Feinberg/Whitman Box 10 Folder 23 General Correspondence Gregg, Miss Sept. 7, 18631863 Sept. 7 WALT WHITMAN AUTOGRAPH LETTERS WHITMAN, WALT, to Miss Gregg Washington, D.C., A.L. Draft, 1p., endorsed by W.W. p. C.W.W., No. 75 FEINBERG COLLECTION OF WALT WHITMANSept 7, '63 (not outside eclat, but in manly American hearts) however [silent, how unexpressive] rude, however undemonstrative to you) You spoke the other day day, about parll in fun about the men be'g so undemonstrative Dear friend, I thought I would write you a line, as I hear you leave the hospital to morrow, for a few weeks. Your labor of love & disinterestedness here in Hospital is appreciated. They have their own ways. I have invariably heard the ward A [soldiers] patients speak of you [invariably] with gratitude [sometimes] sometimes with enthusiasm. [I] I [thought] [am sure] thought it [will] would be [good] sweet to your [tender &] tender & [indeed] womanly heart [could you heard] to know what I have so often [have] heard from the [poor sick boys,] soldiers [to me] about you as I sat by [them] their sick cots. I too have learnt to love you seeing your tender heart, & your goodness to [the] [those I call] [noble] [my sick] those wounded & dying young men [that] for they groan to [me] seem to me as my [dear] sons or dear young brothers. [As] As I am poor I cannot make you a present, but I write you this note dear girl knowing you will receive it in the same candor & good faith it is writtenNote to Miss Gregg [*see notes May 20 '88*]Letter to Miss Gregg Dear friend. You spoke the other day, partly in fun, about the men being so undemonstrative. I thought I would write you a line as I hear you leave the hospital tomorrow for a few weeks. Your labor of love and disinterestedness here in Hospital is appreciated. I have heard the Ward A patients speak of you with gratitude, sometimes with enthusiasm. They have their own invariable ways (not outside eclat, but in manly American hearts however rude however undemonstrative to you). I thought it would be sweet to your tender and womanly heart to know what I have so often heard from the soldiers about you as I sat by their sick cots. I too have learnt to love you, seeing your tender young men -- for they have grown to seem to me as my sons or dear young brothers. As I am poor I cannot make you a present, but I write you this note dear girl, knowing you will receive it in the same candor and good faith it is written.