These letters were written by George “Washington” Brummett, Jr. (1836-1864) and his brother William (“Bill”) Harrison Brummett (1845-1926). They initially enlisted in Co. I (the “McCulloch Guards”), 9th Arkansas Infantry (CSA) in November 1861 at Memphis, Tennessee. However, due to heavy losses at the Battle of Shiloh in April 1862, Co. I was disbanded and they were transferred to Co. A.
Washington was captured in Jefferson County, Arkansas on 1 February 1864 and sent to the military prison at Rock Island Barracks in Illinois in May 1864 where he died on 20 September 1864 from erysipelas. He is buried in the post cemetery, grave #1516. He had married Martha Jane Brantley (1843-1912) in February 1861 and they had one child, Billy, born in March 1862.
Washington and Will were the sons of George Washington Brummett, Sr. (1809-18xx) and Malinda Cage (1809-1861) of White Sulfur Spring, Jefferson county, Arkansas. They occasionally wrote to their younger brother Pleasant (“Pleasy”) Brummett (1849-1896) or younger sister Mary Brummett (1842-1874). We learn from the boys’ letters that their father was a farmer but the 1860 US Census also informs us that he was a Methodist Minister.
Note: There are seven letters by members of the Brummett family housed at the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies in Little Rock, See BC.MSS.10.22.
Letter 1
Memphis, Tennessee
August 29th 1861
Dear Sister,
I once more take my pen in hand to inform you that I am well and hope these few lines may find you the same. We had a very disagreeable tramp of it on the account of the hot weather. We are camped about two miles of Memphis. Dear sister, I would be glad to see you all once more but I reckon it will be some time before I see you all again for we are received and turned over to the Southern Confederacy and as soon as we get well drilled, we will go right in for fighting.
Give my best respects to all the girls. Tell them God bless all their pretty souls. Tell them to think of me in my hours of distress for a soldier’s life is a hard one. They have many of troubles to go through with—more than I thought of when I went into it. But I am in for it now and I expect to stick to it the tighter.
You must write to me as soon as you get this letter. Give me a detail of all the news, how all the folks are getting along. Give my best respects to all enquiring friends and save a portion for yourself. So no more at present—only remains your affectionate brother until death, — William H. Brummett
Direct your letters to Memphis, Tennessee, Ninth Regiment, In care of Capt. J. M. Hawley
Letter 2
Camp Beauregard, Kentucky
December 23rd [1861]
Dear Father,
I take my pen in hand to write you a few lines to inform you that I am in reasonable health at the present time, hoping these lines will find you all well. I have nothing of interest to write to you. We are still preparing for winter quarters & in a few days we will be in our house which will be nothing extra when we do get in them. They are built 12 by 14 and covered one way camp fashion and chimney on the eave side and no floor in them. We have got no straw for beds and I expect we will have rather cool comfort this winter but I guess we will not freeze. Times is sorter gloomy at this time.
There is some sickness in camps at this time and some pretty serious cases and there is one thing here that I will have to relate which pains me very much and that is the death of Jesse Smithee. He died tonight about 10 o’clock of pneumonia. He died very unexpectedly. He did not talk anything about death or the future or anything else. There is one thing certain—life is uncertain and death is sure. But what is death? It is nothing if we are prepared. But when a man comes to the dying hour far away from his home and family, no friends to cheer him through the vale of death and without the least ray of hope in the future, it is awful to think about. I do hope and pray that it will never be my lot to leave this world under such circumstances. I have been very wicked and bad but I am going to turn a new leaf in regard to my soul’s eternal welfare. I want you all to remember us in your prayers for we are in an awful place. Many are the snares to draw a person away from the right tracks. Even men that I thought did have some firmness and religion about them are cursing and swearing. I think our Colonel 1 has pretty well lost all of his religion from what I can gather. He is now under arrest. What for, I am not hardly able to tell. I think that it is charges brought up by the regiment. He had several of the captains arrested—that is, their swords taken away from them. They kept working along with it until they got his sword taken away from him.
I have nothing of much importance to write to you about the war. There is some such talk as peace being made before long but I don’t know how true it is. I hope it will be the case and we will get to come home before long. The boys are all well at this time and has been ever since I got here with the exception of colds. So I will have to close my letter for it is getting late. I want you to write to us pretty often and let us know how you are all getting along. I want you to go down and see Martha and see how she is getting along, whether she is needing anything or not, and if she is, write to me and I will send her some money. I would like to see you all very bad but I don’t know whether I will get the chance to come home or not before my time is out so I will close for the present farewell. – G. W. Brummett
P. S. Tell Nancy [that] John is stout and hearty, and that [he] wants to see her very bad. He is going to come home some time this winter if he can get a furlough. Tell her to write to him as soon as she gets this. — G. W. B.
1 The Colonel of the 9th Arkansas Infantry at the time was John Milton Bradley, a lawyer and a Methodist Minister.
Letter 3
[Editor’s Note: This letter was originally transcribed in December 2014 and published on Spared & Shared 9. I have reposted it here to be included with the other letters by Washington and Will Brummett]
Bowling Green, Kentucky
January the 22nd [1862]
Dear Brother P.
I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know how we are all doing. Well sir, we are all enjoying reasonable health and how when these lines come safely to your hands they will find you enjoying good health. I guess when you read these lines it will sorter surprise you for I know you won’t be expecting one from me. I just happened to think about writing you a letter to see how it would work, and what sort of an answer you would write me and if you don’t answer it, I won’t write you anymore — that’s so.
Well, Pless, I would like to see you very much and go a possum hunting with you for I have not been a possum hunting since I have been out. I want you to have my pup well trained by the time I get back so we can rake in a few of the fattest of them. You must write how he performs and if he don’t perform right, kill him dead for I don’t like mean dogs. There is some of the prettiest little Bull pups here I ever saw. If I could, I would send you one but I can’t do it.
Well Plesy, we have not had the chance to fight the Yankees yet, nor I don’t think we will for they are afraid of us. I hear some talk of peace before long. I guess you would not much care, would you? I don’t recon we will come home before our time is out unless peace is made, and if peace is made, then we will come raring and pitching, saying hurrah for the sunny South!
Bill, Bob, and John is all fat and saucy. We have a little hole dug out in our tent and we are all sitting around it while I am writing to you. Bill and Bob says they would give anything almost to be with you tonight so they could take a big hunt and catch a rabbit. Pleassy, I guess you would like to take a small hunt with us, wouldn’t you? But it may be that some of us has taken our last hunt with you. That is not for us to know. I hope though that we will all live to get back and see you once more.
We are still here at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and I expect we will stay here till next spring and then we will pitch in to the Yankees rough shod if they don’t give it up before then.
We are going to making chimneys to our tents and then how warm we will sleep of a night. We have had no cold weather here much yet and I hope we won’t for if we do we will suffer in the fat, but we have straw now to put in our tents for the first, only what we get ourselves.
Pleasy, I want you to write to me as soon as you get this and write everything common, what you are all working at, and what your neighbors are all doing. Tell daddy that they would not have my old shot gun in the company — we had plenty of guns. I expect I will lose her.¹
We have elected Capt. [Isaac L.] Dunlop [as] Colonel of our regiment. We all like him very well so far. So I will have to close for this time. Tell all the family howdy for me and tell yourself “howdy do” for me. And tell them all to write and don’t forget to write yourself. So farewell, dear brother, for the present. Direct to Bowling Green.
— G. W. Brummett
¹ We learn from this letter that George enlisted in the service carrying his own shotgun which was common among many of the Arkansas regiments early in the war. A regimental history tells us that the 9th Arkansas was one of the regiments eventually receiving flintlock Hall’s rifles that had been confiscated from the Federal Armory at Little Rock in February 1861.
Letter 4
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
February the 23rd [1862]
Dear Sister,
I seat myself to drop you a few lines to inform you that I am well. The boys is all well as far as I know. John was left at the hospital. He had the mumps. He was getting [better] the last account. I hope when these few [lines] come to hand, they may find you all well.
We have just landed here a few days ago. We marched about a hundred miles. I hain’t got a letter since [Capt.] Hawley come. I feel lonesome [without] hearing from you. Mary, this is my last letter I [will] write to you until you take to writing more to me. Washington gets a letter from his wife every mail. He says he has wrote his last letter. I can’t here from you all more than what I do. You don’t know how much good it does me to hear from you all.
The Yankees is a p[l]aying smash with our boys up here. They have taken two forts [Donelson & Henry]. We have run from Bowling Green and them after us but we burned the town into ashes before we left it. We have not been in any fight yet. We are looking for them here every day. We will stand here and fight them and whip them too. They think that [they] have got us about whipped but they are fooled in their hand. They’ve taken some of our boys at Bowling Green. They’ve taken one out of our company. They made our boys tremble at Fort Donelson. They’ve taken everything they had but we will get them yet.
So I will have to come to a close. Tell Father howdy for me. Give my best respects to all enquiring friends. Give all the young men hankies. Tell them that they are cowards to the core. Give me all the news if you ever write to me anymore. Tell Father to write soon for this is my last letter until I get more than what I have been the [ ] of. So I remain as I was, — William H. Brummett
To Miss Mary Brummett
and the last one.
Letter 5
Corinth, Mississippi
April 9th 1862
Dear Father and sister,
I [take] the present opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you all know that I am yet in the land of the living. We are all well at this time and in good spirits.
We have just landed here this morning from off the battleground. I thought I had seen something when I saw the battle at Columbus [Battle of Belmont] but it was not approaching to the one we have had here. We have been marching ever since the last of March and [we are] very much fatigued. We was in the fight here. This regiment was very badly cut up but I did not get hurt. All the boys that you know came out safely. This regiment fought like heroes. General [John S.] Bowen 1 says that the 9th & 10th [Arkansas] made a charge that no other two regiments would have done. I was in the fight from the beginning to ending. We routed them completely. This is some of the paper that I [had] taken from them.
We have fell back here to rest two or three weeks [when] I think that we will give them a turn again. So I will have to close or I can’t send my letter by hand. Write soon as you get this. — William H. Brummet
1 Brig. Gen. John S. Bowen commanded the 9th & 10th Arkansas as well as unites from Missouri and Mississippi in the Battle of Shiloh. They saw heavy fighting at the Peach Orchard and other parts of the field. The 9th Arkansas had about 132 men killed, wounded or captured of the 338 men that entered the fight.
Letter 6
Corinth, Mississippi
April 13th 1862
Dear Sister,
I seat myself to write you a few lines to inform you that we are all alive after fighting one of the hardest battles that was ever fought on this continent. It makes my heart ache to think of it and to think of it, it looks like a Providential affair that we come out as many of us did. Surely I never want to experience another such a fight. Men was shot down all around us, bomb shells bursting, cannon balls flying amongst us, taking off the tops of trees. It was enough to make the stoutest heart quake. God forbid that I shall ever have to experience the like again. But from what I can gather, we will have to go into another fight again before long and if we do, many will be the poor soldier that will pass from this world to another. I think we have gained the victory so far. We repulsed the enemy every charge we made, drove the enemy out of their camps, and took [ ] possession.
My dear sister, I hope these lines will find you all well. You don’t know how bad we wanted to see you. I haven’t heard from you since we came here. I have not heard from Martha since she was taken down and I don’t know whether she is dead or alive, but I do hope she is well.
Jim Shelby told us that father was sick and looked worse than he ever saw him. I do hope he is well. Do write to me and let me know whether you are all alive or not. I do hope kind Providence will spare all of us to see each other again. Mary, write to me how all the connection is doing and how Martha is getting along. We are getting along as well as might be expected. Me and Bob & Bill are still together. I have not heard from John Keene’s in a long time. I don’t know what has become of him. I am afraid he is dead or taken prisoner. I want you to write to me if you have heard anything of him or not.
I expect we will see hard times before our time is out but I don’t care how hard [just] so our lives is spared to get back home. I reckon you see hard times back there as well as we do. I don’t see what the women and children will do for [ ] on another year but [ ] way will be provided for them.
Billy, I wrote you a few lines [ ] but [ ] not have time to write much for the [ ] he sent it by [ ] him. Write to me whether anyone is tending my place or not and how all my stuff is doing. I don’t know what on earth I will do for something to live on when I get back—if I am so fortunate as to get back. Give all the folks my best love and respects. Tell them I want to see them all very bad. So I will close for I have told you all that I can think of at this time. Write how father is getting along with his crop. I know he has a hard time of it and has a great deal on his mind and much trouble and anxiety, but I hope it will all work out for the better. Give father and Pless and Nancy my best love and reserve a portion for yourself. So farewell. — Geo. W. Brummett, Jr.
Bob K [or R?] says to tell all his friends that the [ ] ball went through his hat [ ] and scratched the back of his head. He says his head was too hard for that ball.
Letter 7
Corinth, Mississippi
April 22nd 1862
Dear Father,
It is with much thankfulness to kind Providence that I am permitted to write you a few lines to inform you how we are all getting along. We are all well except Bob. He had something like the cholera morbus but is better. I hope when these lines comes to hand, they will find you all well. I am very anxious to hear from you all for I have not received a letter since Col. Ingram came back, and you don’t know how uneasy we are about you all.
We are all getting along as well as might be expected under the circumstances for we have went through seas rough battles. How it is that we are not all dead I will leave for you to say for of all the battles that ever was fought, I reckon we have fought the hardest. Our officers acted very gallantly. Col. Dunlap & Major Wallace needs a great deal of praise. The Major was wounded in the heat of the battle on Sunday morning, He can be set down amongst the brave. Also Col. Millsap [?] acted bravely until he got wounded and had to retire from the field. Our company officers all got wounded on Sunday—the first day of the engagement. They all behaved themselves greatly to their edification. Col. Ingram can’t be beat. He also got wounded and had to fall back. 1 I had no idea the Colonel would hold out so long as he did for he was very weak & feeble. He is coming home in a day or two on the account of his health. He says he is not able to serve his government. The company don’t want to give him up for he is the only officer that has the entire confidence of his men.
You will see perhaps a piece in the Pine Bluff paper showing the regard the company has for him. Capt. Hawley was not in the battle so I shall say nothing about him for I expect you will hear enough. He has lost the good will of his company.
I don’t think we will have a fight here soon though our skirmishers has a brush every once in a while. It is rumored that Gen. Marshall has possession of Nashville but how true it is, I can’t tell. There is about 30 thousand Yankees scattered between here and there, and perhaps there will be another fight somewhere in that direction before long. I suppose our Congress has passed a law to hold all the twelve months troops for two years longer or the war, and it has created a right smart of dissatisfaction amongst the troops. I think it is a bad thing for they are determined to go home anyhow when their times is out. They say they won’t fight if they are pressed but if they will let them alone, they will go home and stay a while and then reenlist again.
We have not received any pay yet but I suppose they are making preparations to pay us for two months in a few days. If they do, me and Billy will send ours home if we have a chance for we have no use for it here. I want you to write to me how you are all getting along and how Martha is getting along. I suppose there is no man person on the place to do one thing and I am afraid she will suffer. I do hope that I will be permitted to come home when my time is out and see you all. If I could hear from you all occasionally, I would be much better satisfied. But it looks like we can’t get any letter here. From what cause, I can’t tell. I want you to write to me and write often. Perhaps some of the letters will come to hand. I have written Mary one letter since the battle but whether she will ever get it or not is uncertain. When you write, give us all the news in general. I expect you get plenty of venison to eat since we all left. I hope so at least. All Bill thinks of is the good milk and butter at home that he has been so used to having this time of the year. He says he intends to make it squat when he gets back.
Tell Nancy I have not heard of John yet and what has become of him, I can’t tell. Write to me if you have heard from him lately or not. So I will have to close for this time. Give my best love to all my connections. I wrote one letter to Jack Gentry. Write to me whether he ever got it or not. Farewell. — G. W. Brummett
Direct your letters to Corinth, Mississippi
1 Washington calls him Col. Ingram but I believe he is referring to 45 year-old Lieut. Benjamin F. Ingram (1817-1862) of Pine Bluff. He was seriously wounded in the Battle of Shiloh and his wounds would prove fatal.
Letter 8
Corinth, Mississippi
May 26th [1862]
Dear Sisters,
I seat myself to write you a few lines in answer to yours which is received on yesterday. It was dated the 24th of April. Bob Nethery brought one of a later date, May 1st, I believe. I was truly glad to hear that you were all well and doing well. We are all well at this time and I hope when this comes to hand, it will find you all well.
My dear sisters, I have nothing that would interest you much. I don’t think we are going to have a fight here. I think we are going to leave this place and go further down in Mississippi. From what I can gather, Tennessee has gone back in the Union. If she has, we are in a critical condition for Arkansas will be bound to go back. I heard Governor Rector of Arkansas had left Arkansas and gone North with all the State Treasury. 1 Write to me if there is any talk of Arkansas going back to the Union.
I heard just now that we are going to attack the Yankees’ right away and drive them out of Tennessee. Our generals has stopped all the papers and can’t tell what is going on and I think it is a hard war anyway. But God works all things for the best. We can only trust in God for His protection.
I have not much time to write. The boys is all well. Write if you have any chance to send the letter & give my best love to all my friends. Farewell. — G. W. Brummett
1 As Union General Samuel Curtis moved from Missouri into Arkansas in the spring of 1862, it was assumed that he intended to capture Little Rock (he later turned to capture Helena). As a precaution, Gov. Rector had the State Archives & Treasury moved from Little Rock to Hot Springs (not “North”) in May 1862. My g-g-grandmother’s younger brother, Ralph L. Goodrich, was working for the Oliver Basham (State Treasurer) when this move was made. He wrote of it in his diary. See: July 1862.
