Archive of Letters Between a Maryland Wife and Her Surgeon Husband with the 6th Maryland Volunteer Regiment at Camp Parole, Annapolis
North East and Annapolis: 1864. Loose sheets. Very good to near fine overall. All of the original envelopes present, except one. Stamps have been clipped on all but two envelopes.
Dr. Charles T. Simpers and his wife, Eliza, lived in the town of North East, in Cecil County, Maryland. This group of letters from late 1864 opens a window into the trials and feelings of a couple separated by the Civil War. Eliza struggles with her health, management of the house, the hired manager of their farm, concerns about bad influences on their children, etc.
Dr. Simpers replies with medical advice for Eliza and the family, instructions for the farm, and much more. The tone is loving but sometimes quite clearly frustrated with the circumstances.
There are 17 letters in all:
10 letters from Eliza to Charles
3 from Charles to Eliza
2 letters to Charles from the couple's young son
2 from a niece to Charles
Dr. Simpers' letters to Eliza are datelined "Camp Parole, and one is on U. S. Sanitary Commission letterhead.
Item #665
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