Maybe you would like to read a letter from a mother in another war, another draft. It was written by my husband's great grandmother Hannah in New Jersey to her daughter-in-law in Illinois, Comfort, wife of her son James. At that time Comfort and James were young marrieds in their 20s with three little children. Grandmother Hannah was a Quaker as you will see by her "thee" and "thy." Her hand is fine and even, the punctuation and spelling a little quaint by our standards, and occasionally an "s" is made in the old long way so that it looks to us almost like an "f." Here is what she said:
Independence, 8th Mo., 21st, '62.
Dear daughter -- For such I feel thee. At this time I will not, I can not, attempt to delineate the hopes and fears or the gloomy forebodings that are resting on me at this moment. I have no wish to heap my sorrows on others or to raise unnecessary anxiety on thy already heavy burdened mind. That some of my family might be drafted has been strongly impressed on my mind for some time but I did not suppose any of them would enlist. A letter from Elmira last night tells me I was mistaken. And James, I suppose, is still liable to a draft. If he should leave, too, thy situation would be lonely, but the trouble comparatively slight to some in the vicinity of the south.
John Hays, one of my old school mates, removed to Virginia some years ago and has recently returned with his wife and daughter, leaving everything behind except what they could stow in a wagon. He had been compelled to take the oath to the Confederacy, after which he fed some sixty Union horses. It became known to the Rebels, he was imprisoned, and two weeks his wife and daughter lay in a loft or some place where there was room for only one to enter at a time, prepared to defend the place of entrance but not knowing what moment fire might be set to the building. I have not seen them and do not know how he escaped. His son was conductor on a railroad. They got after him, he jumped off and made his escape.
There has been many war meetings around here for enlistments and many enlistments, but it is thought drafting will yet be resorted to before the number is filled.
Has Daniel had a likeness taken since he has been there? I regret that I could not have had one. It seems long since I have seen him. I may see him again but it will not do to expect it. Well, I will try to leave this unpleasant subject and give the next page to more pleasant matters.
It has been quite cool for some days past but is quite warm again. Fruit is very plenty, cherries, apples, pears, etc. Peaches where there are any trees but they are scarce through here. I have been thinking to write for some days to inquire if pennyroyal grows there. If not I will gather some seed, as I still look towards a home there. James must have his hands full and the house must lay unfinished. Uncle James was at Rahway last week and called on Aunt Sidney. All well. Our friends in Hunterdon also well a few days since. Grandmother still walks to Quakertown. It is admirable how her strength holds out.
Will Daniel write to me? If he writes to you please inform me where a letter may be directed when you ascertain his whereabouts.
Joseph requested me to send him my likeness. I got two taken on sheet iron. They were neither of them good. The best one I sent him and the other I intended to send Daniel or some of the rest of you. I would like those grandchildren, Emma particularly, to still retain some little remembrance of her grandmother's looks, and this will only be a faint resemblance. They tell me it looks ten years older than I do. I got one for Walter before he went west and supposed he would leave it when he came away but I suppose he thought I got it for him, he must keep it. I asked Uncle if he had anything to say. He said he was going to write soon himself, had intended to ere this. It is very dry here at present. Corn is suffering and grapes drying up. Still Aunt Elizabeth's flowers look very nice. Several colors of dahlias are in bloom and a variety of nice flowers in the garden.
With much love to you and your little flock I am every your affectionate Mother.
P.S. -- 22nd in the the morning. Several little showers since daylight. Word came last evening that three townships are exempt from drafting, ours one, their number being filled.
Apparently it was Daniel who enlisted (he was 22 at the time). And all the way through you can see how the mother's heart aches for the one who is absent at war. He was one of nine children. Three of the boys had gone west, but that didn't seem to worry her so much. And how relieved she was that the ones at home would not be subject to the draft. These Quakers did not believe in fighting, but still they held to their duties as citizens very firmly and would have accepted the call when and if it came. -- Hope.