November 23 Sunday – Sam and Cable left New York early on their way to Washington, D.C. [Turner, MT & GWC 60].

Sam mentioned in his Nov. 21 letter to Livy that he enjoyed letters from his daughters. He answered and wrote from New York to Clara Clemens (“Ben”).

I enjoy your letters ever so much, & am exceedingly thankful to get them, for I like to hear all about Flash & the cats & all the rest of the family. Now comes a little secret. If a little birth-day present comes to mamma about Wednesday, you can tell you don’t know for certain who sent it. And if it doesn’t come, you can write & tell me so, privately [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Susy Clemens.

Susie dear, I don’t know how to sufficiently thank you or Ben for writing me such good letters & so faithfully. And I want to thank you both for making Jean say things to be sent to me, too. I called at Gen. Grant’s the other morning [Nov. 20], & when I saw all his swords, & medals, & collections of beautiful & rare things from Japan & China, I was so sorry I hadn’t made Mamma go with me. And Mrs. Grant was sorry, too, & made me promise that I would bring Mamma there to luncheon, some time. Gen. Lew Wallace was there—he has an article in this month’s Century about the great Victory of Fort Donelson—& when I told him Mamma was at the reading the other night & was sorry I didn’t make her acquainted with the author of Ben Hur, he was very sorry I was so heedless myself [MTP]. Note: Lewis (Lew) Wallace (1827-1905).

Sam also wrote after midnight of Nov. 22 to Livy of the grueling campaign, the big meals he was eating, the Brooklyn talks, and the “welcome letters” from his “dear sweet children” [MTP].

Sam also wrote to Charles Webster, directing him to go to Mr. Green at Tiffany’s and order a diamond ring for Livy and have it sent on Nov. 25 for her birthday on Nov. 27 [MTP].

Eugenie Alexander wrote from Berlin, Germany having read A Tramp Abroad, and being told Clemens had never visited those countries. She asked that he “fulfill the wish of a young lady” and confirm [MTP]. Note: on the env., Sam wrote “Bid for autograph.”