McSherry, Kate (fl. 1861-1862) to Henry F. McSherry
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03523.21.15 Author/Creator: McSherry, Kate (fl. 1861-1862) Place Written: Baltimore, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 17 January 1862 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20 x 12.9 cm. Order a Copy
Signed as "Sister Kate" to her brother Henry. Her last name could be McSherry, but never appears in the census. She could be the Kate Latrobe mentioned in GLC03523.21.14, and if that is the case she was born in 1839. Says they received his letter from Key West, Florida. Says "We will feel very uneasy now as you think the Sciota is not very safe, it is a shame they send such boats to sea, and I think the officers should remonstrate against it. It is enough to face the guns, they might at least have a safe vessel to go in." The USS "Sciota" was a new ship, only commissioned on 15 December 1861. Says their father was anxious because he had not heard from him in so long. Says the family in Martinsburg, Virginia is having a "dreary time cut off from all they are most interested in." Mentions events from Christmas time. Updates him on family and friends. Tells of one friend who said "he would not come to Balt[imore] again till the war is over[.] he says he heard so many disagreeable things said, and indeed many people seem to put themselves out of the way to make such speeches."
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