| | 1 | Author: | White, James J. | Add | | | Title: | Letter to James Brooks  | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Description: | I am compelled from want of pen and ink to write a line in
pencil—seizing a moment now I may not have it half hour hence. It is
my painful duty to inform you that your son William
died today after an illness of several days which appeared to me
something like conjestion
of the brain. Our brigade has been very much
exposed by forced marches through heat and dust, and by being compelled
to camp out at night without tents, not even the superior officers being
allowed to carry tents from the difficulty of transportation.[1]
I suppose
it would be most agreeable to the feelings of yourself and your boy's
mother that his remains should be taken at once to his home, but we have
been
drawn up
in line of battle this evening[2]
and on application to our colonel[3] he
assured me that it would be impossible to get permission from
Gen.
Johnston[4]
for any one to leave at this time, and I ascertained that
permission had been refused to remove the remains of Lieutenant Patton[5]
of the Rockbridge Grays who died this morning.
And although I had with
considerable difficulty made arrangements for
William's transportation
before speaking to Col.
Preston, I felt forced to abandon it, and have
provided for his decent interment in the Episcopal Cemetery here and
have directed a head board with his name to be provided
so that at
some subsequent time his remains may be removed to the bosom of his
friends. When I discovered that William was sick
I had
him taken to the
Hospital in Winchester which is in Charge of
M. H. Houston, formerly of
Rockbridge, late of Wheeling, where every attention possible under the
circumstances was provided. I have done the best I could my dear Sir
and in communicating with the stricken parents of the most admirable
young man, it is but the simplest justice to say that whether as student
or soldier, I had nothing to complain of him, but believe in my
conscience that he did his duty modestly and conscientiously on every
occasion. Your son Andrew has just mentioned
that the physician thought
the disease of his brother was spinal to the
brain.[6]
Excuse
the unavoidable haste of this letter, for I am hurried in every way
imaginable.
We are expecting the enemy here at any moment and I believe
that we are able to meet them. With assurances of kind regards and
sincere sympathy. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 10 | Author: | Brooks Collection: Brooks, Charles | Add | | | Title: | Letter to Eleanor Stuart Brooks | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Description: | I hope you have received the letter sent
off on yesterday. When I left home I thought perhaps
I would have returned before this; but instead of that
we are getting further away and I hope gaining an im
portant victory for the Confederacy. Our division of
the army was pretty quiet on Saturday and Sunday, but
a pretty hard battle occured Sunday evening, to
our right, on the York River Railroad about eight
miles below Richmond.
Gen. Hills
division was the
principal one engaged. Early this morning all
Jackson's troops crossed the
Chickihomany
and all
the army are following up the enemy; for I should
have stated that he was again whipped on
yesterday. We crossed the battle field on this mor
ning! There were many dead and for miles the coun
try wa
is strewn with knapsacks blankets over-
coats and various other articles.
Squads of prisoners
have been coming in all day and probably five or six
hundred have been captured. I saw five about three
hundred captured horses and mules this morning. The enemy
have crossed a stream fourteen miles below Richmond
and blown up the bridge, and heavy cannonading
has been going on this evening across the stream.
Time is important for them in order to get
commisary stores out of the way. If it were not for
his Gunboats McClelland might find some
dif
ficulty in finding a
place of rest on Virginia's soil.[1]
We havn't seen our wagons for five days and have
lived principally on hard bread and havn't
been
particular about clean sheets or the abundance of
our covering. It is now about sundown and I
will stop; but probably add somthing more before I
mail it. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 13 | Author: | Brooks Collection: Brooks, Andrew | Add | | | Title: | Letter to Emmet Brooks | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Description: | Your letter was
received yesterday evening.
I had mailed one to you in the
morning. I have had very little
opportunity to make the inquiries you
wish. I have been on road detail
to day (making corduroy road to
Guinney's[2])
and have to go again to
morrow, so you see it will be
impossible to go to Guinney Station
before Monday, if indeed I can go then.
I suppose you were led to believe, that
large profits could be made on skillets
from having heard us speak of having to pay
12 or 15 dollars for one. If you could get
that price, it would pay very well, but
I do not think you could get it; unless
you could get them to the different
brigades of the army and sell them there,
in which case, I think they would bring
12 dols'. The sutlers
[3]
of regiments do not
buy them at all, so far as I can hear, unless
they get orders for them. As for the
Sutlers at the Station, I can not speak
positively, but think they act in the same
way. The day you went up, McKee
[4] failed
to get one, but got the promise of one soon, if
he would leave 10 dols, his name etc, which
he would not do. However I am of the
opinion that you might sell them there
for 8 dollars apiece, in lots of 20, or 30,
and it might be as many as 60.
I think there would be no risk in you
staying a few days, at the Station. But you
know there is no accomodation there, and no
place to keep them. I got the box that night.
It was a treat, I tell you, but you will know that
after the sight of it. The coffee is delicious.
McKee got his furlough next day and started
in about an hour. John D. got his too,
and went Monday. I want you to send me a
tin plate by him. If you buy skillets, you
ought to do it at once while the army is
lying quiet. A good many soldiers have been courtmartialed
in the brigade. Several were publicly whipped today, and
four others .
Haven't heard the sentences of the
Killians[5]. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 14 | Author: | Brooks Collection: Brooks, Andrew | Add | | | Title: | Letter to Eleanor Stuart Brooks | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Description: | Your letter by Jimmy
Burns[2] was received this evening.
Charles' letter came yesterday, after
looking for a letter for a week. I had
begun to think you had forgotten me, it
was so long coming. He mentioned
that Johny had gone to
somewhere (but
didn't say where) except that I would no
doubt see him before I got his letter.
He didn't tell me what he had gone for,
or anything about it, nor did you except
that he sent to Genl
Lee a recommendation
for my detail. What sort of a thing is
it and who recommended me. I suppose
he was in Richmond and took the contract to
the war office. I havn't gotten the letter
you
say he wrote me and have never gotten
but one letter from him since I left. I have
been very anxious to hear from him, and
know what is doing at the Furnace. It will
now soon be time it was put in blast.
When I commenced writing I had just
returned from preaching, which we have
every night. Dr.
Hoge[3]
and Mr. Lacy
[4] are gone.
There is a chaplain with each regiment of
the brigade, two Presbyterians and three
Methodists. Lieut
Culton[5] has resigned -
unable to stand infantry service. I dont
know who will get his place, if his resignation
is accepted. We heard considerable firing
across the river yesterday, but havent heard the
cause. Wednesday morning, I will get
the box today -am very much
obliged to you all for it -I am not
much afraid of it being much like
what y I get here, there is but one place
I ever saw that I got such rations.
I am sorry Miss Sue Harden is about to
leave the neighborhood -young people
are sadly scarce there. Emmett is on another
trip to Uncle John's, wonder if he
will get ther
this time. I heard Mary Susan
[6] was to atttend
a small party at Dr.
Dold's -a kind of farewell
to Jim[7]
I suppose. I am very well. Love to all
the friends. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 15 | Author: | Ceasar, Samson | Add | | | Title: | Liberian letters: Samson Ceasar to David S. Haselden 1834
February 7 | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Liberianletters | | | | Description: | I embrace this opportunity to inform you that I am well at this time
hoping that these few lines may find you enjoying the
Same
blessing after
fifty sixt days on the ocean we all landed
Safe in
monrovia
I was very Sick on board of the vessle
but I thank god that he has taken Cear of me untill the present time I
hav Seen Agreate manys things Since I left home that
I never would of Seen in
Buchannon
it
urengs to mind the words of Solomon that the eye is not satisfide with Seeing nor the eare with
hearing I must say that I am as well pleasd as I expeced to
be in
Liberia
we hav most all had the fever and hav lost four of our number one woman about Seventy five two
Children under twelve allSo the
Rev
Mr Rigt
[1] one of our misenarys lost his wife and we may Say She is aloss to
africa
but we hav evry reson to belive that she
is at rest the balance is all on the mend this is my twenty fourth day Since I first was
takin and I thank god that I hav not kept my bed one hole day at atime the people do die through imprudence we
hav the best
docter that ever was in this place I can not tell you much about
africa
I hav not been from
Monrovia Since I landed I
must Say that the people are doing better than I expected them
two agreat many of them got rich Since they
came to
Liberia
their is Some that are doing bad like in all other
places I think from what I hav Seen and heard that any body Can liv in this place if they will be industrous
the natives are numerous in this place and they do
the most of the work for the people in this place
they will Steal every Chance They they hav they are most all Croomen[2]
in respect to my Self I think
that I Could make an independent living if I was to put
my Self about it but as my intention was to Spend
and be Spent for god I feal like standing to my
post I hav not been employd by the
methodist yet the Presbytterians offer to take me in to their famely and Support me and give me the best education that they
Can their is four in famely two white men one white woman and one Coloured man
they hav treated me with greate kindness and
all So the methodist the methodist
preachers are plenty in this place and their is
not as larg A field in
monrovia
as would I wish to find and be
spent for god our methodist bishup told me that as soon as he got over the fever he
would find me A Station I Can not tell you
at this time what parte of
africa
I will be placd
in I will write when I can tell you more A bout
it you must excuse bad writing and
all So bad Spelling I must
come to A close | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 16 | Author: | Ceasar, Samson | Add | | | Title: | Liberian letters: Samson Ceasar to Henry F. Westfall 1834 March
18 | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Liberianletters | | | | Description: | I embrace the opper tunity to let you no that I send this paper to
Adam Carper
I am on my road to
Calwell
and met the oppertunity to send one
paper home please to send it to him
youy
you must excuse me for not writing more and better my company is wating to go to
Calwell
I
hav not been there yet
but am on my road at this time.
tell
Adam to read the news of Africa and let his friends read the same and all so his neighbours I did not
no when I wrote to
Daniel that I could get A paper to send home my Company is waiting on me and I must Stop
the writing is bad the Spelling is bad and the lines
Crocked. The
indorcment on the paper is put on by one of
our store keepers pardon me for not senen sending you A paper | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 17 | Author: | Ceasar, Samson | Add | | | Title: | Liberian letters: Samson Ceasar to Henry F. Westfall 1834 April 1 | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Liberianletters | | | | Description: | I embrace this oppertunity to inform you
that I am well hoping that these few lines may find you all in good helth I wrote to you by the same ship that I came
in and I now hav the oppertunity of writing to you by a vessel that
brough out emegrants
from
baltimore
to
Cape Palmus
About five hundred miles from
monrovia
their is anumber
gon from this place to
Cape Palmus
as I wrote before I can not tell you
much About the Country as their has been so many
people died in this place I though I would not
expose my Self in travling So I hav not been from the
Cape
we have vessels coming in harber
All most every
weak from
urope
no man could tell what trade is going on in Africa unless he could See it I
hav seen so many Strang
things Since I left home that evry thing
be comes
old when I first Saw the nativs
all naked I though that I never could get ust to it but
it is an old saing use is second nature I do not mind to See them now
if I could talk with you face to face and tell you
about the nativs you would not belive
me to See their cloth that they make and other
Articue els that they make you would be
Supprised To be Short, their natturel
talants are grate
in deed Some of them can read and write.
I am sory to
tell you that we hav lost the Rev
Mr. Wright
after he lost his wife he had got on so fare that he came to Church and he took re laps and on the 21 of march he fell Asleep in
Jesus
arms ware
Sickneys and Sorrow pain
and Death are felt and feard no more
Mr. Spaulding is very low at this time and all
so the Single Lady, but She Says Se would
Sooner Die than to go back and discurage the
mishen it seem
all most
imposable for white men to liv here but still their is A greate many on the cost at
the
British Colenny
their is a greate many
white people in short they are coming and going out and in Monrovia most evry day
we hav lost but five out of our number yet but
God only noes how Soon Some
more of us will
hav to go but thank God it is
as nigh to havin in
africa
as it is in
America
the time is not
fare distant when
Gabril
will sound the
Trump and gether us all
together O that I may be so hapy to meet you and
all your
famely on the Right hand of God and all So all my neighbours
ware we can enjoy the company of each other for
ever and we will be clear of truble for ever
and we will see our God face to face and live for
ever.
O Henry when
I look back and reflect on the many
ours I spent with you and your famely I am led to wish that I could see you all but we are
severl thousand miles Apart at this time
the Captain of our ship says it is five thousand and six hu ndred miles from Norfolk to
Liberia
he can measure A mile on sea as correct as you can on
land I want you to write to me as often as you
can vessels are coming from the United States
evry
month let me no all about
the people how many
hav died and who they are and how many hav
mared and who they are and who was elected to
the next Legislature. Write evry thing [HOLE IN
MS] [HOLE] fit to write and I will do the same. [HOLE]
Give my love to your
wife and mothernlaw tell them to pray for
me I often think of you all
giv my love to Simon and
Harison
and to
Bety
tell them that I want them to have good education and good Religion
Against I come to
America
Giv my love to your Father and
Step mother tell them I often think of them
Tell them to pray for me Giv my love to the
Boys and tell them if they ever want to see any
thing to leave
Buchannon
giv my love to all the Children to Philip Reger with all his family and to Mr Haselden and Goff
and all inquireing
friends Tell Lydia that their was A vessel from
Jermany
landed here About ten days Ago and I never saw better looking men
in my life than some of them ware if She wants
a Jerman and
will write to me I will try to send
hur one for I think they will suit hur Tell
hur Above all things to get religion so that she may
Save hur
sole May the Lord bless you all and save you is my
pray for Christ's
Sak | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 18 | Author: | Ceasar, Samson | Add | | | Title: | Liberian letters: Samson Ceasar to Henry F. Westfall 1835 March 5 | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Liberianletters | | | | Description: | I Embrace the opper tunity to inform you that
I am well hoping that these few lines will find you all
well I hav written to you
not long Since I will not write but a short
letter I want to in
form you that I hav received but two letters
from you since I landed I hav written as many as a dozen to you you
hav no excuse for not writing
vessels are coming from the
united states
everry month
the most of the vessels are from New York
with out it is and Emigrant vessel
they are mostly from
Norfolk
three of our Preachers are expected to
l Sail from Liberia to
new york
to morrow in order to bring their
familys to Liberia to
remain for life one is a white man
Super intender of the Methodis
Epistal Episcopal Church Several more of the people in this place are going I can not tell when I will start to come to
America I am employed to teach
school I do not know when I can come but if God
Spares me I hope to See you all in this world
if not I hope to see you in a
better world than this
I hav been to
one Camp meeting in
Liberia
I must say I never was at a Camp meeting in my life that
people acted better
it has been very sickly here for a
bout three month many
hav gone to eternity in that time I thank God that I am still living
Giv my lov to Mother Eade
an to David and his wife
tell them that I am well and doing well I am still striving to serv the
Lord in my weak manner and to Preach the Gospel
also
giv my best lov to all the
family tell them I often think about
them and would like to see them all but the proud ocean rolls between
us tho the ocean bet between us roll friendship shall unite our
souls giv my lov to your
wife and
and Children and to Miss Lydia
Simmons to all your friends and to all
the neighbours I will send your father one of our
herbals I hav not time to
write much now please to excuse me
as for you my best lov is alway with you I want you to write as often as possible and I will do the
same | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 19 | Author: | Michie, Mary | Add | | | Title: | Liberian Letters: Mary Michie to Dr. James H. Minor 1857 February
4 | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Liberianletters | | | | Description: | It affords me great pleasure to have this opportunity to address a letter to
you. In the midst of danger & death, while we could discern
nothing above, & around us but the blue canopy of heaven, &
under ous the deep, deep blue sea,
we we were Providentially cared for, and bless to reach this our destined port, Monrovia. I am much pleased with this place inded,
Monrovia is nearly as large as
Charlotsville
and has some fine houses in it. The people here are very
genteel. I thought to find things different, and that we would have to
enlighten tha people, but I find that we need
teaching ourselves. There was not a death during the passage out, and
up to this date all our folks are well, and very well satisfied indeed. For
myself, I would not go back to America no how. I leave
to day for to go up the St Pauls
river and see how it looks up there: and when I have got a
better knowledge of the Country, I want to write you all about: so as you
may be informed and others through you how & what the country
is. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
| 20 | Author: | Douglass, William | Add | | | Title: | Liberian Letters: William Douglass to Dr. James H. Minor 1857
February 5 | | | | Published: | 1998 | | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Text collection | UVA-LIB-Text | UVA-LIB-Liberianletters | | | | Description: | In haste I drop you these few lines to inform you of my health, and family,
we are all well and enjoying the blessings of kind heaven. We left
Norfolk on the 8th, of
Decr.
and we were 45 days on our tedious passage from Hamilton roads to
Roberts port
Grand Cape Mount, were we
stop to land some of our immigrants who were destined to the place,
and during the voyage, there was none sick of any disease only sea sickness
which of course we were not accustom to in no way, before our arrival
at the above named; all well and fater than they
was before in thier life, and all arrived at Monrovia in the beautiful Receptacle[1] which was brought out by the Rev. John Seys some months hence
in good spirits and sound; except myself, wife
Susan
, and Mary Douglass my daughter,
Thos. Scott
, David Scott,
Chas. Twin
,
Phil Twin
,
Geo. Walker
, Hugh Walker, Jr.,
Winzer Walker
,
Wilson Coleman
, Washington Coleman
Martin Coleman, Allen
Coleman, Young Barrett
Maria Barrett, Isabella
Johnson,
Chas. Barrett
,
Dick Barrett
,
John Mickey
, and
Washington Mickey
, all these I have mentioned[2] leave the ship
Mary Caroline Stevens, on the 28th day of January for this place,
which is about 46 miles which is only few hours travel, 15, of us arms our
mus kets and march in the roads from White Plains near
Millsberg to our destined home here we arrived safe
and sound; and we are all here provided
for by the Rev. John
Seys our excellent Agent who came out here for that purpose; and we
think could find no better man for
that experiment, no how in the world, who is acquainted with the natives fashion and cus
toms, and have already prepare us a loving and fine peo- ple; and everything is suitable to our taste in every respects and condition. We have meetings in the week on the
Sabbath and also Sabbath school; and in the week day school is for us,
which is taught by Mr. John A. Claode a native
of this country who have been reared up by the good missionary Society some
years back
who ever thought we would find such a one as this young
man is in the midst of civilized people O may God give him grace to teach those
who has arrived here late; this school is taught in our receptable as there was no school house has
been built for that purpose, but I hope by the assistance of God we shall
put up one for school and also will answer for worshipping. I cannot say
any thing now about the people until I hear
from them again but when I left them they were all well and good
in spirits; as for the country I am
very much
disap pointed
to see what beautiful country it is. I dont
think there could be any better country found for our colored race
any part of the globe, and when we come to behold the natural fruits
hanging on our beautiful shady trees, its makes my
heart to re- joiced within me; and I almost exclaim O God thou has
hidden many things from the eyes of
man, on this
this side of the shores and, now we
are able we are to see
it for ourselves which we have heard of for many years past and gone, but
you may assumed that we are long
way behind the people of this
country for thier
in genuity
they can make an excellent country cloths which of course I did not expect to see such
in the land. I have seen an excellent African cotton which is of the best
quality it can be raise
by any one if they only prepare a place for it. We find everything good
for eatable and also that to make man happy in this world, but most
every thing is dear for to buy. My dear Doctor
Minor as you fail in given us the list of
our tools it was difficult to get it
of from the ship, but we have done the best we could and have divided them according to our ability, for you assured we
found very a ble for our wants, and we are
very thankful to you that you did procure these things for our means,
that we are now have the pleasure
to say to you what we stand in need off, and we will
say that by the Mary Caroline Stevens, when she
returns in
March we all will remember you all in our pray ers to God, especially your family in preference
fromand all the rest, they all remember their love to
every body, and all are well and have not had any
sick ness since our arrival in this mount,
and if all meet up with good luck we will unite to all in that neigh borhood. | | | Similar Items: | Find |
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