- Home
- Search This Site
- Slavery: Colonial Era
- Slavery: Revolutionary Era
- Slavery: Pre-Civil War Era
- Slavery: Charles County
- Samuel A. Mudd
- The Civil War
- 1864: A Very Bad Year
- John Wilkes Booth
- The Booth Escape Route
- The Accused
- Prison & Penitentiary
- The Conspiracy Trial
- Conviction
- The Dry Tortugas
- Attempted Escape
- Prison Life
- Yellow Fever
- Dr. Mudd Pardoned
- Arnold/Spangler Pardoned
- The Final Years
- Reference Library
- Contact Us
4/19/1869: Letter from Dr. Mudd to Dr. Whitehurst
Source: Weedon and Whitehurst Family Papers, Manuscripts Department, Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina, Microfilm call number 1-4485.
Dr. Mudd wrote the following letter to Dr. Whitehurst shortly after arriving back home from Fort Jefferson. St. Catherine was the name/address sometimes used for Dr. Mudd’s farm.
St. Catherine, Charles Co. Md.
April 19th 1869
My Dear Friend,
I arrived at my home on the 20th March. Since then I have had scarcely an uninterrupted moment - being constantly besieged by friends & strangers. Several reporters have visited me & notwithstanding my resolution & endeavors to be reticent they have gleaned sufficient to pen a long letter to “the Herald” filled with misstatements & etc. I felt much grieved when I saw one remark relative to the treatment of Fever etc. I am made to claim an overdue success. Let me assure you my dear friend that I have on no occasion sought distinction for the small part performed by myself during the prevalence of Fever at the post - nor have I spoken of the subject with a view to detract from the noble & skillful services of yourself, or attaching credit to myself. The private soldiers through kind feeling made my conduct whilst in the hospital the basis of a petition for my release; and anything they could say that would tend to soften public opinion I had no objection, believing the object desired thereby would be effected. Whatever fame has been attached to my name belongs entirely to you. My duties were simply as nurse & dispensor of medicines, if as such, was worthy of mention, the greater praise is due you since I could not have occupied the position without your appointment.
I mailed the letter given me for your son from Baltimore, not being able to call. I wrote to him a day or two after and notified him of the letter & the health of yourself & kind family - also extended invitation to visit myself or Brother in Law in Baltimore, whenever his vacation or studies permitted.
I met on my arrival in Baltimore, our Governor and many of the prominent men of the city & state. I had no chance to speak relative to your request. I have since talked with many friends on the subject & they tell me the President is selecting all his appointments from the most Ultra Radical ranks & any advocacy of your claims by them they feared would result in your injury. I shall visit Baltimore in the course of a week or two & will try to get some of our Fraternity to visit the Secretary personally in your behalf. Remember me kindly to Mrs. Whitehurst & little ones, Father Allard & asst, Mr. Mallory, Mr. Mareno & others - & accept for yourself my highest regards & friendship.
Very truly etc.
Samuel A. Mudd.
April 19th 1869
My Dear Friend,
I arrived at my home on the 20th March. Since then I have had scarcely an uninterrupted moment - being constantly besieged by friends & strangers. Several reporters have visited me & notwithstanding my resolution & endeavors to be reticent they have gleaned sufficient to pen a long letter to “the Herald” filled with misstatements & etc. I felt much grieved when I saw one remark relative to the treatment of Fever etc. I am made to claim an overdue success. Let me assure you my dear friend that I have on no occasion sought distinction for the small part performed by myself during the prevalence of Fever at the post - nor have I spoken of the subject with a view to detract from the noble & skillful services of yourself, or attaching credit to myself. The private soldiers through kind feeling made my conduct whilst in the hospital the basis of a petition for my release; and anything they could say that would tend to soften public opinion I had no objection, believing the object desired thereby would be effected. Whatever fame has been attached to my name belongs entirely to you. My duties were simply as nurse & dispensor of medicines, if as such, was worthy of mention, the greater praise is due you since I could not have occupied the position without your appointment.
I mailed the letter given me for your son from Baltimore, not being able to call. I wrote to him a day or two after and notified him of the letter & the health of yourself & kind family - also extended invitation to visit myself or Brother in Law in Baltimore, whenever his vacation or studies permitted.
I met on my arrival in Baltimore, our Governor and many of the prominent men of the city & state. I had no chance to speak relative to your request. I have since talked with many friends on the subject & they tell me the President is selecting all his appointments from the most Ultra Radical ranks & any advocacy of your claims by them they feared would result in your injury. I shall visit Baltimore in the course of a week or two & will try to get some of our Fraternity to visit the Secretary personally in your behalf. Remember me kindly to Mrs. Whitehurst & little ones, Father Allard & asst, Mr. Mallory, Mr. Mareno & others - & accept for yourself my highest regards & friendship.
Very truly etc.
Samuel A. Mudd.
Copyright © 2012 Robert Summers. All rights reserved.
