Widow Peters discussed Victorian Mourning

Sergeant Pavitch speaking on weapons and military life

Mrs Marvel discusses infant clothing

Mrs Marshall spoke on Victorian etiquette

Mrs Brewer coordinated the program

All in all it was a fabulous program with many many questions and quite a large number of people who lingered afterwards to view artifacts and talk to the speakers. For me, the best part of the event was hearing that my four-year-old daughter had been speaking to one of the guests who was handling an antique photo album and said “we aren’t allowed to touch but we can look.” I must be doing something right!

Be sure to view our photo stream on Flickr by clicking here or on the thumbnails over on the right. We can put together an educational program for you too…just let us know!

Dearest Mother,

I write to let you know that we are safe. The fighting came close to town as the Union boys are quite infused with the fervor to trounce the Confederates quickly and send them back home. We were saddened to see many of our good friends forced from their homes and living in small tents and lean tos to keep themselves away from the danger of stray bullets and cannon fire. We had set up our bookshop and unloaded our parlour furniture by the side of a small country lane in the town of Prado, where we camped overnight with the Bowlins, the Coffins, and several others as neighbors.

The tide of civilians wandering toward the action was good for our business as those not yet shocked by the explosions of cannon fire and the destruction of muskets were still in a festive air. Soon they returned past our small camp, sombered by the great loss of life and the threat to our Union, yet willing to acquire a book of poetry or patriotic songs to gird their spirits.

And yet through this deep sadness and fear we found the camaraderie of good friends and family. The children played on the old living room rug thrown down on the ground with blocks and dolls, while Sister and Mrs. Marshall and I entertained one another as best we could by reading aloud and singing songs. Widow Peters and her niece found their way to our humble shelter and assured us that even though the armies are involved in death while on the field, they quickly find their way to her mercantile and others to spend their wages on trinkets for loved ones at home and the necessities for daily living. This I take as a good sign that this engagement will be one of few and the war quickly settled.

Once the armies passed on from our location we were able to return to our home, to find it had but one broken window and a few extra holes for ventilation that cannot be found on the original plans. A traveling photographer passed through as well and I am just received of the enclosed photographs which were delivered with to days letters.

Stay well, Mother, for I send you our love. Should the battles wander close to home perhaps you could retire to Aunt Elizabeth’s home in Pennsylvania.

Your loving daughter,

Mattie

Mrs Marshal and Mr Hendon

Your granddaughter outshines me

Miss Rachel Bingham and Logan Bingham

Melody sits quietly with a snack

My dear friend Maggie,

I thought you might like this photograph of us that was made in August while we picnicked in the park. I thought it such a lovely image of the four of us, I had one made for each you, Caroline and me. I hope we will meet again soon, the miles between us are too great, but our letters keep us close to heart.

Yours truly,

Mattie

You will be delighted to learn that I have come across a distant relation recently. We had the great pleasure of visiting with Senator Jefferson Davis and his wife, Varina Davis, over the past week end. Politics aside, they are lovey people, the most gracious of hosts. As she and I were speaking about our families, she happened to mention that she was a Howell.

Mother, you cannot imagine my shock and delight to reply that you are a Howell as well! Although we have not yet identified where our families diverged, I know we will enjoy each others company all the more knowing we share blood. I hope we shall see Mrs. Davis again soon. She and Senator Davis are traveling throughout the area, visiting with their troops, so it is possible we shall see them in Huntington Beach, which is the next expected location for the armies to clash.

We persuaded a local photographer to make this likeness of Melody and Mrs. Davis and although Melody looked to the side, I think it still a lovely image of the two.

All my love,

Mattie

I spent the weekend with Cousin Selden and heard about the history time line at Old Fort MacArthur. I truly wish I was able to accompany you. The newspaper ran drawings of some of the action, which was quite impressive, I must admit! I received a letter from Mother who said that Father was with you most of the time and that they have a new high sprung Ford wagon. I am so happy to hear that Father will be traveling in more comfort these days.

The newspapers have stories of pirate raids at the Old Fort while you were there, and that a troop of cowboys were well armed and able to run them off in fairly short order. I hope everyone in your household weathered the raids and there was no loss of property or life. I understand that Mrs. Marshall had her nephew with her and I dearly hope he was not conscripted. He is such a quiet and polite boy. Although you likely would have let us know if something as wretched as that had occurred.

I have seen in the newspapers that the war will be settling close to your home soon. The predictions are at the end of July and early August in El Dorado Park in Long Beach, California. I do hope everyone will come through without a scratch to body, home and hearth. It comforts me to know that you have pooled resources and live in your home together with Mattie and Mrs. Marshall. I worry for you while your men folk are away with the war.

I have a new recipe for Upside Down Prune Cake from Mother.  It is quite delicious and has become a favorite here.  I hope you will enjoy it.  Keep safe and away from the war as best you can.

You devoted sister,

Elizabeth

We are heartily looking forward to visiting with you this upcoming 14th and 15th of May! My sweet Melody has already asked if she will be able to procure the delectable  grapes you frequently have on your table and we hope to spend tea time together if at all possible. It will be such a busy week-end, what with the troops in bivouac so closely near by in Costa Mesa and we refugees simply attempting to stay out of their way. Such is the life for we women who undertake to bring some civility and refinement to these Western outposts and wilds of California.

We expect our visit to be an enjoyable one, and with deep fondness anticipate a joyous reunion.

Ever your friend,

Mattie Marvel

I write to allay your fears and to assure you that Caroline and I, Melody and her father, Mrs Marshall and her family, all are safe and the armies have moved on from Prado Park. The battles were fierce, frightening and intense. The damage to the local countryside is very bad, with craters left from the mortar fire that rained down from above and the hills scarred with the breastworks built as deterrents to the opposers.

The contingent of soldiers left to supervise the burial detail have shown themselves to be fine and humble men tasked with the terrible responsibility of sorting out the dead and interring them. Furthermore, they have hired out some local men to remove the corpses of the many horses left on the field. It saddens me to see such a great loss of life of young men and livestock that could be put to such greater use to further our nation!

We hear that the troops are moving south and massing near Vista, California. Our hope is that the result will be much similar to that at Picachoo Pass out in Arizona. To settle the disputes without further loss of life would be the best outcome, though out here we do not get news until it is quite old and I ask that you please let us know if there is any chance for diplomacy any longer.

I have just finished a new dress for Melody, as she is moving into her short skirts! She is quite the little charmer and enjoyed twirling her skirts around her, much as Caroline and I did as girls. How the time flies so quickly. I will write again soon, dearest parents, and pray that you are well and safe.

Your loving daughter,

Mattie

Time draws onward and I find myself missing you terribly. I do hope you are keeping well out in the elements with the Army and that my last letter arrived with the blanket intact. Spring is starting to blossom in the garden. The bulbs are sending their stems skyward and I eagerly anticipate the burst of color their blooms will bring to brighten my days.

As every day passes we hear terrible news from the front lines of the war. Just last week Mrs. Henderson received word that her son was killed in action down in South Carolina. It is such a tragedy that his mortal remains will stay down in the south so far away from his mother. She wept with such great sorrow, but has turned her attention to her grandchildren who will need her and Mr. Henderson now all the more.

On lighter news we had word that your cousin, Lieutenant George Brewer, is back in port with his shipmates in the Navy for a week or so. Dear Margaret is so happy to be with him for even a short time.

While the news here is both happy and sad, the war has been creeping ever closer to our own door step. By April we will be hearing cannon as close as Prado Regional Park. This is almost more than we should hope to bear, but word is out that the Federal troops will be bivouacking there, which undoubtedly will bring Confederate troops not too far behind them. I just know that our boys will prevail and take the day. There will also be time for some visiting with old friends at this time, too. Widow Peters from Kansas Mercantile will be passing through with her wares, as she follows the army on its marches. I do hope we will be able to make a visit to her humble establishment at that time without thought of injury from gun fire.

As always, my dearest husband, you are next to my heart in thought and prayer. I long for the day when I see you come up the walk to stay home permanently.

Until then, I remain your faithful wife,

Caroline

As time passes after the terrible war between the North and the Southern states of our great nation, we begin to commemorate the actions and the many sacrifices made by the men who fought in that war.  Our dear departed President Lincoln made his great speech at the dedication of the cemetery out at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and so eloquently stated “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain…”

There have been many museums founded on this concept – that we must remember what happened during those four brutal years of the death and destruction of war that ravaged our Nation.  Out in California, at a place called the Drum Barracks – know as Fort Drum during the war – a museum was established to honor the men who were stationed in the county of Los Angeles during the great unpleasantness.  Being that the terrors of war fortunately did not reach the western coast of our country, this small piece of history is sadly forgotten in the manner President Lincoln assumed his words would be so forgotten.

Now is the time for action!  The mayor of the city of Los Angeles has decreed that this museum may be closed or at least the staff removed in an attempt to balance the city’s budget.  What a true shame that overspending of the government – one of the many points the war was supposed to have addressed – may in fact bring about the demise of a museum dedicated to the memory of our heroes.

I urge you today to write a note to the local legislators who can positively affect the Drum Barracks by keeping staff employed and keeping the museum open for we local people to visit, learn, and enjoy.  With the 150th anniversary of this moment of our nation’s history fast approaching in 2011, we do not want to lose access to the artifacts and historical locations associated with it.  The names and addresses of the appropriate people to contact are listed below this note.  I hope you will take the time to help preserve our history!

Sincere regards,

Mrs Mattie Marvel

Janice Hahn
Councilwoman
15th District
638 S. Beacon St.  Suite 553
San Pedro,CA  90731
310-732-4515
Janice.hahn@lacity.org

Jon Kirk Mukri
General Manager, Department of Recreation and Parks
221 N. Figueroa St.  Suite 1550
Los Angeles,CA  90012
213-202-2633
JonKirk.mukri@lacity.org

Mark Mariscal
Superintendent, Pacific Region
Department of Recreation and Parks
1670 Palos Verdes Drive North
Harbor City, CA  90710
Mark.mariscal@lacity.org

Faithful reader, you are so kind to grace these pages again! My simple words and phrasing shall hopefully express all of the sights and sounds to take in during the recent unpleasantness which took place at Huntington Beach, California. As we heard tell, troops gathered on the afternoon of Friday last, with hundreds encamping to fight to the very death protecting our fair town. There were many represented among us civilians, to include our esteemed President Lincoln, the traitorous Senator Davis, the Widow Peters, numerous shops and tradesmen, the hospital, the Georgia Relief and Hospital Society, D/D Tavern, and of course us, as we took refuge in Mrs Brewer’s Parlour.

Saturday the tensions between the opposing armies mounted as the temperature rose with the sun. I fear that many good soldiers were felled by the intense humidity, which hovered around 80% though falling. They did not engage until nearly half past one, and the fighting lasted through the rest of the day with a brief lapse mid afternoon. Twilight found the camps settled however, and music was apparently heard throughout.

Miss Melody spent the day Saturday exploring the town, collecting sticks and leaves, and entertaining us with music played with her plate and spoon. Her Papa took her walking and the two shared lemonaide, a hot dog, and a new fangled confection made of cake, cream and a chocolate coating, with the unusual appellation of “Ding Dong” although I am uncertain how this is to remind us of church bells ringing. Sunday however, she escaped the heat and humidity with Father, while Mother was tending shop along with Mrs Marshall. Mrs Brewer certainly endeavored to care for us amidst the heat and herself suffering from intense fatigue and ague. Mr J— spent the day in the parlour with us and escorted Mrs Marshall out shopping in the afternoon. Thankfully, the heat was relieved a bit and we were able to enjoy our day more fully. I spent a portion of the day reading to Mrs Brewer from Edgar Allen Poe, the story of Marie Roget. A frightening escapade, that! but I look forward to my next visit with her to continue the story all the same.

With the falling barometer, the tension between the two armies was also lessened and the battle between them, although continued from the day previous and skirmished and engaged throughout the day, was resolved no later than three in the afternoon, allowing a tactical victory to the Federal troops but a victory of morale to the scandalous Confederates who overwhelmed the artillery unit which had taken up position at the area closest to the the town. It was a fearful moment to see our boys in blue overtaken with butternut, gray and brown. Fortunately for us, the Southern men were gentlemen in their deeds and allowed the gunners to live, and they did not sack the town.

My dear, I must close this now, for Miss Melody begs my attention, as a young girl must of her mother. I hope that I will hear from you in the near future with news of home in New York. Until then, I remain,

Your faithful cousin,
Mrs Mattie Marvel

Post Script, I enclose herein a carte de visite which was made during this eventful weekend by a traveling photographer, of Mrs Marshall resting within Mrs Brewer’s parlour. The fatigue of this terrible war can be seen in her eyes. We are all tired of the uncertainty and pray to the heavens that peace will soon be restored to our great nation!
MM