P-084: Captain Enos B. Moore Diaries and Correspondence

This collection of letters and diaries of Captain Enos B. Moore preserves a turbulent time in US and river history, the years leading up to and through the Civil War. Moore piloted steamboats on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers for 45 years, between 1844-1889. The letters date from 1853 to 1865. The four diaries contain daily entries for years 1859, 1860, 1861, and 1865. Subjects include river trade and commerce, the effect of the war on river industry and Moore’s fellow riverboat captains, struggling banks, and the blockade at Cairo. The collection also includes a typed copy of family history research compiled by Enos’ children, William and Mary Moore, in the mid-20th century titled The Moores of Portsmouth.
Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library

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Letter From Captain Enos B. Moore About Not Having a Staffing Solution for the Addressee 1856
Letter from Enos B. Moore on not lacking a staffing solution for the addressee. He mentioned purchasing extra flour in St. Louis at $8.00 per bushel, and that he did not know any young men who were idle to be an engineer for the addressee. Moore mentioned knowing Henderson Squires was an engineer in New Orleans who was available. Henderson had written and not received a response, so Moore assumed that his help was not desired.
Letter From Captain Enos B. Moore About Trying to Find Crew 1856
Letter from Enos B. Moore regarding his attempts at finding new workers for the ship. He received a letter from William near the steamboat Natchez. He sent a young man for the position of mate; he had heard the young man was very good, but a little fractious. He was unable to find a chambermaid in New Orleans who was worth sending, and expected their departure will be delayed until the next week.
Letter From Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother 1853
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to his brother about getting a boat ready. Letter contains information about family members, who will join Moore on his next trip, and details for preparing the boat. Letter explains Captain Young did not sell the steamer Crescent, so Moore will take it over.
Letter From Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother About Christmas 1856
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother about how he spent Christmas with Sam at Captain Young's home. The weather in New Orleans had been severe, and the wharf was overcrowded. Because of this, they have not been able to unload their freight for a while. Moore felt as though this trip has been wasteful. He planned to offload some freight and then travel back up through Cairo. He warned his brother to watch out for collisions near Yazoo City and called them "one of the greatest dangers" there. Moore mentioned seeing Jim Watkins on the Madison and heard their father might be making a trip down, and hoped to take at least one trip with him.
Letter From Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother About Ordering a Monument 1856
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother about ordering a monument in Cincinnati. He heard his brother was laid up and feared the monument would not be ready. Moore said he was on the steamboat Mass headed for Cairo, and would return on the steamboat Michigan before attempting to work on the steamboat Crescent.
Letter From Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother About Purchasing a Low Water Boat 1854
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother. He explains that Milton will join their trip to Jack McFarland's place. He goes on to say that the Captain believes the boat will run all summer, and one or two more trips will indicate if it will. Moore says that obtaining a low water boat is improbable due to the fact that they are in high demand, and that the Yazoo citizens do not have much to depend on. He then asks his brother for assistance in searching and offers two-thousand dollars if it will be of use to him. He planned to leave that evening and return after 17 days.
Letter From Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother About a Monument Under Construction 1856
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother about the monument being built. Mr. Rule would build the monument after the model with slight modifications to the shaft. The monument would be made of the best material available, and would be delivered to the boat for $900. The inscription would be of the same pattern and size as in Spring Grove Cemetery. Moore mentioned being on the steamboat Mass for a few trips until the steamboat Crescent came out. He planned to take Sam with him and they would pilot it themselves.
Letter From Captain Enos B. Moore to Home 1854
A letter sent home from Enos B. Moore where he inquired as to why two previous letters had been unanswered, recognizing that he possibly did not receive their response. Talks about seeing Milton and Sam on the steamboat Ironton on the Missouri River. He tells of leaving the next day for New Orleans and describes a Yellow Fever outbreak there, and that due to low waters, the boat will stay in Louisiana longer. He is looking to get a response from the addressee and offers a little money if they need any. Asks for Ellen to write with any news from Long Woods and states he will be back in three weeks.
Letter From Captain Enos B. Moore to a Man Wanting to Buy a Ship 1854
Letter from Enos B. Moore to a man who is looking to buy a ship and to build or operate a boat for the Vicksburg-Yazoo City Trade. This letter contains hiring advice for a boat's captain so that the office can remain private. There is also financial advice for purchase of a hull and machinery. Moore offers to loan the individual money and breaks down the costs of the hull, machinery, and the cabin. Additionally, the letter mentions the steamer Southern Belle.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore About Boat Scheduling With Ice 1858
Letter from Enos B. Moore to William, sent from about fifty miles south of Memphis. He mentioned that Captain Gould, the superintendent of the line, was on board and stated the boats would not try to make their regular time until after the ice cleared. Their schedules had run out and other boats were laying up. He planned to spend three days in St. Louis to do some sheet iron work and would write again from Memphis.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore About Description of Recent Trips and the Money Made 1858
Letter from Enos B. Moore to William with description of recent trips and the money made. He described a trip with a moderate number of passengers that lost almost a full night due to fog. He made a trip that amounted to about sixty-eight hundred dollars but described being sued by the steamboat Lucy Robinson for $867.00 in addition to a bill he was given of $550.00. They decided they would fight it. He had not heard any news from New Orleans as he continued to carry freight between Cairo and Cincinnati. Moore said he believed the steamboats had seen their best days, at least until they could be revolutionized. He made plans for a pleasure trip to New Orleans when he could hear back from family.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore About Maintenance Issues For the Boat 1858
Letter from Enos B. Moore on maintenance issues the boat was having. He mentioned a poor trip where no passengers were picked up in Cairo, and he was having trouble getting the spark burner put in. He mentioned that Sam got off at Vicksburg but that Moore will travel down the coast as he waits for the boat. He was sure there was no danger but didn't want to risk the striker pilot. He did not know if Duvall would stop but hoped to get the boat taken in. He had only half-freight as he was not able to get the rest.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother About Canceling the Trip 1860
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother about canceling their trip. He mentioned making this decision after a council of war, and decided he would not continue to Vicksburg. Maria appeared to have a matter to settle that required him to be in town, as it would be illegal if he was not. Moore then discusses expenses for the boat. He warned his brother that it would not be a good place to buy a boat. He referenced the Illinois River and the Upper Mississippi River, and described how people are losing money on trips right now.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother About Family and Business 1858
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother. The letter appears to be primarily an update on various people, family, and business. He mentioned Milton needing to save up money for a bushel to help him get through the hard times in the world, saying that people would swindle (fleece) individuals of their disposition. He received a letter from their father that all is well at home. While the letter is difficult to read, Moore discusses two locomotives on the Portsmouth Railroad and the N.O. Company, as well as another bridge and its association with a bridge that had fallen the previous fall. Business with the steamboat Crescent is doing well. He would like to hear of what kind of a boat they are building as Captain Waller is a little extravagant in his notions.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother About His Move to Minneapolis 1864
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother about his move to Minneapolis. The family was well. He found Minneapolis to be a very dull place and the newspapers were not interesting to read. Went on to describe differences in carriages and compared to trucks on a railway.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother About Trip Plans and Death 1861
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother William. He stated that he received William's letter of May 25th and read it by the steamboat Morrison. All was well and he was with Duvall and Samuel, the latter of which intended to return home in a few days to possibly take Ellen to Niagara Falls. At that time Moore did not plan on doing anything to the boat, and would not until there is something for her to do in sight. Maria wrote to Lizzie regarding the death of Mary Young and a baby. They were living in Sulphur Springs which was cheaper than other areas. He planned to send the letter by express to William as paper mail in the South is closed at that time.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother About the Addressee's Children 1864
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother after Scarlet Fever affected William's children. He was glad that they were recovering. Moore mentions Fanny had been recovering from her eye being sore and Maria was doing well. They expected to travel home soon and stop to stay with Uncle Jos. He would make a short trip to Lake Minnetonka before they left.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother About the Cost of Boat Repairs 1858
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother on his way to St. Louis from Paducah. Samuel was with him on the boat and they are not sure how the boat would perform. He was afraid the draft was not right despite that they had not given it a fair trial.They had only had a few drunken firemen. He said the boat is alright, but drew a little more water than he expected. Moore expects the boat to trim on approximately 42 inches. The prospect for business looked gloomy. When the boat was complete, she would have cost about sixty-one thousand, which was a good deal of money. Moore writes that he put in $16,852 and Duvall $11,208. He offered his brother William a share in the cost of the boat.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother Discussing Business
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother discussing business. He mentioned being on the steamboat Prentiss. He referred to Captain Jo Brown not being able to dock when he previously travelled. He mentioned Captain Titus Brown was there to help load luggage and move it. The fare was going up from Vicksburg to Cairo or St. Louis.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother Discussing the Effect of the War on Business 1861
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother discussing the effect of the war on business. He discussed how there was no cotton trade or passengers to have, and that he could not travel south of Cairo, IL. Moore mentioned that even sending letters to the South was not an option at that time. Mention is made of looking for a farm, but that that also would not make sense until the war ended.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother Discussing the War and Investment Prospects 1864
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother discussing the war and investment prospects. He believed Duvall was wavering now to the success of the Rebellion. Things seemed to be quieting on the river, and there had not been disturbances by guerillas. He mentioned that if people would leave Uncle Abe alone, he would settle the question of coercion. Moore heard of farmers now desiring to raise sheep as a wool factory was being completed. There was now a market for mutton in Chicago and St. Louis, and that it might have benefited him to invest a few thousand into that business, if William thought it was a good idea.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to His Brother from Diamond Bend Giving an Update on Various Captains 1857
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother giving an update. He mentioned that he received a letter about Captain Chute going over to the lake but he did not return before they set off. He had learned from the Custom House that J.E. Caldwell was the only owner of the line known on their books. Captain Pittfield went to Pensacola and took his books with him. He shared information given by Crescent Insurance Co. about an ownership position on a boat that might be available.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to His Wife About Meeting im in St. Louis 1859
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his wife regarding her meeting him in St. Louis. He mentioned having been delayed in St. Louis, but was finally on his way to New Orleans. He hoped to make up time there and return to St. Louis on schedule. Moore wanted his wife to meet him there and instructed her that if she arrived before them, to go ahead to the Barnum's Hotel as it was quiet and as good as any. He regretted that she would travel alone but could not wait to see her.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to His Wife About Their Friends 1860
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his wife to assure her she was not forgotten in his absence. He spent the previous evening at Captain Young's and found all of them well except Captain Young, who was ill but improving. Mary and Harry had just returned from a visit to Mrs. Hollingsworth. She was getting along well, and had received his wife's letter. Moore, along with William, Lizzie, and Duvall, would attend the Opera that night and the next day would leave for St. Louis. Mary and Harry would stop at Vicksburg and make a visit to Yazoo. He expected a fair trip considering recent low prices. Mr. and Mrs. Runole had not yet called on the bride. The letter ends with, "Yours Affectionately, EBM".
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to His Wife Discussing his Trial 1861
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his wife discussing his trial. Moore mentioned having met with lawyers and having to have stayed in town until the case was tried. He does not mention the details of the case. He also wrote of concerns that the banks may announce that they were all out of money, and there was a possibility of their boats being confiscated. But it was only property and not their dependence for happiness.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to His brother on the Building of a New Boat
Letter from Enos B. Moore to his brother on the building of a new boat. He lamented that William's business had been dull. Moore described the progress of building a new boat, and that the rain and wind had been interfering. Despite that, the engines had been built and they hoped to put up the chimneys soon. He concluded that it may take about 3 weeks. He noted that he should be able to get a crew cheaply as crews are nearly starving.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to Maria About Her Health 1859
Letter from Enos B. Moore to Maria about her health. He responded to letters she sent on July 27th and 30th detailing her improving health. She appeared to have taken a trip which had greatly helped her. He hoped she would return soon as the weather would get cold, and that may counteract the improvements. Moore stated he would be leaving for New Orleans and had not heard anything about Yellow Fever there at this time. He closed the letter hoping to hear back and asked her to remember him affectionately.
Letter from Captain Enos B. Moore to Maria About His Feelings Toward Her and Her Happiness 1859
Letter from Enos B. Moore to Maria discussing how he misses her presence already, and he hoped to return on time. He felt lonely in the world, but even though she was absent her heart was with him. He had heard a report of the river at St. Louis rising, and being clear of ice. He thought of the risk a woman took in entrusting her happiness to a man and how he was to assume a fearful responsibility, but they both have proper motives. Moore mentioned it would be a pleasure to fulfill the obligations he was assuming. He hoped they would be able to arrange their affairs in Yazoo City quietly, and would telegraph to her from Memphis.

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