This letter was written by T. B. Rice, a Brooklyn grocer who obviously looked to capitalize on the Civil War in any way possible. I have not been able to learn much about him except that he kept a store at the corner of Hicks and Atlantic Streets in Brooklyn during the war.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Brooklyn [New York]
December 3rd 1863

Friend John,

The Arago came in port yesterday & I was in hopes I should have a letter from you but none have come to hand. I shall expect to hear from you soon & shall rely on you & my friend Mr. Coryell to keep me posted up on matters in South Carolina. I have written you and Mr. Coryell once since you left here. Before I got my arrangements made to go to Hilton Head, I learned that the sale of December 1st was postponed indefinitely so that I shall not think of coming now until I hear from you or Mr. Coryell. If you secure me a position as we talked, I hope you will do so & I will come in at once. Do you think the January sale at Beaufort will be likely to be put over. Please let me hear from you often as man ybe convenient, giving me all the particulars.

I hear from Newbern every few days. Trade remains very dull there. But the government are shipping supplies there very largely which looks as though they designed to send more men there soon. Should this be the case, as a matter of course, trade will revive there & it may be an object to turn our attention in that direction. Now John, as you are on the ground, I hope you will put in your best licks and find a chance for yourself and your humble servant to make some money. You will find me on hand every time at the tap of the drum.

Things remain here much as when you left. We have had some hard fighting at Chattanooga and our army were victorious. The Potomac ARmy have fallen back towards Washington on their old camping grounds where they will probably encamp for the winter so that we need not expect much more from them before another spring. People here had began to hope that Gen. Meade would be able to rout Gen. Lee’s army before they went into winter quarters, but in this we are destined to be disappointed & the Lord only knows when this cruel war will be over.

Judd is here confined to his room [with] the neuralgia. Matters as between us are still unsettled. He makes no proposition nor gives me no statement & what he designs to do in the matter, I am unable to say. I think he cannot fail to understand my views & feelings on the matter. The other boys are here still. Jones expects to remain at C. M. & Co. another year, but I think I have given you all the news that will be likely to interst you so I will close up this epistle.

I shall be glad to hear from you by every steamer if you have time to write. I feel interested in knowing how things are progressing in the land of promise. Please remember me kindly to Mr. Coryell & hoping that you both will make a good pile & find a chance for me to make one by your side, I remain yours very truly, — T. B. Rice

P. S. I have just received a letter from Major Graves (formerly Lieut. Graves) & he informs me that Lieut. [Daniel] Folk of the 3rd New York Artillery is on Morris Island. If you see him, just collect his Bill and receipt him & send me the money. The amount is $6. Mr. Coryell has a list of the accounts against the other men in that vicinity. If you can aid him in collecting them, please do so. You can swear to the accounts if necessary as you drew them off from the books. Yours, — T. B. R.