Feinberg/Whitman Box 14 Folder 20 General Correspondence Pratt, Alfred E. June 1865 - Jan. 1870 & undatedWashington June 10, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt: As I am visiting your son Alfred occasionally, to cheer him up in his sickness in hospital, I thought you might like a few words, though from a stranger, yet a friend to your boy. I was there last night, and sat a while by the bed, as usual, & he showed me the letter he had just received from home. He wrote to you yesterday. He has had diarrhea pretty bad, but is now improved & goes about the hospital - but as the weather is pretty hot & powerful in the midst of the day, I advised him not to go out doors much at present. What he wants most is rest, and a chance to get his strength again. I expect he willimprove by degrees, & I hope it will not be very long before he will be sent home - though I don't know, as I am only a friend, occasionally visiting the hospitals. Alfred has good accommodations where he is, & a good doctor, & nursing - so you must not worry about him. I shall stop & see him a little every day, as he likes to have me, & I like him too. Poor young men, there are hundreds & thousands of them here, wounded or sick, in the great army hospitals - many of them suffering with amputations & wounds - others with sickness, & so faint & weak this weather - it is enough to make one's heart bleed - - As to Alfred, he is comparatively well off, there are so many with bad wounds &c. - the deaths are quite frequent. He will soon be restored, according to present appearances. We are having very hot weather here, & it is dry & dusty - The City is alive with soldiers from both the Army of the Potomac & the Western Armies, brought here by Sherman. There have been some great Reviews here, as you have seen in the papers - & thousands of soldiers are going home every day. You must write to Alfred often, as it cheers up a boy sick & away from home. Write all about domestic & farm incidents, and as cheerful as may be. Direct to him, in Ward C. Armory Square Hospital, Washington, D. C. Should any thing occur, I will write you again, but I feel confident he will continue doing well. For the present farewell. Walt Whitman Washington D CAttorney General's Office Washington Dear Al, Your letter came all right - & I was glad to hear from you, boy, & get to know that you had got home to your own folks at last - & now I hope you will get well & strong again, dear son- & I hope it may be God's will that you will not only get so, but keep so. Armory Square Hospital is broken up, & all the sick & wounded have been taken away, or forwarded home. I have not seen No 6. in Ward C that you speak of. but shall no doubt meet him soon, & that little matter is all right any how. Al you was quite low, one time there in the Hospital - & the worst of it was you was down-hearted & homesick, & said nothing to any body - only when I came around, & we soon had quite a love toward each other, & no doubt that did you good - only I now regret that I did not do more for you &come to see you oftener. I am working now in the Attorney General's office. This is the place where the big Southerners now come up to get pardoned - all the rich men & big officers of the reb army have to get special pardons, before they can buy or sell, or do any thing that will stand law - Sometimes there is a steady stream of them coming in here - old & young, men & women - some of the men are odd looking characters - I talk with them often, & find it very interesting to listen to their descriptions of things that have happened down south, & to how things are there now &c. There are between 4 and 5000 pardons issued from this office, but only about 200 have been signed by the President - The rest he is letting wait till he gets good & ready - What I hear & see about Andrew Johnson, I think he is a good man - sometimes some of the letters he gets are sent over to this office to be answered - & occasionally that job falls to me - One of them was a letter a few days ago from a widow woman in Westfield, N. Y.There was a big match played here yesterday between two base ball clubs, one from Philadelphia and the other a Washington club - & to-day another is to come off between a New York & the Philadelphia club I believe - thousands go to see them play - I keep well, & every body says I am getting fat & hearty - I live at the same place in M street, 468 - only I have moved into the front room, - it is pleasanter - I have 3 meals brought up to me - My landlady gives me very good grub, $32.50 a month - Well I must draw to a close, as the sheet is most full - When you write, to let me know how you are & if you have rec'd this, direct to me, Attorney General's office, Washington D. C. Now Ally I must bid you good by, & I send you my love my darling boy, & also to your parents, for your sake - you must try to be a good young man & behave right & manly, for that is far more than worldly prosperity - Farewell, Dear son. Walt Whitman Her husband was in Texas when the war broke out, joined our army - & was killed by the rebels - they also confiscated his property in Texas, leaving his family helpless - this lady wrote to the President for aid, &c - I wrote the President's answer - telling her that she should have her husband's pension, which would be pretty good, as he was a captain, - & that the rebs in Texas could not hold any such property, but that she could bring a suit & get it back, &c. - then put in a few words to cheer her up, &c. Aug 29. Dear son, I did not finish my letter because I have not been able to get the little picture of Lincoln & Washington - but I succeeded in getting one this morning. - I send it as a little present to my dear boy, & I hope it will please him, for there is something about it that is both pleasing & solemn to me, though but a small picture - We are having a cloudy drizzly day here & heavy mist - There is nothing very new or special - [*The draft I will send Monday I went to the bank Saturday but was closed.*]Attorney General's Office, Washington, Sept. 27. 1866 Dear boy & comrade, I am not only alive, but as well & hearty as ever i was -- & more that, I often think about you, Alfred. & retain the same friendship that we formed when I used to sit down on your bed when you was so low in the hospital. If I hadn't got your letter of 23d. I should likely have written to you very soon, of my own accord, for I thought about you the last few weeks in particular. I have been home in Brooklyn the last two months, to seemy mother, & pay a visit to New York, &c. and I only returned day before yesterday. I am still employed in this Department, - shall probably remain here through the winter, (although nothing is certain now-days) -- Washington is rather dull, - no more soldiers around like there used to be - no more patrols marching around the streets - no more great racks of hospitals ------ I get along well enough in this city in pleasant weather, when one can go around, - but it's rough in bad weather. - -- Al, I got the picture, dear boy, & I have it yet, & take good care of it, & take a good look at it every now & then. - I think it is a good likeness. It is now a year ago since you sent it - you spoke in that letter of your parents - you must give my love to them, & if it should be practicable I should like much to make them a call - but yet it does not seem likely as things are at present. But I wonder whether we shall ever come together again, you & I, my loving soldier boy. O how much comfort it would be to me, if things were so that we could have each other's society - for I think so much of such things.I am writing this at my table by a big window in the office, where I can look out & see the Potomac away down to Alexandria, & across all up & down Arlington Heights, & near at hand the grounds south of the President's House - it is a splendid day to-day, bright & clear & just cool enough -- & I feel in good health - & all the better on account of your letter arriving. Well I must draw to a close. I hope dear comrade, you are trying to be honorable & upright young man, for that is more than the greatest worldly prosperity, or learning either. I send you my love, & must now bid you farewell for present, dear soldier boy. Walt WhitmanJuly [?]5, 1867 Dear boy & comrade It is a [?] while since I have written to you [?] I believe it is six months, or over - you must think I have forgotten you - I have thought of you often, & w[ish?] [I could] [have you with me, it could be so that] we could be together. [?] Your love for me & the kind invitations you have sent me, & from your [k?]ind father & mother [?] to come out & pay you all a visit are fully appreciated by me. I hope & intend to come & see [to see] you all, one of these days. Al, I believe the last letter I got from you was last April I went home bout that [tim?]e, to Bro[?], & was [absent] [?] several w[ee?]ks - one of my [?] was very sick with erysi[pelas?] [?] lay very low for a whil[e?] [?] recovered. My mother, & [?] the folks are all well. I [?] have had [very] good [weather?] all along. I am still working [with the?] Attorney Ge[n?]'s office. I am [writing?] this letter at my desk in the office, seat[ed] [b?]y [a] my large old open window where I [?] look out & see the prospect of the Po[???]c river, & the hills & trees & banks for miles & miles - it looks pleasant - but we are having it very hot indeed just now [?]ti last night was very [close] [&] oppressive - then [it] the air is so close & stale in the city in h[ot?] w[?] any how - I sometimes feel as if [coudnt] could hardly breathe - [Congress has been session here again for three weeks, but adjourned [?] Saturday] I suppose you read in the paper about the [?] of John H. Sur[ratt?] for taking part in the murder [??] - Lincoln I w[??] down to the [????] before yesterday. Surratt [?] very young - I sat [???]d at him a long while - [??] [fanning?] himself & his brother [???] sits [by his side] close by him The lawyers [???] sides are very smar[t?]Sometimes the evidence goes strongly against him, & then again for him — it is very interesting to sit [& hear?] the witnesses, & the speeches of [the?] lawyers — — it [is] has been [a?] [tedious?] trial, & it is hard to tell how it [is] [will?] end. Al you mentioned [about?] your father buying a new farm. When you write tell me how it goes, & how you are getting along yourself, & all [about?] [?] [particulars?], for I want to hear all [?] you. Tell your father & mother I [?] write to them but I suppose writing to you is about the same as writing to them. [?] I send them my love, & a full share to you, dear boy. My address is the same as you directed in former [letters?]. Well, I [must?] [?] close. [?] [?elas] [?] parents also, great [?]Tell your father & mother I would write to them, but I suppose writing to you is almost the same. I send them my love & a full share to you, dearest comrade. My address is the same as you directed your former letters. Well, I must draw to a close. Alfred your love for me, & the kind invitations you have sent me, & from the kind father & mother also, to come & pay you all a visit, are fully appreciated by me. I hope & intend to come & see you all, one of these days. Write & let me know if you get this. Farewell, my darling boy, & God bless you, & bless the dear parents also. Walt Whitman. Washington July 25,1867. Dear boy & comrade, It is a long while since I have written to you - I believe it is six months, or over - but you must not think I have forgotten you - I have thought of you often, & wished we could be together. Al, I believe the last letter I got from you was last April. I went home about that time to Brooklyn, N.Y. & remained home quite a long time - one of my brothers, (who had been a soldier & all through the war in the 9th Corps.) was sick with erysipelas, & lay very low for a while - but has recovered. My Mother, & the rest of the folks, are all well. I have had good health since I last wrote to you. Iam still working in the Attorney General's office here- I am writing this letter at my desk in the office, seated by the same old open window, where I can look out & have a splendid view of the Potomac river, & the hills & trees & banks, for miles & miles. It looks pleasant enough - but we are having it very hot indeed, just now- last night was very oppressive - - then the air is so close & stale in the city in hot weather any how - I sometimes feel as if I could hardly breathe. Alfred, I suppose you read in the papers about the trial of John H. Surratt for taking part in the murder of President Lincoln I went down to the trial, day before yesterday. Surratt is very young - I sat near him & looked at him a long time - he sits most of the time fanning himself with a big palm leaf fan, & watches the witnesses with his sharp eyes - & his brother, a young farmer-looking man from Texas, sits close by him. The lawyers on both sides are very smart - sometimes the evidence goes strongly against him, & then again for him. It is very interesting to sit & hear the witnesses & the speeches of the lawyers. It has been a tedious trial, + it is hard to tell how it will end.------- Al, you mentioned about your father buying a new farm last spring. You must tell me how it goes - & also how you are getting along yourself, for I want to hear every thing, & all the particulars about you.you must write to me often as you can I shall probably remain here this winter I wish you to give my love to your father + mother They do not seen at all like strangers to me And now Alfred I must bid you farewell for the present my loving boy + comrade - when you write write to me about the farm + the farm -life, crops, horses tc for I like to hear about such things too Walt Whitman Attorney General's Office Washington Oct 28, 1867 Alfred Pratt Dear boy + comrade I have been home to Brooklyn N.Y. on a visit to my mother but I am now back here again and am well as usual and working in the same place Your letter of August 15 and the letter of Oct 2 have both reached me + I was very glad to hear from you + your folks + to get such friendly letters Dear boy I should like much to pay you a visit + to be with youfor a while + to become acquainted with your father + mother - it would be a real comfort to me + I am deter- mined to come one of these days I often think about it + about you too dear friend + one of these days we will see each other again There is nothing very new in my affairs I have had quite a pleasant summer + now the fall is here- the past three weeks has been splendid weather here both days + nights - but to-day there is a heavy rain - looks as if it had set in for a long storm - I am living at a boarding house the same place where you come to see me but new landlord + landlady - 472 M st - it is quite pleasant - mostly young people full of life + gayety- then I go to my work at 9 + leave at 3- so you see it is easy enough - In about three weeks more it will be lively times here in Washington as Congress is to meet then + there will be some important questions brought up- but I take all these things very coolly + since the war is over dont allow myself to get excitedAttorney General's Office, Washington. July 1, 1869. Dear Alfred Pratt, I am still here in Washington, & work in the same office—My health is good, & there is nothing specially new or important with me since I wrote you last. I have received your letters. Dear boy I would like to see you, that we might be together once more, even if but for a little while—I have thought I would try to journeyour your way, for a few days, but it don't seem practicable just at present. I hope you are well - you must write me a good long letter all about your affairs & yourself - all will be interesting. I send you my love, & to your parents also - Tell them I hope yet to meet them - Good bye, dear young man - I too have not forgotten those times when you lay sick in the hospital - & our love for each other - such things are not easily forgotten. Some day I will try to come out there, & we will see each other again. Walt Whitman I send you a newspaper with a piece in about me, that may interest you. I send it same mail with this. Good bye my loving boy. For Mother Attorney Generals Office, Washington Jan. 20, 1870. Dear son & comrade Alfred Pratt: I have received your letter of the 14th. So you are going to Kansas, & it would seem you think of settling there - so it may be we shall not see each other - but I wish you to write to me & let me know how it goes with you. & I hope, dear boy, you will continue to remember me with a love which time shall not fade out. My dear friends, N. M. and J. B. Pratt, I appreciate your kindness & your hospitable invitations, & I am sure it would be a good change & a comfort to me to come out & see you, & be with you a few days, surrounded with new scenery, & a farm life - it is what I should enjoy of all things - and I hope things may work so that I can come one of these days - if so, I will send you word in advance. The picture of the dear daughter will be welcome. I should also like another of my dear loving boy Alfred, as soon as he gets any late ones, if he does so. So goodbye & God bless you. My dear friends & my love to all. Walt WhitmanAlf. Pratt, Oct. 2, '67 ans. Oct 28 '67 WALWORTH OCT 2 N. Y. Walt Whitman Attorney Generals Office Washington D. C. Alfred Pratt Jan 17, 1870 sent pics Jan 20 '70 Walt Whitman, Attorney Generals Office Washington D. C.Carrier OCT 5 IDELSun the 14th 1870 Dear Walt Whitman I recieved your vary kind Letter and picture and And was vary glad to hear from you. I all so Recieved your vary kind Papers and have taken great pains to lay them away to look at some future time but the book I have never seen. Well now I will tell you about my mother. She sits in her chair knitting a pair of mitens she says that She has a great angsity to See you My father would like to see you also My brother [?] I we could all meet you to us when our Son alfred was sick among strangers and among strangers we have formed a great desire to see you and and have a good and frendly talk we did think that you would start out in the hot weather and get out of the city and see us but now my boy is a going to Kansas to live he expects to start for Kansas with some of our neighbours next tuesday a week to settle perhapse you may think it not worth a while to come and see us, but we are very anxious to see you if you think you can posibly come I have [?] here of 130 acres 3 horses & two year old colts 9 cows and expect 4 more in the spring (that is 4 heiffers to come in) continued on the next SheetWith a hearty welcome Mother has a very bad cold at preasent. the rest of us are nicly well. I will send you one dollar to get some picture with the picture you sent me of yourself I take a good look at it every now and then. I thank you vary much for the last one you sent. the views that you send me are to be of the public buildings of the City. I expect to start for kansus next tuesday but my comrad had to postponed it for a few days on the account of death in the family If you write soon I shall get it I expect to night some friends here to make an evning call You will please excuse me from writing as I wish to leave some room for my [?] as he said he would finish this. so Fare the well My Dear Walt do not forget to address Williamson Wayne Co (N. Y. Much respected Friend W Whitman, it is with the greatest pleasure I attempt to write a few lines to fill out Alfred letter we all feel a good deal of the warmest affection for you for you very great honor you confered on us in writing(continued for want of room) and a lot of poltry such as turkeys Ducks and chickens. Oh I had a daughter last aug a year ago and she lives with us yet but I expect to be obliged to [?] with her in a few days. She ways about 100 lbs and is as handsome as a picture. I think I will have her picture before she goes and will send you one please except our thanks for past favours Mrs Pratt sends you her respects in particular please write soon to your unworthy friend [?] B. Pratt P.O. Williamson Wayne Co. N.Y.6th 1865 J.B. Pratt { Williamson, Wayne, Co. { N.Y. { Most Dear & [?] son Alfred we received a letter last night [from?] you and was pained to hear that you were sick [in?] the hospital in a [?] and among strangers. Oh if [?] and your Mother could be there to take care of you it would be some consolation but you said you were better but did not say what your complaint was we hope for the best it may be when you get this you will be well but if not write in hast or get someone to write me the particulars. we are all well at this time the weather is [?] and very warm. we have [?] planting and sowingI sowed oats on the cornfield north of the barn and that middle lot where we had beans last year also the [?] south the road all [?] to oats and we plant from [?] to the ditch about 1/2 [?] 3 acres down north where [?] plowed I have set one [?] red apple tree. [there?] [are?] [?] grape vine. [Ritter?] and [Landon?] the [plowing?] they make good team. I don't think of much to [?] the best you [can?] [?] to come home the first opportunity rite soon without fail and rite if you want me to send you anything good by . . B.J. John B Pratt Williamson Wayne co. N YPleas if get this rite and if you will Please to senndd me that potagraph of abe and washington like yours if you can find them and I will pay you for it Walt Whitman Dear Friend I am now at my own home but hav not got my discharge yet. I left washington on trans furr to rochester. I have to go back to rochester to get my discharge. the day that I left thare I went to the patent ofice to see you but you was not thare. and I had not time to go whare you was but, went back to Ward C and gave to no. 6 thare in the ward 70 cts to give to you he said that he would let you have it the first time that you come in. now pleas rite and let me know if you got it. I wanted to see youI would like to no if you got that money any how. I got home two weeks ago last friday. but I find myself rather weak yet last friday I was on a lode of hay and went to get down of from it and I fell and scard the horses one of them kicked me on the forehead and then they start to run and the wagon wheel struck me on the back of my head and hurt me bad but can sit up now. I think of no more at present. Pleas rite if you get this Address Alfred C Pratt Williamson Wayne Co. N.Y. My friends sent their respects. Walt Whitman Dear Friend I am now at my own home but hav not got my discharge yet. I left Washington on trans furr to rochester. I have to go back to rochester to get my discharge. the day that I left thare went to the patent office to see you but you was not there. and I had not time to go whare you was but, went back to Ward C and gat to no. 6 there in the ward 70 cts to give to you he said that he would let you have it the first time that you come in. now pleas rite and let me know if you got it. I wanted to see you I would like to no if you got that money anyhow. I got home two weeks ago last friday. but I find myself rather weak yet from it and I fell and scard the horses one of the kicked me on the forehead and then they start to run and the wagon wheel struck me on the back of my head and hurt me bad but can sit up now. I think of no more at present. Pleas rite if you get this address. August 7th. Alfred E. Pratt Williamson Wayn Co. N.Y. My friends their respects Pleas if get this rite and if you will Pleas to send me that potagraphs of Abe and Washington like yours if you can find them and I will pay you for it.Williamson Sunday the 29 Dear Friend Walt I now take this opportunity of informing you that I am well at present and I hope this may find you the same. It is getting late as I have rote one letter this evening but as I have not heard anything from you in a great while I would rite you a few lines but as I rote last I think its your turn but I dont no ( ) are ofended about something. If I have ofended you in any way I am vary sory for it and hope you will forgive me as I have ment no hurt. now Friend Walt I hav looke for you out hear for some time but hav not seen you yet. I would like to see you very much. I don't think of much that will interest you so I must draw to a close so good by Walt. This from your friend Alfred E. Pratt Williamson, Wayn Co New York[?] Sunday Me[?] Dear Friend Walt I now take this opportunity of informing you that I am well at present and I hope this may find you the same. It is getting late as I have rote one letter this evening but as I have not heard any thing from you in a great while I would rite you a few lines but as I rot last I think its your tern but I dont no [??] [??] [ofended?] about some thing if I have ofen[?] you in any way I am vary sory for it and hope you [??] [??]one [??] I [??] ment no hurt now Friend Walt I [??] looke for you [??] hear for some time but have not [Seen?] you yet I would like to See you very much I don't think of much that will interest you So I must draw to a close So good by Walt This from your Friend Alfred E Pratt Williamson [??] New York