This letter was written from Havana, Cuba, in 1862 by an American who signed his name “George” and addressed his letter to “brother” — Charles B. Smith of Newark, Jew Jersey. The letter’s mention of “Wright & Smith” — a Newark machinery manufacturing firm — helps us to identify Charles B. Smith as the Newark resident who partnered with Lysander Wright in the manufacturing firm. I believe this is the same Charles B. Smith (b. @ 1837 in New York) who married Anna Elizabeth Gould (1839-1883), the daughter of Newark Architect, Lucius Douglas Gould (1814-1899) and his wife, Phoebe Elizabeth Gardner (1820-1900). The couple were married in Newark on 18 July 1861. Charles’ mother was named Sally (b. 1814 in New Jersey) and his father was born in England. Otherwise, I know little else about Smith. Wright & Smith made steam engines, machine tools, wood-working machinery, etc., but most notably, scrollsaws.
I failed to confirm the identity of the author though I am conjecturing it was written by George D. Gould (1843-1918), the younger brother of Charles’ wife. His purpose for being in Havana isn’t entirely clear. He has booked passage back to New York in April 1862 by way of the brig John Hathaway. He later worked as a machinist — possibly in the same business owned by his brother-in-law.
While in Cuba, George was an eyewitness to the arrival of the USS warship Santiago de Cuba who was part of the fleet blockading CSA ports during the war. He also mentions that he has heard of Admiral Porter’s fleet leaving Key West for New Orleans to capture the city.
Addressed to Charles B. Smith, Box 97, Newark, New Jersey, USA by Steamer Roanoke, Havana, March 11, 1862
TRANSCRIPTION
Havana [Cuba]
March 10th 1862
Dear Brother,
By [Steamer] Roanoke, received yours of 28th ult. covering draft Carrington & Co. for seventy dollars, the “quiv” of which is in my pocket, having been paid on presentation. Much obliged to you for same — would like to have had you mention whether it was from Mr. [Lysander] Wright on my old account, or not — suppose it was — although all the same to me at present.
If you would look a moment at the matter as it stands, I don’t think you will have much cause to blame me as you thought. When I wrote the letter to Mr. [Lysander] Wright and also to you, I had been here 4 days. Had found the difficulties to be encountered and the high price of living, and looking ahead things looked gloomy enough to me. I suffered from a depression of spirits and under the influence of same wrote home for money. After looking around more and becoming myself again, I saw how I could in an emergency have raised money by drawing upon Wright & Smith — but that way of proceeding was rendered futile by my having already written for money, and if I had then drawn on you, you would have been compelled to pay draft & send me money besides, as the draft would not have come to hand until after you had remitted me.
I have been here four weeks today and the letter I got from you by Roanoke was in answer to the letter mailed by me the by the first steamer after landing, and in the interval you had received none of the subsequent letters that I wrote, although I have sent two or three since. So you see I could not countermand my demand for money and could not then draw on you as you would feel bound to honor my draft that come, I suppose.
I think taking everything into consideration I could not have done better than remain here as I did. My mode of hiring room &c. reduced my expenses as low as could be obtained in any other place (unless it was Porto Rico, & I think there is some mistake about that) and my living has been of the best, and I have enjoyed myself as I could not in any other place. Having been here about as long as I intended remaining out here, I think I will obtain passage on a vessel that will touch at Matanzas or Cárdenas, remaining there a couple of weeks to load, and arriving home about the 5 or 6 of April. This will give me an opportunity of visiting that part of the island where the sugar, coffee & tobacco plantations are abundant. There are no plantations of any account near Havana. I of course will remain with vessel and going ashore as I like. By this method, my expenses will be light.
There is very little opportunity for getting to Porto Rico. The first vessel that goes is a Spanish Drogher [sailing barge], sailing on the 20th inst., and they charge an ounce ($17) for passage. It is an out of the way place and about the only way to go there is from New York as there is no trade between Havana & there.
The rent of my room expenses on the 14th, and considering the expense of remaining here until she sails, and the expense of passage, I think it would be impolite to go there for the short time I care to remain in this section of country. I think by the first or second week in April, the weather will have become decently settled in the States and I don’t care to remain here very late as there is going to be an unusual amount of sickness this summer. It is already becoming very warm and the water in the harbor is turning a sickly green color that should not show itself before the middle of April. The Small Pox is raging all along the south side of the island at Cienfuegos, Trinidad, &c. and we have had not a few cases here in Havana.
As for Yellow Fever, that is easily found here at any time. Capt. Townsend & one of his men had it two weeks ago but not very severe as they both had had it before. They don’t mind it much here anyway. I am in hopes to get passage with Capt. Townsend — that is, if he decides to go to some other port and load. I was aboard of him this afternoon and was made acquainted with a master’s mate of the U.S. war steamer Santiago de Cuba ¹ — a fine fellow — and received an invitation to dinner tomorrow on board. Shall have a fine chance to examine one of Uncle Sam’s finest boats. She came in from Key West this morning at 11 o’clock — 7 hours on the passage — and besides took two small secessionist schooners that left here the day before. Her object in coming here is to spot some of the many vessels from Dixie lying here and hopes to take a few when they sail. The Hathaway lies in a fleet of them of 18 sail and the mate of the Santiago de Cuba stuck out his eyes when he saw them. They have little idea of the number of such vessels in here.
The [David Dixon] Porter Mortar Fleet left Key West Saturday and the supposition is strong that she will attack New Orleans as the vessels are all light draft and can operate in the shallow waters of Lake Ponchartrain. You will hear good news from them soon.
Brig Hatheway
Tuesday Eve
March 11, 1862
I was interrupted last evening by my candle disappearing in the mouth of the bottle serving for candlestick and have been so busy today that I could not resume. I date this on board the Hathaway, having engaged passage home. We leave at sunrise tomorrow morning for Cárdenas, load there with sugar, and then proceed home, arriving in New York about 6 or 8 April. Will be two weeks or more in Cárdenas ² and while there I shall pay a visit to Matanzas & surrounding country. Must close this as it is late and I must yet go ashore and mail this. Had an awful time getting clear of Havana. Will write you from Cárdenas giving particulars. — George
¹ The USS Santiago de Cuba was a wooden, brigantine-rigged, side-wheel steamship built in 1861 at Brooklyn, New York. She was purchased by the Navy on 6 September 1861 at New York City; and outfitted as a gunboat with powerful 20-pounder rifled guns and 32-pounder cannon. She was commanded by Daniel B. Ridgely. Listed among her crew were Master’s Mates William H. Ellery and Thomas T. Dwyer.
² According to the marine news published in the Newport Mercury (Newport, Rhode Island), the brig John Hathaway captained by Townsend arrived in Cárdenas from Havannah on 12 March 1862. The same newspaper reported that the brig John Hathaway arrived in New York on 16 April 1862 from Cárdenas. While making the trip from Cuba to New York, the 2d mate, John Balteen of Newport, was washed overboard and drowned.
USS Santiago de Cuba
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