed in Guthrie Grey- spoke to me
How do you do Mrs Hayes- I looked
closely at him and recognised the
boy or man that used to be in the
meat store- He grasped my hand
warmly and I felt that he was not
a poor boy but one of our defenders-
My greatest happiness now would be
to feel that I was doing some thing
for the comfort and happiness of our men
I feel that in giving you up- (for
dearest it is hard to feel we may be
parted) I have tried to do cheerfully
and with out a murmur what was my
duty- If I could only follow you
where ever you are called to go no priv
ation or trial would cause the slightest
discontent- you would find Ruddy that
your foolish [underlined] little trial [underlined] of a wife
was fit to be a soldiers wife.
Ruddy last night I dreamed that
Dr Muscroft was Surgeon of the
Regiment- I awoke in an agony- if I

[corresponds to page 3 of Lucy Webb Hayes Letter to Rutherford B. Hayes, June 13, 1861]
could only feel that brother- Joe
would be with you- I could see
you go cheerfully- you do not know [written above line] how
intense my feeling is upon the subject
dearest do all you can I know you
have confidence in him- and oh how
it would brighten my heart-
Mother says she never felt before that you
were really away from us- she is pretty well
and sends much love to you-
Birchie says tell Papa- That I have
prayed for him and asked God
to take care of him- and he must pray
for him self and say I love him so much
Webb says- Ask him if he wants
me and Birch up there- I wish
he would say, yes- that he prays
for him every night and if you want
any nuts he will bring them to you
Webb says to tell you Ruddy says his
prayers and says Now I lay me down to
sleep- Ruddy says- sends the letter to
him- and give him some nuts-

[corresponds to page 4 of Lucy Webb Hayes Letter to Rutherford B. Hayes, June 13, 1861]
It is well dearest that you have expressed
the wish to have me with you- for I
had settled in my own mind- that
as long as I can be with you I will
but it was such a happiness to know
that you in the midst of all the hurry
and bustle of camp life thought of it.
We have had two letters from Uncle
which I will send- also the notice of
your election to the Presidency of the
Y- M C. Association.
We are all well- hope to see you
soon- I will have everything ready for
you as far as I know-
Good bye my dearest- May it not
be long till we shall be together.
Your loving Wife
Lu
Lauras letter I did not show- she need
not think about- I did not mention receiving
it. Love to them all.
Lu

[corresponds to page 1 of Lucy Webb Hayes Letter to Rutherford B. Hayes, July 18, 1863]
[written vertically in top right corner, corresponds to postscript]
4
too late to get in
Saturday- so finished
this morning- last news
from Morgan- was good.
L.
[end of postscript]
1
Chillicothe July 18 th [superscript]
Dearest R.
Your letter dated 11 th [superscript] was
joyfully received- it has been so long
since I had a letter- "that hope deferred
maketh sick the soul"- All this week
I have vainly tried to write- the
excitement was so great- that it was
impossible to think of any thing-
Morgan has been rousing the country-
You have seen the papers so know
what course he took- but no one
could give a description to fully equal
the scene- All the Militia from
the adjoining Counties were here-
A finely armed company from Zanes
-ville- the town was alive- men drilling
all around- and while Morgan
was supposed to be coming either to
Chillicothe or Piketon- all these

[corresponds to page 2 of Lucy Webb Hayes Letter to Rutherford B. Hayes, July 18, 1863]
unarmed sheep were drawn up
to be reviewed- the few arms that
were distributed- were carefully marched
to the Northern end of town- while
Morgan was to cross Paint Creek brigde [underlined]
In the mean time- the different scouting
Companies came across each other- and
mutually seeing Morgan Men before
them- took to their heels- scaring
all the natives on the way- and on
coming to Paint Creek bridge [d written above line]- so terrified
the gauard that they set the bridge on
fire- in an instant the whole was in
flames- while Morgan had not even
a scout near- then knowing what
trouble it would give Morgan- to have
to gather the horses together from the County
and to facilitate his movements - (all
of which was praise worthy) they forbid
any horse being taken out of town
and as there was certainly as many
as 6,000 men- a goodly number
of horses were used in bringing them

[corresponds to page 3 of Lucy Webb Hayes Letter to Rutherford B. Hayes, July 18, 1863]
2
Col Runkle in Command of the
forces of Ross Pickaway Fayette-
and some others- Who is Col Runkle-
But enough of this- Tom M c [superscript] Kell- and
Lem Boggs- are in the Company's that are
gone- I have been spending a few days
at Uncle Williams- and will soon go to
Aunt Margret's- the little boys are very
happy and all well- Birch I think is
gaining in flesh- but oh I miss dear little
Joe more and more- and yet I do not
feel that grief which the loss of a darling
child always seemed to bring- the great
anxiety I feel for you- deadens other
sorrows and griefs- but each day his
absence is more keenly felt- and my beautiful
boy- is he gone from us forever- the little
boys have sweet memories of little Joe-
Mattie Fullerton cannot live but a few
days- she suffers greatly- has not been
able to lie down for weeks- Mother has
been there since Saturday- last evening
she was easier than in the morning

[corresponds to page 4 of Lucy Webb Hayes Letter to Rutherford B. Hayes, July 18, 1863]
3
but evidently weaker-
We heard from Jim M c [superscript] Kell on the
9 th [superscript and underlined] all well- A letter from Willie
of the 12 th [superscript] from Decherd- says their
new Col Carlton inspected
the Regt- and he told them Gen Crook
said he had the best material in the
Brigade- they hope to like him- and
oh I do most sincerely pray that the
poor fellows may have a humane man
at their head- To hear you were near
Fayetteville- was a sad piece news to
me- where are you going- or what for
The deed I have signed and sent to
Mr Stephenson- though Mr Smith
the Atty- here thinks now are examined
a little too far [underlinded] to stand- and by the
way does not charge soldiers wives-
Had a letter from Uncle Birchard he
invites us to make him a visit- would
it be a gratification or a trouble to him
if we did so- All send love-
Good bye dearest- L.W.H.

[corresponds to page 1 of Lucy Webb Hayes Letter to Rutherford B. Hayes, April 24, 1865]
1865
Chillicothe- April 24
My dearest
Your letter of the l9 th [superscript]
was received Saturday evening- and
I hasten to reply- You ought to
receive a letter every week
at the least- but I am glad
you do not think I have neglect
ed to write- I am ready
so that I could start at any
time- little George is a good
little fellow- and Mary
Stewart nee Pool- one we
have long known is coming to be
baby's Nurse- so that is all
arranged- then comes the only
trouble if I come on immediately
how long will I be absent.

[corresponds to page 2 of Lucy Webb Hayes Letter to Rutherford B. Hayes, April 24, 1865]
not that I am fearful of
becoming weary with you- but
how [caret] long [written above line] will I leave Mother with
the care of babies [underlined]- putting a
question to you- ought I to
be absent more than four weeks
Birchie is perfectly delighted with
the prospect- I have said nothing
to Webb- but that is all right-
All friends are well- and
make many inquiries about you
Kate Stillwell is home on a visit
with her two babies- Our boy
is handsomer than her girl-
Are you not glad I am so well
satisfied with the little Hayes's
You say not much baggage- that
is sound- but my trunk is all
I have- My husband [underlined] having
taken possession of the smaller

[corresponds to page 3 of Lucy Webb Hayes Letter to Rutherford B. Hayes, April 24, 1865]
one- Good bye dearest longing
so much to be with you- and
oh so happy to think the War is
over- and hoping and praying we
may all be together for a good
long life-
Yours
L.W.H.
I read your little good bye to the old
Brigade with pleasure- and yet with a
good share of sorrow- the old Brigade
knew and trusted you- the new one
yet to find out your kind and feeling
heart-
Lu