The letter refers to the opening of the Erie Canal, due to the influence of Governor George Clinton. Henry went to war under Clinton's brother James. In the spaghetti of Poughkeepsie NY families, Henry's brother Gilbert was married to the sister of his doctor, Peter Tappan. Peter Tappan was the brother of Governor Clinton's wife. How all the children in Poughkeepsie weren't born with two heads is beyond me.
For a short description of the Night Before Christmas authorship attribution controversy, see a previous poem announcement.
Awwwwwwww that is PRECIOUS!
“How all the children in Poughkeepsie weren’t born with two heads is beyond me.”
ROFL!