Category Archives: Post Civil War Correspondence

Post Civil War Correspondence

1866: Thomas Williamson Walke to Thomas Hoomes Williamson

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The following correspondence was composed by Thomas Williamson Walke, aged 52 (1814-1897), the progeny of Anthony Walke IV (1783-1865) and Susan Hatfield Carmichael (1786-1874). This letter reveals that Thomas resided on a farm co-owned with his younger sibling, Anthony Walke (1816-1897), while he maintained a legal career in Chillicothe, Ross County, Ohio. His father’s death occurred in March 1865, and his mother continued to inhabit the farm with her two sons.

Thomas Hoomes Williamson

Thomas wrote the letter to his cousin, Thomas Hoomes Williamson (1813-1888), the son of Thomas and Anne (Walke) Williamson of Richmond, Virginia. Thomas Williamson joined the faculty at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1841 and worked there his entire life except for the war years when served with the Confederate Engineer Corps. He worked on the defenses of the Rappahannock river and Manassas. He was on the staff of Stonewall Jackson for a time. In his letter Thomas Walke shares family information on the Ohio branch of the family while seeking information on the Virginia branch. He refers to “the late unnatural war” which has prevented them from maintaining communications.

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

Chillicothe, Ohio
December 4th 1866

Col. Thomas Williamson
Lexington, Virginia

Dear Cousin, some weeks ago I sent you two papers—one containing an obituary notice of Father who died last March, and the other an historical reminiscence of Gen. Stonewall Jackson.

For a long time past, I have thought of writing you to ascertain the condition of our Virginia kinfolk and whether or not they suffered much during the late unnatural war, but I did not feel confident that my letter would reach you, nor do I feel altogether so now.

During the fall, two Confederate officers (Messrs. Goode and Boys from Virginia) visited Chillicothe and remained several weeks. I became acquainted with them and they gave me some information respecting yourself; but they knew very little about our other Virginia friends.

A few days ago I received a letter from my brother Cornelius (now a resident of New York City) 1 who said he had learned from Mrs. Granberry (formerly of Norfolk) and from Dr. Walke (late a Surgeon in the Confederate service) that Uncle William and our Norfolk kindred generally were well and had suffered comparatively little by the war, but they gave him no definite information respecting your brothers and sisters, and Capt. Henderson and our other cousins, from all of whom we are very anxious to hear.

Nearly all your Ohio kinsmen were conservatives and Peace Democrats and took no part in the war—voluntarily at least. Brother Henry was at sea when the war broke out and on his return he was ordered to the Mississippi Flotilla. He was afterwards given command of a vessel and sent to cruise off the coast of Europe. 2

Brother William died at his residence in Union county three years ago last fall. 3 John is the Probate Judge of Pickaway county and being as fat as ever, his friends say he adds great weight to the Judicial Bench. 4 His son Robert was in Louisiana when the war commenced. He first joined the Crescent City Regiment composed of the finest youths of New Orleans. The regiment fought with distinguished gallantry and was nearly destroyed at Shiloh. It was then broken up and its members placed in other organizations. Robert was attached to the cavalry and served under Bragg, Johnston, Hood, and Dick Taylor. He was in all the heavy battles of the West and Southwest, but received no injury.

Sister Virginia 5 and family were all well when last heard from. Brother Anthony and I live on a farm about a mile and a half from town with Mother. Anthony attends to the farm and I practice law, having an office in town. Both of us can sing the old Egyptian song:

"I have no wife to bring me milk
No wife to grind my corn"

In looking over Pa’s papers, I found a collection of old family records, deeds, &c. He had intended compiling a brief history of th family in compliance with a request you once made him, but private & public business interfered and old age coming on, it was neglected altogether. At Henry’s request, I made out short sketches of the members of the family referred to in the old papers and if you wish it, I will send you a copy of them. There are probably errors in them which you can correct and deficiencies which you can supply. Ma and all join in kind regards & compliments of the season to you & family. Very affectionately yours, — Thos. Walke

P. S. Robert Walke referred to in the letter was a great friend and admirer of Mr. Francis Smith whom he met at Alexandria, La. Robert was in business at Cotila on the Red River when the war began. He has returned to that place & resumed his old employment. Please let us hear from you fully respecting our Virginia kindred. Yours truly, — Thos. Walke

1 Dr. Cornelius Calvert Walke (1822-1914) was a New York City physician and a censor of the New York Medical College (The Board of Censors examined the qualifications of students before their graduation and receiving medical degrees.)  The erudite physician was a member of the American Geographical Society. He was married in 1848 to Hannah E. Hitchcock and they lived in an opulent home at 213 Second Avenue. See The Dr. Cornelius Walke House in Manhattan.

Henry Walke (1808-1896)

2 Despite his southern heritage, Henry Walke (1808-1896) remained loyal to the Union and played a bigger role in the war than Thomas may have been willing to admit. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Henry Walke was a Commander in charge of Unionist forces at Pensacola, Florida. In January 1862, he commanded the gunboats “USS Tyler” and “USS Carondelet” in operations along the Western Rivers. Promoted Captain in August 1862, he commanded the ironclad “USS Lafayette” until July 1863, when he was ordered to command the cruiser “USS Fort Jackson.” From 1864 to the end of the war, he was made Captain of the steam sloop “USS Sacramento”. Promoted to Commodore in July 1866, he commanded the Naval Station at Mound City, Illinois, 1868 to 1870. He attained the rank of Rear Admiral in July 1870 and served on the Lighthouse Board until April 1873, when he retired from active duty as a Rear Admiral. Three United States Navy destroyers have been named in his honor. (Find-A-Grave)

3 William Walke (1806-1862) was married to Virginia Evans in 1831 and was living in Milford Center, Union county, Ohio, when he died on 17 November 1862. His wife died on 22 March 1865. One of his sons, Isaac Evans Walke (1841-1922) served briefly in Co. H, 136th OVI late in the war.

4 John Walke (1811-1895) was married at Chillicothe in 1836 to Francis McArthur Kercheval (1817-1882) and he was a Probate Judge in Pickaway county, Ohio. His residence as in Circleville. His son Robert Kercheval Walke (184–1892) was in the Confederate service. He was a sergeant in Co. K of the Louisiana Crescent Infantry (the “Kid Glove” Regiment) and then a private in Capt. Dreux’s Louisiana Cavalry. See “Capturing the Hornet’s Nest with the Kid Glove Regiment at Shiloh” by Dan Masters.

5 Susan Virginia Walke (1820-1895) was married in Chillicothe in 1840 to James Dun (1818-1892) and they lived in Deer Creek township, Madison county, Ohio.

8th Illinois Cavalry, Post Civil War Correspondence

1890: Morgan Hughes to Thomas Benton Kelley

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Morgan Hughes, Bugler, Co. E, 8th Illinois Cavalry

Morgan Hughes enlisted in Co. E of the 8th Illinois Cavalry on September 18th, 1861 in Saint Charles, Illinois at Camp Kane. Towards the end of his original three year enlistment, he reenlisted as a veteran. The official records show him mustering out of service on July 17th, 1865 as a bugler in Chicago, Illinois.

Muster rolls show him as being the bugler of Co. E at the time of the battle of Gettysburg. The battle was started by Lt. Marcellus Jones of Co. E, who fired the first shot from Levi Shaffer’s carbine and gave the command to open fire to the rest of the boys of Co. E. As bugler Morgan would have been the company’s main means of communication. One source suggests that Morgan was standing next to or near Lt. Jones when he fired the first shot of the battle.

The Illinois 8th Cavalry was attached to General Buford’s Corps. They were the first union troops to enter Gettysburg, and the first to fire on the Confederate forces early on July 1, 1863. Buford’s Corps held off the Confederate troops until reinforcements arrived on the evening of the 1st.

Morgan’s obituary appeared in the Aurora Beacon News on Wednesday, November 1, 1916:

Death Summons Morgan Hughes—Prominent Civil War Veteran and Grand Army Officer Passes away Late Yesterday

Was for 22 Years Officer of the Day for Post 20 G.A.R. -Funeral Friday Afternoon

Morgan Hughes, aged 73 years, veteran of the civil war, and one of the best known men of Aurora, died yesterday afternoon at 1 o’clock at his home. 438 North Avenue, after a lingering illness of nearly three years.

Mr. Hughes was born at Schuylkill Haven, Pa., July 25, 1843, and came to Illinois in 1856, first settling on a farm near Naperville. Later, at the close of the civil war, in 1866, through which he had served, he moved into this city. He enlisted at the outbreak of the war at age of 19 years and served four years in Company E, Eighth Illinois Cavalry as Bugler. He was past commander of G.A.R. post no. 20, of Aurora and was always active in the social and other activities of that organization from the time it was formed. He was Officer of the Day of the post for 22 years. For many years he had charge of a squad of the old veterans which visited the different schools each Decoration Day. He had been connected with the Western United Gas & Electric Co. for the past 25 years in the capacity of salesman.

Mr. Hughes leaves to mourn his death, his wife Lavinia; three children, Frank A. Hughes, Omaha, Neb., Bert Hughes, Detroit, Mich., and Mrs. George Shields of Aurora; three brothers, Joseph, Bushrod and Martin, all of Naperville; two sisters, Mrs. Sarah Enck and Mrs. Hartzell of Naperville; four grandchildren, Agatha and Virginia Adams, Corp. Russell G. Hughes who is at the border at the present time, and Aldine Hughes of Detroit.

The funeral Services will be held from the Grand Army hall Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Full military Grand Army burial services will be held under the charge of Comrade Cronk. The Rev. R.H. Claxon of the First Baptist church will officiate. Short services at the home, 438 North Avenue will precede the services at the G.A.R. hall, and will be strictly private, for family only. Interment will be in Montgomery Cemetery. [Military History Online]

The following letter, written in December 1890, to his comrade Bent Kelley, records some remembrances of their time together in the 8th Illinois Cavalry during the Civil War.

Bugler Morgan Hughe’s bugle and tintype on display in the Gettysburg Cyclorama & Museum (on loan from the Mary Jane Fraley Family)

Transcription

Aurora, Illinois
December 28th 1890

T. B. Kelley
Dear Comrade

Look out! I am about to take the bugle and give you a blast. Hold your horse well in hand—load, sling, and cap carbine. Now forward, let down the fence—here we go! Bent, it has been a long—yes, a very long time since we have met. Many changes have been wrought since we rode through the valleys and over the mountains on the Sacred Soil of Old Virginia. But thanks to Wise Providence, we have been spared while so many of the old boys have been called to the great Commander above. There is our old, tired and true, brave and courageous Capt. [Elisha S.] Kelley. Bent, I can now see him as we move up the Peninsula and through the swamp of the Chickahominy at Mechanicsville, Ashland Station, all through the Seven Days Battles, at Despatch Station, on the Maryland Campaign at Boonsboro, so distinctly where he received that wound which finally caused his death.

I well remember I called to see him while he was laying in a room at Boonsboro. Capt. [Elon J.] Farnsworth came in and the two strong men wept but Kelley said, “Oh my boy, be careful that you do not meet my fate.” But he is gone and the next year at Gettysburg, Farnsworth gave his life to his country. We hope they are in a better land. Hardy, Deuse, Wayne, Doc, Hard and many others. I often wish I could see the old boys once more as we looked while in Virginia in ’61 in the freshness and vigor of manhood. But it is impossible. We are getting old and our dark brow hairs are sprinkled with gray and not many of them left. Bent, I am a little bald, but fat and look healthy which I am with the exception of inflammatory rheumatism. But I must grin and bear it.

I see Capt. [Marcellus] Jones occasionally. He is getting old fast. George Bartholomew is here in Aurora. He looks well. Is very portly. Our regimental post master Fred Brown and Capt. [John A.] Kinley of K Company also live here, glad to say all doing well. I was to our last reunion. Saw many of the boys. Have met you but once since we were mustered out. How long it seems. Would have like to have come to Boston but could neither spare tie or money. But Bent, I hope to meet you at our next reunion which you know will be held at Gettysburg next year. I was at Prospect Park a short time ago. The Old Kelley House looks as of old. The place though is growing. Last Memorial Day I was at Wheaton and went with E. S. Kelley Post GAR and assisted in decorating the graves of our comrades there and Prospect Park. While there I visited the graves of Charles Slyter of our company who died from wound received at Beverly Ford, Va. June 1863.

What sad recollections came to my mind then, and then you remember our crossing the ford to support the 8th New York—how they were repulsed, fell back with the death of their Col. Davis, and our charging up the road, formed in line on the left of the road, our action in the woods at close quarters where Charles Slyter fell, our driving the Rebs finally through the woods, out in the opening where they drove us back to the woods by heavy artillery, firing in the field where Jud Farr received his death wound. All are now fresh in my mind.

Bent, these are days not soon forgotten. John Stoner is alive and well and so is Riddle, Shaffer, Ditzler. Frank Shurte, Bub Chadwick, Bejamin Hart and Doyle I have not seen since the war. Cooley is in Lacross, Wisconsin. Old Bill Jones I see two years ago. Bill is the same old Bill.

Must give you a little account of myself. Have been married 23 years, have 4 children, oldest a girl, married this summer. One boy 19 in the City of Chicago in wholesale hardware store, one boy 17 in Printing Office here in Aurora, Our baby, a girl, 11 years old. All strong and healthy. A good wife. My own home but not what we might call an abundance of te world’s riches.

I received your poem through the kindness of Mr. Ayles. It is splendid and sounds like Bent of old. I shall always keep it as a remembrance of you. I must close. I hope to jear from you. Enclosed I send you my photo. Hope you will recognize it. It is not the smooth face lad I was 25 years ago but I hope to be strong and able to meet you on our next reuion at Gettysburg. I hope you will send me one of your pictures. I never had one although I distinctly remember you your looks. Write soon. I am as ever, F C & L, — Morgan Hughes, Aurora, Illinois

“Private Morgan Hughes of Jones’ Co. E, 8th Illinois Cavalry, started the debate in an 1891 submission just a week prior to the dedication of the regiment’s Gettysburg monument. After reading a previous article by a member of the 7th Wisconsin Infantry stating that the ‘Iron Brigade’ of the Army of the Potomac opened the Gettysburg battle, Hughes determined to set the record straight. Lest Buford’s cavalry’s role prior to the general infantry fighting on the first day be forgotten, Hughes recounted his regiment’s arrival at Gettysburg on June 30, and his posting at Jones’ reserve headquarters at Herr’s Tavern. Riding forward with Jones to the picket post at Knoxlyn Ridge, Hughes watched as Jones ‘took a carbine from one of the boys’ and fired at the advancing Confederates. ‘The opening of the battle of Gettysburg,’ Hughes concluded, ‘belongs to the 8th Ill. Cav.’”
Post Civil War Correspondence

1870: S. Martin to “Nephew & Friend”

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The identity of the author of this letter—whether male or female—could not be confirmed. It was datelined from Medway, Massachusetts, in late March 1870. There is no envelope with the letter to identify the addressee who we learn is the author’s “nephew and friend” and the benefactor of a note endorsed by the author. While completing this transaction, the author refers to the “radical Republican” corruption in the post-Civil War South and shares the belief that the “Ebony race” may prove better suited to govern than the Caucasian race.

Transcription

Medway [Massachusetts]
March 26, 1870

Dear Nephew & Friend,

I have received your Draft, and the same is endorsed on the Note. I see you feel cheerful under the hard times. You seem to have business a plenty before you. and I wish you success and hope you will give good satisfaction. You know the cry is robbery & corruption where public funds are to be received & dispersed. If reports are true, robbery in the Republican ranks are common—but perhaps not criminal were so much sanctity exists. But we will hope for the better when the Ebony predominates. It is a little surprising that we, as a nation, have all our life long tried to fit and prepare Statesmen to rule and guide the Wheel of State, that the Ebony race just emerged from Slavery bids fair to be our superior in the Reign of Government. If so, we must yield in due obedience as we have the few years past that has brought us to this result.

Well, by the means of government or something else, we complain of hard things, scarcity of money, high taxes, dear labor and produce low in proportion to its cost. We have a heavy body of snow on the ground and the [Charles] river by appearance will not break till the first of April. Winter really commenced about the 14 of March. The river opened & shut several times in the winter months so the boats went up and down several times. Most all the month of March was ice gathering. We were at Gloversville [N. Y.] last fall & found John & Harriett 1 well and in good spirits. Harriet quite fleshy. Perhaps not quite 200 but she thinks she is of considerable consequence.

All well and remain yours as ever, — S. Martin

1 Probably John Stewart (1834-1889) and his wife, Harriet (Macdougall) Stewart (1839-1901) of Gloversville, Fulton county, New York. John Stewart was a merchant.

Post Civil War Correspondence, Reconstruction

1865: Anonymous to Gideon Welles

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The following vitriolic letter was directed toward Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy in the Lincoln/Johnson Administration. It was written by an anonymous former Massachusetts soldier who probably spent time as a prisoner of war at Andersonville and who disliked the reconstruction plan laid out by President Johnson and members of his cabinet, including Welles who publicly supported the plan.

In less than a month after becoming President, Johnson began executing his plan for reconstructing the South. Johnson pardoned all rebels except Confederate leaders. He also restored all rebel property except for slaves. Finally, he authorized each rebel state to call a convention of white delegates to draw up a new constitution. Once completed, a new state government could then be formed, and the state could apply for readmission to the Union. 

When Congress finally met in early December, the Republicans, in control of both the House and Senate, expressed outrage at the actions of Johnson and his supporters in the Executive branch, albeit not as strongly as the author of this letter. They saw the same men who had led the rebellion returning to power throughout the South. Worse still, the new Southern governments were passing “black codes,” which made it difficult for freedmen to work in certain jobs, own land, or even quit a white employer. Most troubling to Republicans in  Congress was that President Johnson had, on his own authority, established a reconstruction plan for the South. Many Republicans believed this was the job of Congress and Congress alone. This schism between the President and Congress eventually led to Johnson’s impeachment.

The letter itself is on a single half sheet of paper and relatively short. Apparently after he sealed the letter, he thought of a few more things to say!

[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Richard Weiner and was made available for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Transcription

Boston [Massachusetts]
September 25, [1865]

Do you think we of the army are going to see you stand by old villainous Johnson? Some of us are crippled for life. Some starved in prisons while our dear families starved at home. Do you think that a body of men who suffered hunger while in prisons fear your waning party? I have got you under my thumb, and the Cabinet [too]. I will have sweet political revenge, sir.

— Andersonville

The letter’s original cover, addressed to “Gideon Welles, Sec. of Navy, Washington, D.C.”, is franked by a #65 3c rose tied by Sept- 26 dated CAMBRIDGE/MASS double circle & circle grid. More interestingly, the envelope (both front & back) contains more angry & disturbed scribbling by the same writer. On face: “When did you suffer the pangs of hunger, Sir? Did that vile ‘my policy’ man ever have an empty belly? I sneer at you both; will have sweet revenge. Will take the stump against our enemies; mark it: Andersonville.”  Separately on the cover face is the docketing “anonymous.”

Writing all across the back of cover, the anonymous author continues: “Conservatives are played out. The soldiers detest them. What ‘we’ of the North swear to accomplish, God helping, is to raise an army to help carry out the confiscation act—take rebel property and give it to poor soldiers. If the next Congress (I warn them in time) do not confiscate the properties of late traitors, 500,000 soldiers from the north will go down South and drive them all into the gulf of Mexico. Conservatives must beware; Soldiers will not listen to them. So Conservatives, stand from under; we’ll make your eyes stick out. We come soon – vi et armis – voe victis.” [Latin for “by force & arms – woe to the defeated”]

Fort Bayard, Post Civil War Correspondence, Post War New Mexico

1867: Paullin DeForest to Florence H. Crowell

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The following letter was written by Pauline DeForest (b. 1840) of Pennsylvania. Paullin enlisted in 1866 at Philadelphia to serve three years in the 3rd US Cavalry. He was discharged at Fort Wingate, New Mexico in 1869 and then reenlisted in 1869 at Santa Fe, New Mexico for three more years in the 3rd US Cavalry. He was discharged on February 17, 1872 at Indianapolis, Indiana, as a first class private. This does not appear to be his final stint in the service, however, as there are subsequent military records for him. He claims to have been a soldier since 1861 but I cannot find any Civil War record for him.

Paullin wrote the letter to Miss Florence H. Crowell of Newark, New Jersey. The content of the letter suggests to me that the correspondents barely knew each other. I believe this may be an example of a “pen pal” arrangement wherein Florence responded to an advertisement placed by Paullin in a New York newspaper seeking a correspondent.

Transcription

Addressed to Miss Florence H. Crowell, 37 East Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey

Fort Bayard, New Mexico
January 9th 1867

Miss Florence H. Crowell, Newark, N.J.,

Your letter came to hand on the 29th of last month. You can scarcely imagine the pride it has given me to hear from you but do not deem me impudent for writing again to you. I consider it very fortunate for myself when I get any letters to wile away time. Possibly you may think I am very trifling when I say “wile away time” but you can scarcely imagine the influence a letter from the States has over me. It seems as if I were conversing with one personally and goodness knows that a verbal conversation is more to my taste than that of writing. I have always heretofore considered letter writing a bore. That was the conclusion I had arrived at when I was in the Army before. But now the case is entirely different.

Here one is isolated from friends and civilization entirely while on the other hand only a few  hundred miles intervened betwixt myself & friends and communication easy, mails more regular than here. Mails from this Post has to have an escort of not less than ten men, well-armed, and always detailed from the company to which I belong on account of the depredations the Indians commit. They are famous for stealing and shooting who may be on the road and if there were a smaller party with the mail, it would be jumped very quickly. It is only the force that prevents and Indians in this country dread the seven shooters that cavalrymen are armed with. The Indians have  been roaming in small parties and are very much enfeebled at present. In fact, the late war in the States has played them out considerably. A great many of them joined the Confederate army in Texas and in this territory and they have been cut up to a great extent.

The late Civil War is in a manner beneficial to the Indian. It has helped to get rid of them and one thing they do know—that the Great Father in Washington is able to clean them out. This  accounts for the little or no depredations on the citizens last year. No less than 2000 Navajos  submitted to the military authorities and they were sent to Fort Sumner on the Pecos River Reservation about 600 miles east of this place.

Immigration is increasing to a vast extent, principally Mexicans from Chihuahua Old Mexico about 34 miles south. I suppose the Mexican  troubles has something to do with this. A large town has been established about 7 miles from here by them called Pinos Altos. The Mexicans you are, I suppose aware of, speak the Spanish language. One not acquainted with the lingo cannot get along with them nohow. In August last, I did not know a single word of the lingo. I am now able to converse with a Mexican sufficiently to get along.

They have a peculiar institution—a national one in fact—called fandangoes which they have nightly and they attend them, all of them from the child up to the old men & women. They dance from the  evening until broad daylight and never seem to tire of it. And such waltzing. You will scarcely believe me when I say it is unequaled, not in the States at least. I have seen some of the finest of dancing in the States but they cannot come up to the Spanish dancing. They chiefly dance among  themselves. The reason why the Americans do not dance with the señoritas is because the señors have such weighty arguments in the shape of stilletos. They—the Mexicans—are proverbial for their  jealousy in regards to their female portion of friends and look with hatred towards all foreigners, and will not allow if they can help it any interferences from Americans.

Article appearing in the Weekly Rescue on 20 July 1867 (Sacramento, California) pertaining to DeForest’s activities in the Good Templars.

I am sure no explanation was needed in reference to Mr. McDonald, and I do assure you that I had thought that no young lady of any education would have any correspondence with such an uncouth youngster as he  appeared to be, and I think you are justified in saying that he ought to be where [he] belongs. The service does not need renegades; there is plenty yet, I hope, that has an interest in the welfare of this country and that have cause to desert the same. Yet I always feel sorry to hear of any deserting the flag after the government is at an heavy expense to equip them and to instruct them. Then to desert is just as much of an act to defraud the government as those who at Washington or elsewhere are doing by the wholesale. Since January last, there has been 63 deserted from this company alone, and the proportion is just the same throughout the whole Regiment. Now there is 12 Companies and say the average desertion since the beginning of last year is 50 to each company. That would be 600 men in the regiment who have deserted. [If] each one of these deserters generally disposes of his horse & arms, very nearly $400 worth of material belonging to the government, the sum total is a very great loss not only to Uncle Sam but to the citizens tax paying.

I am quite sorry that I have nothing of very importance to write about and as to being an hero, that is entirely out of my range. I  have no ambition for such a title. To obtain [it] would cost too much time and too much hard labor. As Artemus Ward says, it is not my forte. There is certain kinds of heroism that is never looked at. Now there is the ball rom dandy. He is a hero who suffers more than he does not near the tightest of calf skin boots and does he not suffer from the fashion that prevail and never so much complains. There is a hero. Again I might write pages concerning heroes both great and small. But my true ideal of an hero is a moral hero who neither mingles with the wine bibbers or bible scoffers—a true, upright, conscientious, God-fearing person, one who loves his enemies who hates him. Very few army men especially. You can scarcely hear of them in the  army. General Howard is a true pattern & example for all soldiers.

Another thing before I am done with this letter is to state for your benefit before hand it this: I am afraid I will prove but a sorry correspondent and not knowing any of the people of New Jersey so one cannot gossip is too bad. I only wish I did because there is nothing I am so fond of as gossip. What I mean—news about this person and that person.

You caused me to smile when you alluded to the title of madam. I was not aware that the same is improper for a young lady, but always supposed that it covered all when addressed to the fair sex. Al least I was taught that all ladies, whether old or young, were supposed to be addressed  madam as a matter of courtesy. But I hope you will forgive me for my error. I suppose it is the effect of living in this outlandish country and another fact— that of soldiering since 1861. Well, I  am supposing & guessing like an down Easter, so suppose you will.

As ever, Paullin Deforest, Co. M, 3rd U. S. Cavalry, Fort Bayard, N. M.

15th Amendment, Post Civil War Correspondence

1868: Charles Roswell Hine to Roswell C. Hine

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This letter was written by Charles Roswell Hine (1832-1919) who came to Kent county, Michigan in the mid 1840s with his parents, Demas and Sally (Noble) Hine from Delaware county, New York. Charles was married to Emeline Whitney (1838-1892) in the mid 1850s and the boy mentioned in his letter was their son, Fred Benton Hine (1856-1922).

In the 1863 Draft Registration Records, 30 year-old Charles was enumerated as a resident of Lowell, Kent county, Michigan, and his occupation was given as grocer. He had not, as of that date, served in the military, and I can find no record that he did subsequently either. In this letter, written in 1868, he indicates that he engaged in the “drug trade” which was a common adjunct business to the grocery business. By 1870 he was identified simply as a “druggist.”

Roswell Hine and his daughter Sarah Elizabeth Hine (1839-1874)

Charles wrote the letter to his uncle, Roswell C. Hine (1811-1878), a grocer in Athens, Limestone county, Alabama. Rosewell was the son of Silas Hine (1764-1841) and Betsy Tyrell (1767-1834). Roswell’s wife, Mary (Malone) died in 1841 after only three years of marriage but gave birth to their daughter Sarah in 1839.

This letter reminds us of the challenge before the Nation regarding Black suffrage. Former Confederate states were required to form new governments in their respective states that would enfranchise all male citizens 21 years and older of “whatever race, color, or previous condition” before they could be readmitted into the Union. Ironically, it the North and West that objected to Black male suffrage and there were numerous state-level referendums—such as that described in this letter—that proved the road to the Fifteenth Amendment would not be an easy one.

Transcription

Addressed to R. Hine, Esqr., Athens, Georgia

Lowell [Michigan]
April 11, 1868

Dear Uncle,

I have been waiting for a long time for matter of sufficient interest to make up a letter of, and at last, write more for the purpose of hearing from you than of communicating news—the best and most glorious of all is the result of our recent elections. Michigan has repudiated “Negro Suffrage” by at least 30,000 majority; while Conn. elects her Democratic Governor. 1 I think we have reason to hope for the “dawning of a better day” politically and we hope that the strength of the “Radicals” is growing less in Michigan but next fall will tell the story.

There has been no important changes with us since I wrote you last—no deaths, no births, although I am expecting the latter event to occur soon in my own family. My wife’s health is very poor but hope for an improvement soon. Milton’s wife has also been very poorly for the last year. The rest are in good health. Father and mother are thinking of removing to Lowell if they can sell where they are. Jimmy Hine has ben with me since last October with the intention of remaining permanently.

Business has been very good with us for the last year, although money has been somewhat tight. I still continue the drug trade and Martin the dry goods trade Martin started last Wednesday for New York to purchase goods accompanied by Fannie, a daughter of Charles Noble of Franklin who has been spending the winter here. A son of Charles Noble is clerking for Martin’s firm.

We have had some cold winter and the weather still continues cold. It is freezing some today.

Can you take Bettie and come North and make a visit this summer? If so, we will try and make it agreeable to you. I am in hopes of being able to visit you next year if I can arrange to leave home which I think I can after Jimmie has become more familiar with the business. I purpose giving him an interest in the business after awhile so as to enable me to get away from it myself in order to visit some of my friends. I have never been East since I left there with you which was 23 years ago. I now have a boy nearly as old as I was at that time and I now am about as old as you were then. So times flies.

Give my love to all the friends and in writing, please give particulars concerning them as well as yourself. It is some time since I have heard from any of you South. Your nephew, — C. R. Hine

1 In the 1868 Connecticut gubernatorial election, Democratic nominee James E. English defeated Republican nominee Marshall Jewell by a majority of only 1,700 votes. English was one of the members of Congress who broke ranks with the Democratic Party and voted for the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery. He feared it would ruin him politically but Connecticut voters rewarded him with the Governor’s chair twice in subsequent years.