Creator
H[arvey] Reid
Recipient
John Muir
Transcription
[4] sides, their gaping and ghastly wounds telling of the fearful horrors of warfare. Why do Christian people [illegible] to such terrible means of settling disputes? This is called by some a holy war but to my mind there is little of holiness in sending thousands of unprepared sons to eternity through the bloody gates of a Sabbath fought battle. I am sorry for the failure of your patent scheme; but do not think that invention would have [illegible] very large profits. Yankees are lazy, you know and like to lie abed o' mornings. But you will succeed better next time. I thank you sincerely friend Muir for the interest you take in my welfare and may perhaps some day be what I ought to be and what I am convinced you truly are - a Christian. A pious mothers prayers has long been offered for her erring son. I send your Geometry by the same mail with this. Ever your friend [H.?] Reid
00274
[1]
Union Grove, Wis July 28th/61.
Dear Friend Muir: On returning home from work last evening I found your welcome letter awaiting me;-for I have engaged to a farmer here to work through haying and harvest - I was much gratified in its perusal and hope that the accidental theft of a Geometry may be the occasion of continued correspondence between us. I can appreciate your feelings of pleasure on arriving
[2] home from your long absence, for it was, also my first experience away from friends and relatives, and home never seemed brighter and more pleasant than since my return. Although I probably shall not be able to attend "the stone schoolhouse" next term I intend to continue most of my studies during the long vacation which I will take. I have the advantage a good teacher in the pe[illegible] of a young Presbyterian minister who is now boarding with us. He has [lately?] at Union College, New York and has kindly offered to assist me in whatever studies I may wish to
[3] undertake. The sad news of the late defeat of the U.S. forces in Virginia is more sad to the people of this neighborhood because many of them have sons and brothers in the routed army, but fortunately no one of the boys from our town has been killed, and but one slightly injured. I have received letters from some of my acquaintances there since the skirmish of Thursday before the great battle on Sunday. They had become somewhat acquainted with the music of whistling bullets and describe the horrible sensations produced by the sight of men falling by their
Location
Union Grove, Wis[c]
Date Original
1861 Jul 28
Source
Original letter dimensions: 20.0 x 24.5 cm
Recommended Citation
Reid, Harvey, "Letter from Harvey Reid to John Muir, 1861 Jul 28" (1861). John Muir Correspondence (PDFs). 1076.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/muir-correspondence/1076
Resource Identifier
muir01_0213-let.tif
File Identifier
Reel 01, Image 0213
Collection Identifier
Online finding aid for the microform version of the John Muir Correspondence http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0w1031nc
Copyright Status
Copyright status unknown
Copyright Statement
Some letters written to John Muir may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Owning Institution
Holt-Atherton Special Collections, University of the Pacific Library. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Pages
2 pages
Keywords
Environmentalist, naturalist, travel, conservation, national parks, John Muir, Yosemite, California, history, correspondence, letters
