THE THIRTY-SEVENTH ILLINOIS WAS FINALLY MUSTERED OUT OF SERVICE AT HOUSTON, TEXAS MAY 15, 1866 AND RETURNED TO SPRINGFIELD, ILL. MAY 31,WHERE THEY RECEIVED FINAL PAYMENT AND DISCHARGE. THEY HAD SERVED THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC FOUR YEARS AND NINE MONTHS PARTICIPATING IN ELEVEN HARD FOUGHT BATTLES AND SIEGES AND INUMBERABLE SKIRMISHES, AND HAVING TRAVELED A DISTANCE OF 17,846 MILES AS FOLLOWS: BY STEAMER 14,560 MILES, AND 3,286 MILES ON FOOT, ACCORDING TO THE TABULATED STATEMENT KEPT BY HENRY KETZLE, A VETERAN OF COMPANY A.
Danville, Ill.
June 11th, 1866
My dear Father,
Having nothing to occupy my time I thought that I would drop you a few lines. I have not got into any employment as yet. I have tried Bud Cunningham but he has all the help that he wants. I tried John Short and he if full. Mr. McKee has all the help that he wants, so you see there is not much chance for employment at any of those places.
You spoke in one of your letters to Mother about my attending "Commercial College." If I do attend, don't you think that it would be better for me to go this summer, say July, August, September, and perhaps October and November. And then in the fall I will be ready for any kind of business that may be open for me to go into. Please write and let me know what you think about it.
Love to all
Ever Your Affect. Son,
T.R. Brown
UPON TOM BROWN'S RETURN HOME TO DANVILLE HE FOUND THAT EMPLOYMENT WAS DIFFICULT TO COME BY. THINKING TEXAS TO BE A LAND OF OPPORTUNITY HE RETURNED TO HEMPSTEAD ON THE STEAMER "WHITE CLOUD" IN THE FALL OF ' 66. HE WORKED THERE FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR AND THEN WENT NORTHWEST TO ELLIS COUNTY. THIS TURNED OUT TO BE LESS THAN HE EXPECTED AND HE RETURNED TO HEMPSTEAD IN DECEMBER 1867. ACTUALLY HE WAS FINDING THE SOUTH TO BE UNFRIENDLY TO YANKEES. HE TALKED OF RETURNING HOME OR GOING WEST. HE FINALLY MADE HIS WAY BACK HOME VIA A CATTLE DRIVE INTO KANSAS.
Hempstead, Texas
December 4th, 1866
My dear father & mother,
I have not written home since I left the steamer "White Cloud" for the reason that I didn't know where to tell you where to direct my letters.
Since I came to this place (two weeks ago tomorrow) I have been clerking in a dry goods store for a Mr. Bozman, formerly Adjt. 29th Ill, but I shall not stay very long because it doesn't pay me very well. I only get $1.50 per day in salary. I have written to the Asst. Adjt. Genl. of the Freedmans Bureau in regard to an agency and I think that I will succeed in obtaining it. If I do, I will write and let you know where I am to be stationed. Until then direct my letters to Hempstead, and if I leave I will have them sent to me.
You mustn't expect much of a letter this time for I am not in a letter writing mood.I met many old friends here who welcomed me back to Texas. I think that before long, if I don't succeed in getting into any thing that pays first rate here, that I shall wend my way up into the northern part of the state.
With very much love to Sallie, Lue, and all of the rest.
Your Affect. Son,
Tom R. Brown
Hempstead, Texas
Dec. 23, 1867
My Dear Mother,
You are no doubt aware that I arrived in H-- one week ago. I wrote to Father on my arrival here. When I did write, Meyers Whiteside and Bozman had not yet concluded whether they could give me a situation or not, but upon my failing to obtain employment any place else they gave me work with them, but could pay only very poor wages $1.00 pr day and me board myself which costs about $3.00 pr week. There are four of us messing or rather keeping house, couldn't obtain board in town for less than $5.00 pr week. We live much cheaper and better than they do at any boarding house.
Yesterday I received an appointment to sit on the board of register, it will pay me $6.00 pr day I am in employment, that however will not last very long as nearly all of the voters in this County are registered. A young man from Wis. is President of the board. I think it quite likely that I'll come home next spring if I make money enough. I am afraid of these epidemics that rage in this country and they tell me that yellow fever generally runs two years. I was fortunate enough to escape it this year although there is considerable danger yet, so I am told.
Almost all of the young men that are here from the north say they expect to go out west next spring, along the line of the Pacific R.R. It may be that I will go with them, can't tell so far ahead. Business is very dull. I never saw money so scarce, it seems as though there is none in the country , cotton being so low is the cause of it. Cotton is only worth $.05 pr pound here before taxes are paid on it.
My health is exceedingly good and am in very good spirits. Think that if I can hear from home quite often I can get along finely. I intend to write oftener than I did when away up in north Texas. There are going to be a good many removals from office in this County shortly and I have a notion to make application for some one of them. My friend Wills from Wis. will secure the best one I think, the County Clerkship, and he insists on my not making application but wait and become his deputy, which I think would be a very good plan. I'll see and let you know in the course of time.
Love to each & every one, let me hear from home at least once a week. Get Charlie to write now and then & I'll answer all letters.
Ever your Affct. son,
Tom
Round Rock, Texas
March 16, 1868
My Dear Father,
I arrived here this a.m. in good health. Am with the Meyers Copelands. We expect to start north with the cattle the first of April if possible, but I hardly think we can do it. It will take about two months to drive to Kansas Junction after we get started so you need not look for me much before the middle of July. Will Johns and I expect to ride through on ponies from Kansas. It may fall through with but that is our intention at present. I like this part of Texas much better than any I have seen heretofore, yet still "there is no place like home". It will hardly be worth while to write to me at this place, as we will start before a letter could reach here. I will write at times along the route.
Love to all,
Ever Your Affct. Son,
Tom
Ellis County, Texas
Oct. 10, 1867
My Dear Mother,
Yours of the 10th of August was received a good while ago all safe. Was very thankful for the present, but would rather you would not send any more, as I can make out without and I have other reasons for not wanting you to send me money. There is no use in my trying any longer to get into business up in this country, I have tried until I am completely discouraged and disheartened. As quick as cold weather sets in I shall manage somehow or other to go back to Hempstead for as much as I dislike the place I know that I can do better there than any place else in Texas for there are some few northern men there.
I received a letter from my old employer, Bozman, a day or so ago and what awful and terrible sufferings they have had there with the yellow fever. He mentioned among the victims; Maj. Greene and wife, (those I came down with last fall), Capt. Brink, Anderson Londermilk (of our old company) Mr. Kane, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Bush, Mr. Herbert, Mrs. Starks, Miss Mollie Greene, and among convalescents were: himself, Bozman, Mr. Starks, Mr. Wm. Green, and Dr. Cunningham, all strangers to you, but I know them all well. It left only three or four northern people clear. How fortunate I was in being away from there during the sickly season.
No business has been done there since the fever came, and none will be done until it has died away. There will be quite a number of vacant places when business commences again.
I had another hard spell with my teeth since I wrote last - about three weeks with the tooth ache, then caught could and it settled in my front teeth swelling my face up and was even more painfull than the tooth ache. Haven't suffered much the last week or two, however.
Tell Sallie that I have waited long and impatiently for her promised letter, her Chicago papers are in the post office but she forgot to pay postage on them and for the present they will have to remain there, don't know when I will be able to send this, soon however I hope 12th.
Yesterday eve I had the pleasure of receiving yours of the 22nd ult. and Lue's of the 23rd. They done me lots of good also raised the needful and got Sallies "Plaindealer" and "Tribune". Thanks to her, will answer Lue's soon.
I don't know why it should take linger for letters to come here than to go there, but it certainly does, but I know no reason.
Mother I shall be at home one of these days and to stay, at least out of Texas. It was indeed providential that I should be away from Hempstead this summer, but I am pretty certain to go back in a short time, not until however I hear of the death of the yellow fever.
I will try and write to Johnie soon also to Charlie. I had not noticed what you charged me of, neither did I do it intentionaly.
Not knowing where Aunt Sarah lived I cannot find out where she is buried. Bob Neel and wife are buried in the grave yard at Waxahachie. Who was Mrs. Mary J. Baldwin? You sent me her funeral notice but È don't know the person, don't ever remember of hearing her spoken of.
Will write to Father soon, his of a late date is at hand.
Love to each and everyone.
Ever your affectionate son,
Tom
Lieut. Wm. M. Bandy U.S.A.
Baton Rouge, La.
Dear Dock
Enclosed please find address to the 37th.
Get a furlough & come if you can, we anticipate a glorious old time. Boys all well, have a club dance tomorrow eve, wish you were here. No weddings lately, none expected soon that we know of, a number of deaths, but none of your acquaintance I guess. Mrs. Nettie Hanford is very low. Should like to hear from you.
Yours as ever,
Tom Brown
Dear Tom,
Thank you for remembering me, rec'd two copies of the address to the 37th from Chicago. White sent them. I suppose it would offer me great pleasure to be with you but it is not possible at this time for me to leave my command. The Lord only knows when I will get away again as I am A A G M at this post and have more work to do than you can shake a stick at. The club dance also affords attraction for me but I must forbear. We are all here.
That's really nice as I am the only man then whom you feel any inereest in. Give my love to all the fellows at the meeting or Reunion and tell them I remember them all kindly. My regards to all the boys at home, and dance with Miss Strousbury the elder for me.
Your friend,
Bandy
Galveston: Sept 16th 1869
Dear Friend Tom,
Yours of the 13th Inst. is at hand.
I rec'd some circulars from Gen. White which I sent to different members of the Co. and will do all in my power to get the boys out. As for myself it will be perfectly out of the question as one member of the firm is now east and there are but three of us here. So I cannot possibly get away--- To say that I would be delighted to come would be a repetition of what I have often wished might occur since the Regt. was disorganized. But regret that business is such just at present that it is impossible. Saint Jones, Hines and perhaps Dick may go. I think there will be five or six from here.
You I presume are married, haven't heard a word from anyone for so long. I don't know what has come of the boys. I am still single and expect always will be. I never wanted to go any place more in my life than to come up there. But don't see how I can. If I can get a man to stay in my place in the store I will certainly come "or Bust".
Let me hear from you and all about the boys. I saw Capt. Black in Chicago last month. He informed me that my friend Jim Culbertson was practicing Law. Think I would be pleased to see Jim before some good judge pleading in behalf of some seduced female or some similar cause.
I must stop, for the boys just came in the room and its all up with me now.
Regards to all of "K" Co. and let me hear from you again. I will write you a good long letter if I don't go to Chicago the 30th.
Yours Respectfully,
G.W. Kirby
Hempstead Texas
February 28, 1868
My Dear Father,
Yours of the 22nd inst. was received yesterday eve, direct through in five days, tolerably quick time wasn't it? Was very glad to hear from you. I shall keep a look out for the Copelands & Johns and if I get with them I may be able to make something. I believe I am not acquainted with the Copelends but I am with Will Johns, and I will tell you, Father, if Johns is no sharper than he used to be, and the Copelands are no sharper than he is, they will indeed want some one along with them that nows a little something about Texas and its people. The rebel element is growing more bitter against northern men every day and unless a man knows pretty well who he is talking to he is apt to get into trouble, and unless a man wants to fight his way through he will have to keep his mouth closed on a good many subjects.
There never has been a time (at least since the war) that so much crime was committed here in Texas, why it is an every day occurence to hear of shooting, stabbing, killing and robbing. Last Sunday a man was shot down here in Hempstead for nothing in the world. Monday a man was shot in Havasota a place fifteen miles distant and a week or so ago two more were killed there and another hung by a mob. Tuesday night several stores were broken into here in town and robbed of a good many goods. Wednesday night two fine horses were stolen out of stables right in the heart of town, and yesterday two negroes were stabbed, one by white boy about thirteen years old and the other by another negroe in a half dozen places. -- A nice country to live in, truely, of all the crimes but one man has been punished, and that one was hung by a mob.
I am out of employment now. My employers could not pay clerk hire and longer on account of hard times.
They have an Agency for the sale of tobacco from a manufactury in Missouri and I have been selling a few boxes of that on commission. Will try and sell more when another lot arrives. I get five cents on every pound I sell. I shall watch for Johns and party, and try to make some money with them if possible. They need someone to look after them in this outlandish, man killing, robbing country.
`
Wrote again soon and often.Love for all
Ever your Affect. son,
Tom
My Dear Friend,
Tomorrow is the 8th return anniversary of the 37th. You will receive this letter on that day. May it be as bright & glorious as it was the 18th long ago in Camp Webb when the young and brave men of our old Regiment devoted themselves, some to battle and toil, many to death all for the Mother Country.
Your letter received. My warm request is that no trouble be taken further in the premises. I sympathize with your feelings and have often before in my life. None of the men who participated in the "Reunion" of the 14th can snub the 37th. There are too many bullet holes in its two sets of flags; Too long a list of "death in battle" on its old muster rolls. Too many warm eulogies written of it, not by war correspondents but by grateful generals after forays, marches, sieges and fights. To omit a record from the Missouri to the Rio Grand -- The thing can't be done!
Surely, Tom then, the old soldiers, did not want to: Surely they will not! Camp tin Honor is not all dead among them! As for those who did not feel the same knitting cheer of camp among resting comrades, who got no further on the war path then to the turning point, think nothing, despise them! The failure to recognize the company that (except for perhaps "C" Co. of the 12th Infty.) kept the field months longer than any organization from Vermillion must have been a mistake!
I had no invitation to address the meeting. Nor did I expect to have. Nor do I care for it.
I look forward to a glorious time on the 30th. If not more than a score and ten we will know our old youth.
My best regards to friends - This letter is for your own eyes and that of any of the "boys" of the 37th that may feel hurt by the acts of the management of the 14th and is not for public use. Do not think further or angrily of what has been.
Your friend truly,
(signed) Charles Black
My best regards to Gen. Carnahan
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