NOTE: This letter conveys so well the great acceptance that most children of that time (and all time, for all we know, up until the last 100 years or so) will not outlive their parents. By this time it probably was clear to HJA that he himself might not make it home to see little Harry grow up. Understandable, then, that the special intensity of a father cherishing a son also comes across, and so I have included here an 1898 photo of “little Harry” as a grown man with one of his own sons, my grandfather, Roger Dowie Acker.
Harry Sherwood Acker was not quite 11 years old when HJA passed away. It seems clear, though, in the trajectory of little Harry's life, that this radiant love from his father served him well. He was – lucky for all of us descendants! - the only one of HJA's five children to bring his own children into the world.
To our little Harry on his first Birth-day, March 12th, 1864.
This beautiful weather chimes well with my feelings. How could I fail to be happy. A year ago our little boy was born. Conflicting thoughts & emotions were crowded in the hours of that day. Anxiety-for life & health, joy at present safety. Delight over the birth of a son. To-day in calmness I review the past year and build castles for the future. During the year uninterrupted health has been granted to you, Harry, so that from a wee bit of a baby you have grown steadily upward into a fine walking, laughing, prattling boy. Your little body has grown. You are taller, heavier & stronger. Your mind has grown. You notice much, have learned much. Your heart has grown. You love your Mama, Papa, Lulu & Satie. Little by little you have fastened yourself in our hearts so that now words could not express our love for you. How lonely we would be without our Harry. How sad for many, many days if you should be taken from us.
What will this year bring forth? I am content to trust God for your health. Mama & sisters will try to teach you many things. How nicely you will run out during the warm days of Summer. I imagine you walking with Lulu & Satie in the fields where Mama & I used to pick berries and by the running stream where we loved to sit & talk before any little girls & boy came to sheer our hearts. Your papa will see but little of you probably during this your 2nd year. Yet thoughts & imagination will be busy every day about you. And with Mama & Sisters to tell me about you it would be strange if I did not keep pretty good track of you.
In you I hope to live over again my life, school days, college days & all. I hope it may be a life of more progress & greater attainments. What kind of boy will you be? Disposition? Capacities? In what will you naturally take in the way of trade or profession? Time will show. If you only early become one of God's children I am willing to risk other matters. I trust that your next birthday may find us all together in some quiet home.
From your Papa in the Army near Culpeper, Va.
My dear Sarah,
This is a blue Monday for me. A bright sun but chilly March wind. Yesterday we had a division review at 10 o'clock which occupied us till 1 o'clock. At 2 ½ PM the men came together for service. Chaplain Bradner gave us a good sermon from the text “Behold now the goodness & severity of God.” Read it holding a thick book in his hand. We gave notice of a regimental prayer meeting in the evening after our style. I think he is now fairly started in a better course. We have agreed to continue preaching on alternate Sabbaths.
I wish you would ask someone to trip our grapevines. It should be done this month, I think.
Have you been able to obtain any place wherein to stow our goods? Think you had better take one of the strongest boxes for the minerals. If properly nailed it would stand safely in the barn. There is need of care in packing – especially the crystals. Wrap well in paper.
We are likely to be paid off now any day and I think by recovering up debts and probable expenses for the next two months that we shall have $100 to invest. Have concluded to send to Will until he has $1000. And perhaps longer. I wish you would send me in your next what amount I had better send you in addition to the $50 to be paid Mr. Rowhe. The horse cannot bring less than $75. If I were sure of his sale I could calculate better.
I rec'd your letter last night and a good one from the little girls. I don't know what to t think of Harry's mischievous pranks. If you send him down to me I think he would not feel quite as lively. So you too are having a Spring. I guess Lulu that you use acorns for birds' eggs. We have no eggs. The Sutter charges 4 cents a dozen for them. I have eaten them twice away from home.
You speak of sending a box next week. Perhaps you remember how I urged in my lecture the doing this. But when I think how much better I fare than the common soldier – better even than any Officer, for I am invited to a share of nearly every box that comes – I feel that I do not deserve a box to myself. Yet it will be welcome. And nothing need be lost. I do not need any article of clothing. You might put in the boots of which I wrote in my last. Norman Waring asked as a favor that he be told when you send a box for he wanted to send a boiled ham. So please tell him there could be nothing better in a box. So good to take on marches. Only not too much fat. If Lulu & Satie want to help they might pick out some walnut meat for Papa.
I am enjoying good health. Was never better. No dyspepsia. No lung cold. Mrs. Harrower broke that up for me with Ayre's Cherry Pectoral. Yesterday Capt. Harrower received a commission as Colonel of 161st Regt. NY Vol. We will leave in a few days. I rejoice at his future but regret to lose so good a friend from the Regt. He will give the Officers a supper before he leaves.
I send you the cards of Lt. Bastle & wife. Good pious man. Don't care so much for wife but he wanted them to go together.
I scarcely know what you want from the Army for your paper. Yet will try to prepare something for you before the week closes. Who attended the final meetings? And who will be at the Parsonage tonight for that purpose? I dreamt last night that I was taken prisoner while driving you and Harry thru the enemy country. Was glad to find myself in bed all night when I awoke.
Mr. Ross owes me a coat of paint on my wheelbarrow. Please say to him that he can paint it now & keep it for sale. It should bring near $5 which is the price I paid for it. The 2 Chaplains of the Maine Regt. and also Chaplain Bradner have been to call. The latter is in a great deal nowadays.
Good Bye now for another week. But before I leave let me say mark the box plainly “86th Regt. New York Vol. 3rd Corps. 1st Div. 2nd Brigade.”
Also on your letter write out New York in full. NY is sometimes taken for N. J. Even P.V. Are sometimes sent to us instead of Pennsylvania.
Much love for you all at home. No day is so fully occupied but that I think often of you. You about your household duties & the children playing in or out doors. Remember me kindly to all friends,
In Love your Henry.
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