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Thursday Aug. 6. 1863

Just after breakfast I went up to see Effie & Nellie
Shaw, and had a long talk with them. Effie
asked me if Mrs Gay had told me, how sorry her
mother was not to see me before she went away.
She told me many things about Robt and
dwelt much on the letter to his wife, written on
the morning of his death, when having brought his
colored troops, along side of Stevenson’s white soldiers,
he said he had not a wish ungratified, and
that as if to crown the morng letters had come
from wife & mother. We examined the family
record together that I might find out the exact
connection with the Tuckerman s. I was moved to
see some half dozen sheets inserted by Frank's

own hand since Robt’s death, and his simple
record of that sorrow.
It began, "Robt. Gould Shaw – to whom in
the course of nature this volume would have
descended – had he survived his father –"
After I parted from the girls, I went over to the
Johnsons; As it was Thanksgiving Day, Mr Johnson
was at home. I had a long talk with all of them
about Theodore, and heard all the minute details
of his life-history, even of his love affair with
Miss Kingsbury with its tragic ending.
I came home to dinner, but it was so hot
that I did not incline to take Sadie and

Martin out to bathe. I read Lilliesleaf to
Lizzie and after tea, went into the
Ward’s to bring Sadie home since she had
been spending the day with them. It was
far more comfortable than at home, so I
sat on the steps, and, took a fresh cup and and eat washington pie, & chatted with
Mr Ward. I had letters tonight from
Mr Firth about Willie. There seems no
immediate opening for him. Also a letter
from Maggie Baird craving help.

Staten Island.
Friday Aug 7. 1863.

Just after breakfast I wrote a long letter to
Josie Carret, then Elizabeth Winthrop and
Mrs Ward came in, and we had a very
pleasant morning. Elizabeth brought a book
containing all the memoranda of Theodore she

had been able to preserve – and containing
a letter from a Southern friend giving an–
account of the finding of the body &
what became of all the relics. She
said as she went away that she had
never spoken as freely to any stranger as
to me – "but" she said – "I presume it
"is not strange to you – your magnetism
"must often compel such confidences."
After dinner, – Sarah being at the Johnson's
for the day – I read Lilliesleaf to Lizzie.
Effie sent down to know if I would go to dine,
and Mrs Ward also asked me, but I declined
because I thought Effie & Nellie were coming down
to tea. However toward night Effie sent a
note saying that they did not feel quite
equal to it.

Staten Island.
Saturday Aug 8. 1863.

Early this morning Sadie went up to Frank
Shaw's on an errand & carriedstaid to see the
pictures. I went over to the Johnson's to lunch,
and had a very nice time. Elizabeth
Winthrop offered to go to Central Park with
me on Monday. They showed me the bound vols
of Theodore's Mss. also some old letters of the
1st Connecticut John Winthrop, and a miniature
of Charles 2nd given by him to John 2nd.
There is a beautiful portrait of Mrs Winthrop
by Rowse. I heard many interesting anecdotes &
was freshly delighted with Mrs Johnson.

One thing delights me in this visit. Every body
likes Sadie, and seeks to continue intercourse
between her and their children.
I came home to see Mrs Shaw according to
special invitation and had a delightful
talk of an hour. She told me that Anna
Haggerty was nearly three years older than
Rob. but had never known or cared about
slavery till interest in him, carried her
a fully armed Minerva – new-born into the
cause. She said the Lord had mercifully inter-
posed to prevent her feeling any responsibility
in regard to Rob's decision. One letter & two
telegraphs, in which she urged him to accept
all failed to reach him. Anna Haggerty is
sorry she has no hope of a child – she bears
her trial beautifully, and Sarah thinks as
I have from the first that she will never
marry again When Rob. was 15 Sarah
gave him a seal ring which he has always
worn ever since. The stone was broken, &
she gave him an antique in its' place, with
a dove holding an olive branch cut upon it.
She begged him not to carry it away, but
he said "I want to –" and so that was
what the rebels found on his open hand.
I looked with fresh interest on the
portrait of the first Col. Shaw, to whom
Washington gave his commission, when he
was 21, who was aid to Gen Knox –
and our first minister to China Samuel Shaw.