The Letters of William B. Anderson to Mary Louisa (Fischgens) Anderson, 1862–1864
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Table of Contents
The Table of Contents lists the dates on which the editors have determined
each letter was written, based on the sometimes incomplete
or erroneous dates included in the letters, actual calendar dates for the years
in question, and references in the letters to contemporary events. The city
associated with each letter in the table reflects information from the datelines
of the letters. For most of the letters, we have no further evidence about
where or when the letters might actually have been composed and mailed. Links
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William B. Anderson writes home to his wife, Louisa,
from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is hauling Coal Boat men from Louisville, Kentucky.
While in Cincinnati, Anderson visits his mother-in-law, the 'old lady,' as
well as family friends. During the dry, dusty, June weather, a fire breaks
out near the Ohio River and Third St, destroying several houses. He opens his
riverboat up as an improptu shelter for the fire victims, even filling the
typically unoccupied Ladies' Cabins. Anderson closes the letter by inviting
Louisa to accompany him on his next trip to Cincinnati. [Editor: Meghan Griesemer]
Anderson tells his wife that his boat's departure has
been delayed by a day and asks her to send some food and clothes to him at
the dock. He also expresses anxiety about whether his trip will be profitable
and asks his wife to request some money from [John?] Russell to help cover
an upcoming payday for his crew. [Editor: H. Lewis Ulman]
Anderson tells his wife that his boat will attempt to
beat another riverboat to Murraysville, WV. He explains that his sleep has
been restless, inquires about their two sons and asks her to write more and
to write back regarding business prospects. He is rushed, and signs off three
times. [Editor: Sara Finch]
Anderson tells Louisa that he was glad to hear about
her welfare and also to hear about the kids doing well. William says in the
letter that the war is far from over even though some people might think otherwise.
William also ask Louisa to write him back when she gets a chance so that by
the time he gets back he'll have another letter waiting. [Editor: Christopher
Clark]
In this letter Anderson assures his wife that he is doing
well and asks how she and the children are. He also tells her of his visit
to see her mother and that he has asked John Russell (a local businessman often
referred to in Anderson’s
letters) to pay his taxes in his abscence. [Editor: Emily Rosen]
In this letter, Anderson writes to his wife about his
daily tasks and his hardships while being a riverboat captain. He reports that
a shaft has broken on the boat, and hopes the new part will arrive soon. Anderson
continues his letter and describes how he feels about boarding soldiers on
his riverboat. His emotions of grief and sadness overrun the second half of
his letter, and he explains that he feels terrible watching families be torn
apart. Anderson closes with warm wishes to his family and that he hopes to
hear from them soon. [Editor: Martha Fissel]
In this document, William B. Anderson is describing the
various places along the Ohio River that he has
visited in his travels as a riverboat captain. He brings oats to Gallipolis,
Ohio; retrieves wheat from
Graham's Station, West Virginia, and brings it to Blennerhasset's Island, West
Virginia. During his travels,
it was necessary to build a chute and hire oxen in order to bring the wheat to
Blennerhasset's Island.
In the latter part of the letter, Anderson discusses his hope to sell his boat,
as business is stopped
now that the previous travels are finished. He finishes by sending his love to
his wife and children. [Editor: Jenna Kamrass]
In this letter, Anderson shows a bit of emotion as he
recounts his encounters with the war thus far. Anderson writes of the
impoverished life he and his fellow shipmates live and becomes nostalgic over
the simpler pleasures in life like Butter [sic] and Beef [sic]. Anderson asks
his wife to pay a vist to John Russell in order to collect the money that Russell
owes Anderson; Anderson fears that Russell will be slow to repay if his wife
does not express a strong sense of need. Anderson closes the letter optimistically
speaking of great times to come with his wife and children once he returns home.
[Editor: Kristin Stack]
William B Anderson tells his wife how he must take soldiers
to Augusta, Kentucky. Anderson reports that he is doing well and that he is
happy to hear that his wife's mother is also doing well. He wants his wife
to take care of herself and the children. He describes when he thinks he may
be home and for his wife to take care of the house and the work that needs
to be done. [Editor: Zachary Hess]
In this letter, Anderson reports hearing shooting along
the river. He references two captains who were put in jail for cowardice. He
expresses concern that he does not know what his orders will be from one day
to the next. He speaks of a funeral of a friend's son in Maysville, and worries
that his wife is sick or mad because he has not heard from her. This letter
was written in October, making it one of the latest in the season, possibly
indicating unseasonably warm weather or extenuating circumstances. [Editor:
Katie Adams]
On June 19th, 1863, riverboat captain William B. Anderson
penned a letter to his wife from St. Louis, Missouri, in which he informs his
spouse of matters concerning river travel, his salary, and a bout of illness
that left him bedridden. [Editor: Marie Pesut]
In this letter, from July 1, 1863, William B. Anderson
writes to his wife, Mary Louisa, from Cincinnati. Anderson tells his wife about
the Government cargo he is shipping, and the hard work that goes along with
the gargo and the summer heat. Anderson also gives Mary Louisa advice pertaining
to family and financial affairs back home in Pittsburgh. He ends the letter
as he does most, with affection for his wife and telling her to kiss "the
little ones" for him. [Editor: Steve Sikes-Gilbert]
In this letter W.B. Anderson gives us a description of
the difficulty he has unloading a shipment because of the civil war. More importantly
though Anderson gives us an insight in this letter to the burning of Lebanon
during the civil war, from the stand point of a civilian in public enterprise
during this time. Some of the impact that we are given insight to includes
the organization of local troops and how it is holding back Anderson and his
shipment. [Editor: Jeremy A. Smith]
Anderson shares with his wife the status of his crew
and currently what cargo he is carrying, though he does not share with her
his destination, he promises to write to her from either Evansville or Nashville.
He also tells her that he has prepared the finances and taxes for Russell and
for her to get any sugar she would like from him. He asks her to kiss his children
for him and wishes them well while he is gone. He also apologizes for mistakes
in spelling and other errors. [Editor: Kate Owsley]
Anderson informs his wife that the sickly Elias will
bring her some money when he returns to Pittsburgh. Anderson then describes
his current employment transporting goods for the government. He hopes
to make enough money over the summer so that he can stay at home for the winter. While
apologizing for an apparent scarcity of letters, Anderson claims that he has
written frequently, and speculates that the Morgan raid may have interfered
with mail delivery. [Editor: Sarah Sitzler]
Anderson shoots off a short letter announcing a dinner
with his wife's mother and Ella (as yet an unknown relative or friend mentioned
in several of Anderson's letters). He suggests that the boat (Glide II) will
leave that afternoon from Cincinnati for Nashville with 200 mules aboard. He
sends by Adams Express $3600 for business-related expenses (Adams Express was
a very profitable delivery company started in the 1850s and had parallel systems
of delivery in the south during the war (Pixley, 2002) and reminds his wife
that he sent $60 for family expenses with the previous letter. [Editor: Dickie
Selfe]
Anderson informs his wife that he has arrived in Louisville, KY. He reports that a canal was closed and tells his
wife that he was forced to hire men to keep some tobacco safe and slept with it on a subsequent night incase it rained. Anderson reports
the local weather and asks her to send him pictures of their children.
He also advises her of a new address to send letters to. [Editor: Michelle Amos]
This is a letter from William B. Anderson to his wife
Louisa, written in June. The letter is undated but the month was able to be
determined from contents within the letter. In the letter, Anderson biefly
describes the weather and recent riverboat trips he has taken. He also describes
the daily goings on in the lives of neighbors and family members. Anderson
closes the letter by thanking his wife for a gift of ripe strawberries. [Editor:
Andrea Sharoian]
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