American Historical Ephemera & Photography Online

Partial autograph letter in unknown hand, addressed to "John." Belvue Plaquemine [Louisiana], 25 August 1812. 4 pages, 8 x 13 1/2 in., folds, separation at folds, tape repairs near folds, chipping, some loss to edges. The author begins, "I have now dreadful news indeed to communicate. We have had a hurricane accompanied with inundation, which together have spread desolation and ruin through settlements below Gentilly. Thank god we have all escaped with our lives above Point La Hacke except one Negro of Madam Francis...Dreadfull to tell about 70 people have lost their lives including some belonging to the river craft below us and the greatest half of which I believe are whites. The Placquemine settlements is ruined." He goes on to describe the hurricane in great detail,..."This terrible scourge happened on the night of Friday last which made it still more horrible & dangerous. For six hours our lives were in jeopardy." He continues with an incredibly thorough account of the hurricane, as well as the rising waters, danger, and destruction that followed. At daylight, he was able to survey the damage and reflect on all that had just happened, "Daylight appeared and such a scene of desolation never before met my eye. Within the shattered remains of the house some few articles of furniture bureau & bookcase, open trunks & boxes, wardobe etc. in a tattered plight, all the rest, provisions too gone to the woods, not a particle of food left, papers money, & all...We congratulated one another on the preservation of our lives & returned thanks to the Almighty for it." He goes on to describe the damage that had been done and the lives that had been lost, including a Capt. Johnson, who "lost 5 negroes all of his front columns except one, the sugar house, except the mill and that is unroofed, all the out buildings & fences. The ravages about Plaquemine as I said before are indeed." Full transcript of available upon request. 

[With:] Autograph letter signed ("Phebe"), addressed to Sister Lizzie. Goshen, 14 September. 4 pages, 4 1/4 x 6 3/4 in., mourning border, light soiling. The woman reveals that she is a widow, "Yes Lizzie your brother and my husband is dead...I look at my little ones and feel that they are Fatherless. Oh can it be that Tommie is dead." She continues, "When I think no I can't pray for him it seems my heart stops my lips crave to utter when I think he is beyond the reach of prayer and always when the children say their prayers they always prayed God to bless Papa and Mama, now they ask why must they leave Pappas name out." She describes the final hours she shared with him before he was killed..."about 10 miles from home...they were coupling the last car in five minutes would have been on their way home he had spoken to the conductor not five minutes before of soon being home when the trained passed over him he screamed stop stop twice these were his last words he was dreadfully mangled his arm was broken his clothes torn nearly off of him ho to awful to think about I can't dwell upon it." Accompanied by original cover. Full transcription available upon request.