1862

Mary (Chapin) Burt updates her parents about the wellbeing of various close friends and family. With the Civil War in full swing, she briefly mentions the battles of Fort Donelson, Pea Ridge, and the evacuation of Corinth, Mississippi by the Confederate Army. Her father in law, Richard "Welling" Burt, was at the battle of Fort Donelson, and later published a book that includes a poem describing the battle. It is speculated that E. Schwartze was in Corinth, as Companies A, B,C, and D were transferred there, but no further letters exist to corroborate this. It is, however, confirmed by Mary's letter that Welling was in Corinth and is probably why she mentions the city at all.

Notable family happenings at the time include Mary's son Allie’s passing from the measles and the revelation that her and the children are now living at the residence of her parents-in-law, Welling and Malona Burt, in Newark, Ohio.

In another update to her parents, siblings, and "all the rest," Mary Burt relates that she and her family have moved once again to Van Wert, Ohio. She apprises them of Welling’s health, as he is away fighting the war as a part of Ohio's 76th Infantry Regiment. Mary also updates them on what her husband Tommy is doing since leaving them to find work, and the somewhat downtrodden state of the Burt family after being geographically separated for some time.

In a two letter series, Mary explains why she has not yet visited her parents in Illinois–she has been ill as a result of the severe weather and a decayed tooth that is causing her a great deal of pain. Mary talks through potential travel plans to Illinois and shares that Tommy has plans to buy some land with a cabin on it. Mary further recounts the varying illnesses her in-laws and other family are dealing with, and conversely, those with good health as well.

The second letter is a simple note asking about provisions for her arrival, her sister Hannah’s address, and a few recipe requests to the women in the family. It can be oddly comforting to read about these mundane requests and queries; these domestic and relational concerns exist as a common thread between women during all periods of history, and help to deepen our understanding of the women’s reality of surviving day to day.