Small Pox And Selfishness Come To Wartime Washington, D. C.

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A good war-date Washington, D. C. letter concerning the death of a close friend due to small pox, on finely illustrated "View of Washington City" patriotic stationery, published by W. H. & O. H. Morrison, Washington, written by a certain "I. S. Kellogg" (most likely Ira S. Kellogg, a clerk in the Surveyor General's office), Washington, April 13, 1862, to Mrs. Nathaniel McLean wife of Supreme Court, Associate Justice Nathaniel McLean, reading, in part: "- we like to hear from old friends - because it gives a great deal - local news - a friend of mine from Albion, in our state, came here a year & a half ago was taken sick last summer - and had no one but strangers to attend to him, but they aid it faithfully and - he had an appetite - I used to visit him every day and take him oranges, peaches and all such fruit as I could get and he was very grateful - he got well - his wife came out in Jany. and staid a while and returned home - I had not seen him for several days and thought it strange. I called at his house. They told me he was sick. I went into an adjoining room. The man that attended him would not let me see him, but went into his room and told him that I had called to see him - he sent out word that he wanted to see & talk with me very much, but it would not answer as he had the small pox and perhaps very bad. So, I had to leave him. The next day he was taken to a hospital in the outskirts of the city and the Dr. sent - word that he had it very bad - there was only one chance in ten - he would survive - he has died. The Dr. says the worst case he ever saw - he was away from home, family & kindred with no one to care for him - it is awful. Here it is all around us a great many are dying. They have been trying to see if vaccine [?] would have any effect upon me or Mrs. K. but it has not taken. We shall try it again. This man's name was Parsons and Brig. General (?? Wilcox) was clerk to him a part of the winter. What his poor wife will do I know not. She will be here in a few days - how sad the case Abby Govener. I was well acquainted with her husband. He is a great villain. I should not care if he was taken off by small pox and the guilty partner of his flight, but there is a state of retribution coming - this world is like a great city. We are all very selfish. We care nothing about our neighbors. We thousands pass in review before us, not one perhaps attracts our attention or excites our sympathy - Mrs. K and Mary will go on I think bye & bye but I do not know how soon. I am afraid I shall not get away at all. As long as we have boarders I shall have to stay here. I should be [?] to hear from you often. Remember me to your family. Your truly, I. S. Kellogg. Negligible fold split, else near fine.

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