Address: W.W. Current
U.S. Barracks Hospital
Ward C
New Orleans

Danville, Ill.
July 17th, 1864

Dear Tom,

In my last I proposed we should write to each other whether we got our answer or not. So here goes for the first one and I hope you will do the same.

Old Danville is about as you left it only a little dryer. I think we would cake if a Circus did not come along once in a while. There is to be one here the 30TH Inst. It Is old Baleys. I do not know whether you have seen it or not. I think it will be a Bigthing. At least I am going to see.

Col. Harman was buried last Sunday. There was the largest procession I believe I have ever seen at a funeral. Before Prof. Carmmoud preached the funeral, the band played. Tell Alex that we missed him & Ralph. Theo. Barr was also in the procession. Capt. Fellows was killed & buried in the field. Jim Short was also killed and Capt.Ed Kingsbury had an arm shot off. They are expecting him home every day.

Jim Culbertson was buried last Friday. I suppose there is considerable anxiety felt by the relatives on account of the will, as it will not be opened till tomorrow He had been sick for about two months. I think it is a blessing to him that he is out of his misery.

If you should want to write to any of the boys in the 135TH, direct to Pilot Knob MO., Co. "K" 135TH Ills. They will get it or you can direct to Blackwell Station. Either of these places will get your letters. They have an easy time of it, they say. They do not have any duty to do, only after night they have to guard a bridge.

Charley Vance is home from Nashville. He goes to Peoria this week then back to Nashville. I suppose he came back to give Ella Murdock one more good hug. He gets 85 dollars a month and rations down there working at his trade.

I have not seen Clara C. for over a month. I think she is out of town, but where I do not know. Charley C. & John Myers & myself took six of the girls to the Saloon night before last. Had a very good time till about 11:00 o'clock when we vamoused the ranch. It is pretty heavy on us three to take all the girls at one time to the Saloon as we do not pretend to get a way without spending at least a Dollar.

Well, Tom, I want you to write a little longer letters if you please, and a little oftener. Do not you think this is long enough. I do and I will close by saying "Your's ' till death Betsey."

Your Friend,
B.E. Bandy

Head Quarters Ambulance Corp.
3RD Div. 19TH Army Corp.
Morganza, La., July 24th, 1864

Friend Tom,

Thinking that you would like to hear about this old coon once more and being somewhat in the mood for writing this evening, I thought I would drop you a few lines anyway. And thats "Whats the Matter."

Well, to come down to the truth of the matter - how are you, a making it these warm days anyhow? Get plenty of grub I suppose. Having lots of fun only you aint. Well, as for myself, I can't complain. Don't have much work to do, plenty of grub and everything as convenient as a poor devil could wish for in this God forsaken place. Since you fellows left everything is as quiet as a mouse.

Expecting a fight here daily. Rebs getting brave since you left. But I don't think there is much danger. But if they do come we intend to turn our Ambulance Corps on them. And if it does come to this they had better be on the other side of Atchafalaya.

And how is the honorable Reid getting along? Doing a good business in the way of jay hawking I suppose. Tell him to keep in good cheer for three years and then we will go to Orleans and see that beautiful and virtuous fair being of mine. Tell him to keep mum about that little thing (he knows what).

Can't say when I will come to see you. Fair prospects of staying here for awhile yet. In all probability you will be back again before long yourself.

Keep all the letters you get for me until I see you. And again, how is the inevitable Blind Bill coming on? Is them feet of his still rapidily improving in beauty and size? They will be the death of him soon I am afraid. Tell him to save them as a momento of the good service they have done in by gone days. And again tell him to be of good cheer and keep his nose clean for happy days are in store for him at the expiration of three very, very long years. Fun is fun, but it take Green Bills to buy death and distruction in this part of the globe. Nary a drop since you boys left. Can't get nary a tin. In a bad fix I tell you. Nary tobacco on hand at this time or I might drop you a few chews up your way.

If you get any letters from any of the fair damsels of the North, let a fellow know about the condition of affairs in that county. And about what the folks are doing for the poor Soildier in the field. Brave boys gone to their contrie's call. What a charming thing it must be to be a Soldier. I think in the course of three or four years, if the war don't close, that I would enlist myself. And once more, how is the great "I would" be coming on? Any prospect for a star? Oh, no, I guess not. Can't see it in that light. The expected star is growing dim. And the Eagle I hope will fade away out of existance in a few more months, Oh, no, don't wish him any harm, no nothing of that kind, but from all accounts his carreer will soon come to a close.

And now friend, Tom, I will have to kinda wind up matters and things. You will have to excuse this ungodly sheet of paper. No other in the shanty at present. Oh, yes, I forgot one or two more of the lads - Morgan = and how does he flourish? I would have been glad to have had him stay down here. For then I should have had some company in my lonely hours.

Mosquitoes are God awful bad here now. Takes a fellows breath sometimes.

With fondest regards to all My Soldier Comrades and hoping to hear from you soon. I remain,

Truly your friend,
Ham Myers

AT THIS TIME THE WAR WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN. THE REGIMENT WAS RE-ASSIGNED AND POSTED AT MORGANZA, LA. ON AUG. 2ND THEY WERE AT ST. CHARLES, ARK. HE LEFT MORGANZA, STOPPED AT NATCHEZ, MISS. AND WITH A 45 MINUTE PASS TOM BROWN AGAIN LOOKED UP HIS BROTHER JOHN AND IN SO DOING MISSED THE BOAT. HE WROTE HOME THAT HE EXPECTED TO GET ANOTHER PASS AND TRANSPORTATION TO CATCH-UP WITH THE REGIMENT THE NEXT DAY AND DIDN'T ANTICIPATE ANY TROUBLE. HE REJOINED THE REGIMENT AT WHITE RIVER LANDING ON THE 8th.

Saint Charles, Arkansas
August 2nd, 1864

Dear Brother,

Your two very kind and welcome letters dated at home, one July 4th and the other July 10th '64, I received day before yesterday. It was the first time that we had received a mail since leaving Morganza, and a good big one it was too. I received eight letters, among them were sister Lue's which I will answer very soon.

Let me tell you what a narrow escape Ralph McCormack and myself had yesterday. We were on a foraging expedition. Fourteen of us in all went out, but as soon as we got out side of the pickets, Ralph and I separated from the crowd to go in a different direction, and while we were meandering about by ourselves a rebel Captain lay in the bushes watching us. And he told us after he got into our camp (some of "B" Company of our squad having captured him) that if he had had his double barrelled shotgun with him that he would have shot one of us and have taken the other prisoner. He would have had pretty hard work though I think for I had my revolving rifle and Ralph had a revolver with seven shots in it. All is over now and we will be a little more cautious the next time.

St. Charles is on White River about half way between the mouth of DeValls Bluffs, a very pretty and cool place. Dinner is ready and I must stop.

After a dinner of pork and beans: I feel very much refreshed, but as I was going to state, St. Charles is a pretty and cool place, but it is a very sickley place, so they say. There is not much sickness amoung troops as yet though.

We expect to go back to Morganza again very soon and perhaps from there to "Grant's Army".

Write soon and often

Yours Affectionately
Tom R. Brown
Love to all

Headquarters, Department of the Gulf,
New Orleans, August 16th, 1864

Friend Thos.
Your of July 1st came to hand yesterday and postmarked Cairo, Aug. 6th. The mails make good time from Morganza. I think, however, if it was late I was glad to hear from the Corporal, and I am glad for your sake that you have at last got a promotion. If it is small it is better than none at all.

I am truly sorry for Boss. He has had bad luck, but hope he will get the start of them in the end. Do you know if the order discharging him ever reached the regiment? I know it was sent before the boys came over from Texas. If I was him I would not drop it yet.

In regard to your chances of getting out when consolidated, I think they are slim, unless you have now a full compliment of non-com's in veteran part of the company, if the latter the chance is better. I will enclose G.O. 86, Series 1863, relative to the subject, and the latest I can find.

Ask Blind Bill if he wouldn't loose his head if it wasn't gummed fast of his to'ther part.

How do you like the news from Mobile? Very good as far as heard from. We are hoping to hear of the fall of Fort Morgan soon, and then the City as a matter of course.

By the way, how do you like life in Arkansas? But I guess it looks like, and is the same as campaigning on the old frontier.

The post on the Rio Grande is evacuated. The white troops all came here but the 91ST Ills. which stays at Brazos and the new vets of the 26TH Ind. & 37TH Ill. The other regiments of the Division have gone to Mobile. Gen'l Herron commands the Military Dist. of Baton Rouge and Fort Hudson.

I have done for Ralph what I could. Tomorrow I am to submit his name by order of the Chief Clerk, and if possible I think he will get a detail. The only objection will be your being outside of the Dept.

We are having plenty of rain and cool weather. Last Sunday it rained bully. Had full two feet of water in front of Headquarters and the town boys were sailing around on planks, etc.

Have you been paid off yet? You must be hard up if not. But you do not want money up where you are, for there's nothing to buy. You must have some whiskey or else Alex would not have got tight.

I must close as it is late, and I am sleepy. Respects to Ralph, Charley, Jingles and the boys. Write soon.

Truly your friend,
J. Hyde Palmer

P.S. Aug. 17th. Ralph is all O.K. Order for his detail is issued for a clerk in the A.G.O. Gulf Dept.

Morganza, La.
August 21st, 1864

Dear Father,

Yours of the 13th instant is just at hand. Was glad to hear from you though extremely sorry to hear of the several deaths that have occurred in town. More especially do I regret the death of Mr. James Tanner, for I don't suppose that Danville offered a better friend to the soldiers than he was. May he rest in peace.

The boys are all well and in good spirits, myself not excepted. This morning I wrote to Mother but said nothing for the reason that there is nothing to say anything about.

Col. Black and Adjt. Bandy started for New Orleans yesterday, as I understand on regimental business. Capt. Black, joined us a day or so ago. The Brownsville boys will be here soon.

Supper is ready and I must cease for the present. By the way, won't you partake? We have a splendid bill of fare. It consists of coffee, sugar, sow belly and hard tack.

Love to all,
Yours Affectionally,
Tom R. Brown

Headquarters, Department of the Gulf
New Orleans, August 23rd, 1864

Dear Tom,

I received a short letter from Myers today telling of his final success. Bully for him. He also delivered your message, wanting to know why I have not answered your letter. Now my dear fellow, I must say in the first place that the letters you wrote me before you went to White River did not reach me until the 16th inst., and answered the same day. Your letter had been to Cairo the 6th and finally to New Orleans. And this evening I thought I would reanswer as I directed my last to White River not knowing that you had got back to Morganza. Hope this will come to hand all O.K.

When is Ralph McCormack coming down? I suppose he has received his detail as clerk in the Dep't A.G.O. before this, as it was forwarded last week. He is to be in my room for the present. One new clerk came today, and two will be mustered out in a week.

By the way, how is Ed Hessey getting along? Hope nothing very dangerous with him. Boss said he was pretty bad off. I think the new recruits will get initiated if you stay in this latitude, for it is pretty rough soldiering here.

What kind of a time did you have up river? Gay, I suppose, and now spoiling for Mobile. If you travel that way, Jim Culbertson will have a chance to try his repeater. What kind of a soldier does he make? I guess he won't find as good times after Capt. Willie & Col. Charlie goes out of the service and the regiment is consolidated - which I think it will be sooner or later. I send you a copy of orders relative to muster out of surplus Com. and Non-Com. officers. I hardly think you will make out this time, old vet.

How's the mosquitoes? They are thicker here than hair on a _____________ you know.

I have not had a letter from Danville for some time. Bad luck to Blind Bill for his knapsack went lost and letters, too. Would he not make a bully reporter? Remember me to all the boys, Boss, Jingles, Ralph, if present, Alex, Granny, Milt and all the balance.

Truly your friend,
J. Hyde Palmer

Morganza, Aug. 31st, 1864

My Dear Mother,

I have been so very busy making out muster and pay roles and other company papers that I have had no time to write lately. Neither can I now send you any letter. I thought maybe you would like to hear that I was well and enjoying myself, which is almost always the case.

We have orders to be ready to embark on boats at a moments notice, and expect to leave tomorrow. Every body hopes and expects for Mobile.

The boys are all well. I received a letter from Miss Lettie dated Aug. 7th from Thomaston, Maine. She was well and enjoying herself, but thinks of going to Danville again.

Much love to all. Excuse paper as I have no other at present. Write soon.

Affectionately your son,
Tom R. Brown

Natchez, Miss., Sept. 4th, 1864

My Dear Mother,

To night I am stopping with Johnnie. The Regiment has gone up the river. It stopped here for a half hour or so. I and Will Smith got a pass for 3/4 of an hour and got left, but have a very pleasant place to stay.

John is a safe guard at a house in the edge of the city. Has got a nice little room with table and everything nice and is getting along well.

Tomorrow morning I shall report and get transportation and a pass for the regiment. I don't anticipate any trouble for Col. Tayor is in command of the regiment and a good fellow he is.

I have had no letters from home for two weeks. We don't know where we are going but expect it to be Atlanta. We hope so at least.

This is a poor pen so I shall stop. Accept a large share of love from Johnnie and myself and write often.

Affectionately your son,
Tom. R. Brown