Headquarters, Department of the Gulf
New Orleans, Sept. 4th, 1864
Friend Tom, The Corp'l.
Yours of the 25th ulto, came to hand yesterday and this afternoon an answer as it is Sunday and, accordingly, a leisure day.
Yes, I had heard that Ralph had a detail for duty at the Headquarters of the Dep't. and that the officials of the 37TH Illinois did not co-incide with the requirements. But have no fear, I think he will come out all O.K. before long.
You say I owe you a letter. I think not, for I have written two, one I sent to White River and the other to Morganza and enclosed orders on consolidation. I guess you are good for three years from re-enlistment.
Boss will tell you all the City news, and that there is no money in the Dep't and the Paymaster said yesterday he did not know when there would be. Therefore the Dep't clerks will have to go moneyless.
No news from Danville for some days. I had a letter from Jim Scott last week. He is in the 98TH Ill. at Atlanta, Geo. How does your new correspondent agree? I hope blooming. How does the new soldiers of "K" Co. Prosper?
Col. Charles is still here on a Court Martial. I saw him last week, but not to speak.
Tell Ralph to keep a stiff upper lip. Bandy will not make anything in the end you bet. Write soon. Remember me to all the folks.
Truly your friend,
J. Hyde Palmer
White River Landing, Ark.
Sept. 9th, 1864
My Dear Father,
Not much time, but a little I have got to spare, and I shall improve it by writing home. Muster and pay rolls are finished and now comes returns of Ordinance and Ordinance Stores.
We are well, all of us. I wrote to Mother from Natchez. I joined the regiment yesterday and found every thing all right. We are laying here at the mouth of White River expecting to go up it.
In late papers from the North we find that Atlanta is captured and that McClelland is the Chicago nominee. "Bully for Little Mac." There is no news from this part of the army. I wish that now and then you would send me some northern papers. Not the Chicago Tribune and Missouri Democrat all the time, for we get plenty such papers. But send me a Chicago Times or a Missouri Republican, something of that sort. Let me see both sides of the question. For the present "Little Mac" is the man down this way.
Much love to all. Write Often.
Yours Affectionately,
Tom. R. Brown
Mouth White River, Arkansas
September 24th, 1864
Dear John,
I have often thought that I had ought to write to you, and would have done it before now but I have been so busy with the company papers for a long time. And then that infernal tooth ache has been at me again.
Since we came here, all of our non-veterans have gone up the river. I got to see Ed. Robinson and all of the rest of the boys, but it was only for a very few minutes. Most of them had the scurvy and some were pretty bad off. Geo. English is mustered out with them. Tell Grif Search that Will Current had been discharged and has gone home. Tell him also that I want his photograph if he has one. Tell Sid the same.
We have been laying at this place ever since we came up the river and there is no telling how much longer we may stay. One Brigade only went up White River.
I have had only two letters from home since I saw you and they were from Mother. I have written two or three to her; one to Father; and a good long one to Sallie; also one to George, Mary, and Web all in cahoots.
John are you for "Old Abe?" I expect that you are, but I ain't. Will Reed, Ralph McCormack and two others besides myself is all the support that "Little Mac" can get in this company. The rest are all for Abe.
"Little Mac" is my man and the man that will be our next President. Bully for him, don't you say so. I wrote Father a real up and down McClellan letter and I expect that he will give me fits. But I hope not. No more at present. Write soon and give me the news.
Respects to Grif, Sid, Charley, Lord, Spellman and all the rest.
Your Affectionate Brother,
Tom R. Brown
White River Landing, Arkansas
September 24th, 1864
My Dear Mother,
Yours of the 17th inst. is just at hand, and truly glad was I to hear from you. It being the first tidings from home for some time. I wrote to you yesterday and to John today. I am quite well of the neuralgia again and feel like a new man.
I was real sorry to hear of Capt. Charles death for we need all such brave men as he was.
You spoke of Col. Black's arrival at home, and of your going to see him. Mother, I don't wish to incur the ill will of Col. Black or any other person, but as for hanging around and asking him for this or for that it is something that I never will do. If Col. Black ever wants to give me a promotion he is welcome to do it, but I shall never ask him for it. Neither will I step aside from what I consider my privledge or rights to get a position. He has broken his promise once or twice with me and never will I trust him again. He is too much on our Adjutant's style to suit me, but no more of this.
You also spoke of my "leveling myself with Ham Myers and Will Smith. As for Will Smith, I have very little to do with him. But a better or a truer hearted boy than Ham Myers never lived. I care nothing about his parents or his family, but Ham stuck to me for three years through thick and thin, and has often proved the old saying "a friend in need is a friend indeed" to be true, but enough of this.
There is no news to write about. The boys, at most, are well. Love to all.
Your Affectionate Son,
Tom. R. Brown
Danville Ill.
Sept. 25th, '64
My Dear Thomas,
My darling, precious boy. I mailed a letter to you yesterday a week ago, but it seems a month. We have received three from you since that are all written & sent from the Mouth of the White River. The last by Will Current.
My mind has been with you all the time for the last few weeks. I have felt every day that I wanted to write, wanted to say something to you, and wanted to say a good deal. I have thought of you at night. Waken & thought of you in the deep shades of night when naught but stillness reigned around. How was it with my boy? My bright-eyed, curly-haired boy of ten & fifteen years ago; when I gazed upon him with such fondness, and thought that beautiful countenance almost angelic.
How much I have promised myself in my children! How much happiness! How I have asked God to make them true men! Men who could strive for the right against the world. And can I be disappointed? God has never turned me away empty. Has never refused me my request, though it has often been answered in a directly contrary way from what I expected.
One son has nobly fallen! Gloriously died in defense of the Right, the Truth, and left a name embalmed with fondest memories. Two more have taken up his mantle & are following in his footsteps. My prayer is God preserve them for noble deeds, for a preparation for a nobler life than this. Where there is no war, no death, no separation of loved ones.
Today Mr. Kingsbury bore to the grave his eldest daughter, Martha. It was, I think, just four weeks ago this Sabbath day that his son Ed was borne to the same solemn resting place, where all the living find one common level. Yesterday, Mr. Fincher buried his youngest, the day before Mr. Monroe buried his only one, tomorrow Mr. O.L. Davis buries his youngest.
Well, notwithstanding death, not withstanding the war, notwithstanding the absence of friends, and our desires to communicate with them, business will go on as usual. Every thing that is done demands time and attention & we must devote ourselves, with all our might, with all our mind to the prosecution.
Conference with us commenced this coming week, about Wednesday, and we notwithstanding, Sallie & Lue are both sick, must bear a part of the burden. It makes work for me, both for my head & hands, while my heart is weeping & bleeding for the absent, and hoping and loving, also.
Yesterday I saw the Col. He looks thin, speaks well of you (thinks its all a joke, I want to think so too.) You wounded pretty deeply when you asked for copperhead papers. Don't make such as Doc. Faris, Lemon, Jim Myres and a host more of low trash (between whom & your father, there is much dislike) triumph over him, too much. Don't make his cup too bitter.
You can't vote. No need that you should choose the unpopular side, that you should say by actions that your oaths to support the government, maintain the union, and put down rebellion were not sincere, or were repented of. The day is coming when a veteran will be proud that he bore the name of veteran.
It is the opinion of men of the best judgment that if Lincoln is elected the war will soon end honorably. Not so, if MacClellan. There may be compromises, six month's armistice to give rebels time to gather up and begin fresh. None but God knows the end of all this. He is the God of armies. He rules in the Heavens above. He makes the wickedness of the wiched praise Him in the end.
I should respect the honest opinions of my own son as much as the opinion of any other man. But it seems to me you have not had opportunity enough to form honest opinions. You have not had reading. You have not been able to examine for yourself as thoroughly as you might. If you have gone too far for it to be understood as a joke (which I hope it is) make your humble confession that you were too hasty. If consistent with your feelings. In any case, deal gently with your Father. He has much to bear in old age. Respect his feelings. God will deal with you accordingly.
Melville Hopewell gave us a call and spent last Wednesday with us and the night before. He is just two days younger than yourself. He was on his way to Greencastle to college on your Father's scholarship. He had just returned from a trip across the plains. He drove a team in a government train eight hundred miles from St. Joseph & back; walked from St. Joseph home, sixty miles in day & half. Received 40$ per month while gone & spent 50 cts. The balance goes toward keeping himself in school as long as possible.
Clara Vaine was here day before yesterday; she told me there was a soldier in town (one of the Provost guard) who looks just like you, just exactly. She said he was so pleasant, when ever they (the girls) could not think of his name they called him Tom Brown. So you see you are not forgotten. When you get out of this war you must come straight home. You will find none in all the world to love you better than all your old Danville friends. You will not be 22 at farthest. I received most of my education after I was 25 years old. You have had the advantage of travel, and of reading or learning to read your fellow man into the bargain. Lots of business is here for you to attend to.
I want to write another whole sheet but it is getting dark & you are tired of reading & your Father wants his supper.
So goodbye my own dear sweet child. "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth." Receive for yourself all the love a Mother's heart can give.
Affectionately Yours,
E.T.B.
You will not forget to write. I hardly know how to direct letters. Have not heard from John lately. Dear boy. God will care for him & you.
P.S. The new veterans have not yet reached home. Hundred day men have. Capt. Carnadan has re-enlisted. Is now Lieut. Col. Aunt Lizzie is at B. Covington, very low. It is thought cannot live more than a week or two at farthest. Had a letter from Dr. Throop. He & Irene think of visiting us sometime or other.
If with a true heart you re-enlisted twas the noblest act of your life. Be true. If you are the child of God He says "He will never leave you nor forsake you". Think before you further go.
White River Landing, Arkansas
September 26th, 1864
Dear Father,
Yesterday we received our pay. Enclosed please find sixty dollars ($60.00) to pay my debts with. I would like to send some to you but it is impossible as I owe so much. Below you will find who I owe the money to. And when you pay Will Current be sure and get his receipt. The others I am not so very particular about.
Folks at home are in debt to me some two or three letters, therefore I can't write much.
Yours Affectionately,
Tom. R. Brown
Co. "K 37th Ill. Vols.
Wiliam A. White$20.00
Mr. Miller, boot and she man 12..00
Wm. W. Current 10.00
Henry Fithian 10.00
Ike Payton 2.00
Total $54.00
A balance of six dollars. Please send me some postage stamps and oblige.
Ever your affectionate son.
Tom
White River Landing, Arkansas
Sunday, October 2nd, 1864
My dear Mother.
I am not owing any letters home from the fact that I have received none since August 30th and 31st, both of which were from you.
There is no news afloat in this part of the world. We have had great rejoicing on account of Sheridan's victories over Early lately and it is making us all think that we will be at home by spring. We all hope so at least.
Col. Black has not arrived as yet, but we look for him soon. The boys are all well and looking fat and hearty. None as yet regret their coming out when they did.
I suppose that our non-vet's have reached home and if so give my best respects to Ed Robinson and tell him that I am all right.
I can't think of any thing to write. Love to all.
Your Affectionate Son,
Thos. R. Brown
P.S. I have sent Father sixty dollars to pay my debts. Next pay-day I think that I can send some to him.
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