March 26th, 1862
Dear Father & Mother,
I received a letter by Mr. Brown from home. The first one for a long, long time and it was welcome I can tell you.
Now I expect that you have been very uneasy regarding myself ever since the battle, but I came out all right, without a scratch on me. The nearest I came to being shot was that my hat was knocked off by a ball. I suppose I was on the retreat and didn't stop to pick it up. In fact, I didn't have time for the enemy were in 20 steps of me at that time and I wasn't so fond of an old hat as to stop at that time.
You want me to get a furlough and come home with these men but, Mother and Father, it is entirely impossible to get one at this time and I do not feel much like getting a discharge for it will be so lonesome at home.
I just returned last night from a forage expedition down in Washington Co. We were between 25 and 30 miles from camp, way the other side of White River on the War Eagle. We moved 6 families away from there. They were union folks and the Secesh threatened them with their lives and they were afraid to stay any longer.
We got about 40 wagon loads of corn from there. It took 15 trips to get it all.
We passed through great forests of pine timber along the road. The 2nd night we expected to be attacked by 500 Texas Rangers, but they didn't come.
Jo Clapp cut my hair last night.
I suppose that by this time you have heard who the wounded and killed were? The drums are beating for company drill so I must close with much love to all.
Your affectionate son,
Tom Brown
Camp Stevens, Benton Co., Ark.
March 30th, 1862
Dear Father & Mother,
Dr. Fithian was just telling me that he starts for home day after tomorrow so that I could write one long letter & I thought that I would commence this evening.
Well, for the news, ever since 12 o'clock today our prisoners have been coming in from Price's Army. There has been an exchange made between the two armies. I have seen several boys out of the 35th that I am acquainted with. They left Price at Van Buren, 4 miles from Fort Smith and they say that he is shipping everything that is of any value off south and that his troops are going down the river as fast as possible. The report was current here for a while that he was marching on to us again. In fact, we had orders to cook up 3 days rations and we fully expected a big fight again, but there was nothing of it I guess.
April 1st,
Well, very much to my regret I was detailed for picket guard Monday morning and didn't get back until a few moments ago, so I expect that you will not get quite as long a letter as you would otherwise. But I had a very pleasant time as it was. I stood out, where there was a family of Brown's. I went over to the house and tried to claim kind, but I couldn't make it out. The man's name was Lewis Brown. He said that he had quite a number of Uncles in Illinois. Some by the name of William, Thomas, Isaac, Jacob and one or two others that I don't remember what their names were. And I thought I had no uncle Ike or Jake so I just concluded that we were not of the same family.
There is to be a grand review today by General Curtis. It will be a fine thing I expect and I wish that you both could witness it. I suppose that by this time you have got the garden plowed up and are beginning to make a new one. And I think that if I was there I could lend a willing hand for a few days.
I can tell you there is a great deal of difference in living in Illinois and Arkansas out where I was. Last night at every house that I went to they had nothing but lye hominy to eat - and have had nothing else for 3 and 4 weeks and are very scarce of corn, too.
I asked a little boy there who was about 5 years old. I asked him if he wouldn't go home with me to Illinois. No, says he, "You ain't nothing to eat". Why yes I have says I, I have got bread and cakes and pies, just plenty of them. Then he says what will you take to give me about a half a one. I had to laugh at the little fellow. He said it so cute.
After Dinner
Having partaken of a 1/2 dozen pan cakes or less, bountifully spread over that with butter that could get up and walk away without any trouble (some that I paid 40 cents. a pound for), I felt like as if I could write a little more.
I was down in the Artillery a few moments ago and there I saw some poor fellow that had his hands tied behind his back and then he was tied to one of the cannon wheels. His dinner was setting down before him in a plate but he couldn't reach it. And I know that he was hungry from his looks. He had been doing something or refused to do something so that he was placed in that condition. That is the way that they treat a soldier at times.
Well, I guess that I have written you a long enough letter for I want to write John and Charlie a little letter a piece. Good Bye.
Your Ever Affectionate Son,
T. R. Brown
Dear Jack,
You said in your letter by Will Morgan that you had written me three letters and received no answers. Now, John, I can tell you the reason very easily why I didn't answer them. It was because I didn't receive them. You want a knife or a pistol? Jack, I promise you that the very one that I get you shall have , if I can get any way to send
it. I will try and get you a Secesh knife or pistol and that will be better than one of ours.
I would like to see you very much, John, and I think that I will before many years pass away. Write soon to your loving brother.
Tom
Dear Charlie,
I have never written to you since I have been soldiering,nor you to me. Now, Charlie, if you can't write your self get Jack or some body to write for you and tell me a little news. I often think of you, Charlie, Now I would like to see you and take a little play with you. Charlie, I want you to go and give my love to Sallie, Mary, Miss Prince, Eddie, & George and forever remember your affectionate brother.
Tommie
P.S. The Capt. & Major send their very best compliments to Father and Mother
Camp Stevens
Benton Co., Ark.
March 31st, 1862
Dear Sister Sallie,
I received your very welcome and interesting letter by Mr. Brown. And I know now that it was no fault of yours that I did not get any answer to my letter that I wrote to you. And you are perfectly excusable in not writing.
Fred Beisser, as I suppose you have learned, was wounded at the last conflict. I came out all right in the fight, but I may not fare so well the next time - which I fear will be pretty soon for the report is now that Price is at Huntsville marching this way. If that is the case we will very likely have another long and bloody battle and I fear for the results.
Sallie, I don't expect that you can hardly read this. Mr Bandy leaves in a very short time and I can't do any better.
Give my love to Mary and George and save a large share for yourself.
Affectionately your brother,
Tom
To: Father,
Father, by Mr. Bandy I send you $15.00. I would send more but I owed $6.00 or $7.00, and only drawing $24.00, it is the best that I could do. Things are so high here that if you buy anything it takes all the money you have got. I paid this morning $1.00 for a pound of soda, 25 cents for a mouldy pie, 50 cents for a chunk of butter as big as your two fists. My love to all.Your loving son,
Tom
Cassville, Mo., April 15th, 1862
Dear Mother,
This morning I received a letter from you by the Major dated February 18th, written almost a month ago. It is the first since Mr. Bandy and the rest were out here.
For the last 4 or 5 days I have been going to the Doctors regular. I have been having high fever all the time and a very bad cold. He always gives me a lot of powders of some kind or other. I haven't eaten anything for a good while and am getting pretty weak.
I suppose that you have heard of Sergeant John Sniders death. He died of the typhoid fever. He was much loved in the company.
The main army has gone on to Yellville and our regiment is left to hold this post.
With much love to all I remain your ever affect. son.
Thos. R. Brown
Cassville, Mo.
April 28th, 1862
Dear Father & Mother,
I just returned this evening from a six day's scout with the cavalry and on my arrival I was told by Jo Clapp that Willie was killed at the battle of Pittsburg landing. Mr Clapp wrote that you received a letter from Webster stating he was wounded on Monday and died on Tuesday. Now do please write as soon as you receive this and let me know whether to believe it or not. I will try and not believe it until I hear more about it.
I have not received a letter from home since Mr. Bundy and Mr. Brown came out. Why is it so? Do you write and are they miscarried?
I had a very pleasant time out scouting. I was in the two nations of Indians, the Senecas and Cherokees. We had quite a fight yesterday morning at Neosho. We killed 2 Indians and three white men and they killed two of our men. We drove them back into the woods and then started for Cassville again. We got in all about 60 prisoners.
Now please write as soon as possible. I still remain your most affectionate son.
Thomas R. Brown
Cassville, Mo., May 15th, 1862
Dear Father,
I received yours of the 26th of April yesterday evening and was very glad to hear from you.
I am very much gratified to learn that you recovered Willie's body, but I feared all along that you would fail. Do you know, Father, where he was shot? If you do, please let me know. It must be a very great affliction for Mother to give up so good and obedient a boy. And I wish that you would tell Mother to take that picture of Willies that he gave to me at Indianapolis and lay it away where I can get a hold of it when I get back home. I shall think a great deal of it if I ever recover it.
You say, Father, that you corresponded a great deal with Willie and now that he is gone you feel like writing the more to me. Well, Father. I will agree to answer every letter that I receive from you or from any one about home. Now I think that is fair enough.
I just returned from a trip to Springfield and while I was there I saw John and Charlie Jones. Charlie is a Quarter Master and John is a Q. M. clerk.
We have a regular U.S. Mail route running through from Rolla here now so that we get mail every other day. Major Black started for Corinth yesterday. I suppose to see the fight.
Well, I am getting tired of writing and you are of reading so I will close. With much love to Mother and all the rest. I remain your ever affect. son.
T. R. Brown.
P.S. I forgot to tell you we had to lay on our arms last night for we expected an attack, but nobody came.
IN JUNE 1862 MAJOR BLACK WAS PROMOTED TO LT. COL. DURING THE SUMMER THE REPORTS INDICATED A LARGE FORCE OF REBELS AND INDIANS WERE AT NEOSHO, MO., 40 MILES AWAY. LT. COL. BLACK, TAKING ALL OF THE AVAILABLE FORCE AT THE POST STARTED AT SUNRISE: MARCHED TO NEOSHO; MET AND DEFEATED THE ENEMY DRIVING HIM INTO INDIAN TERRITORY; RETURNED TO NEOSHO BY MIDNIGHT AND REACHED CASSVILLE BY SUNDOWN THE NEXT DAY. HE RETURNED WITH OVER 300 PRISONERS AND LARGE NUMBERS OF HORSES, MULES, AND WAGONS CAPTURED FROM THE CONFEDERATES. THIS WAS QUITE A TWO DAYS WORK HAVING MARCHED 100 MILES AND FOUGHT A BATTLE.
THE "37th" GUARDED THE FRONTIER IN SOUTHWEST MO. ALL THROUGH THE SUMMER OF '62 WITH FREQUENT ENGAGEMENTS AGAINST ROVING BANDS UNDER COFFEE AND QUANTRELL.
Camp at Cassville, Missouri
May 19th, 1862
Dear Mother,
I received a letter from Father the other day and answered it forthwith.
Today I happened to get hold of a Springfield (Mo.) paper and in it I find Major. Hubbard's official report of that six day's scout which I have enclosed. You see, along with his cavalry he had about 40 Infantry. Well, I happened to be one of the 40. We had a very pleasant time although it was a little rough on the 24th. He states that he took the cavalry out on the Cowskin Prairie and as luck would have it I got a chance to drive a two mule team. So I got to see the fun of that day and fun it was too.
The secesh were in a house about 2 miles from timber and you ought to have seen them stare. There was about 95 or 100 of them under Col. Coffee and Major Russell.
But, the most fun was the morning at Neosho. The first thing we heard in the morning was the Indian yells all around us. It didn't take long though to route them. The cavalry and artillery was up on the hill and the infantry with prisoners were under the hill. There was about a hundred of them went down in the town to release the prisoners, but as it happened they were removed the night before.
I will tell you how near I was hit. Lieut. Blodgett placed me down in one corner of the lot in a thicket of brush. I stood there watching for a while and then thinking that I could see better if I got up on the fence, so up I got and began to look about. I hadn't been there long before whiz came a ball within a few inches of my head and it struck a barn a few feet behind me. Well, as a matter of course I took the hint and got down.
At Newtonia we had a good time. The pickets weren't fired on and we had plenty to eat.
We have a good time in camp. Now there are six of us in the Captain's old tent. We have put a new floor in it and have a good time generally. The six are John H. Smith, Jo Clapp, George English, Will Larson, John Palmer and myself. We have milk and butter engaged about a mile from town and we get a half gallon of milk a day and plenty for coffee.
Mother, I wish that you would take that picture of Willie that he gave me at Indianapolis and preserve it for me.
Tell Miss Prince that she is owing me one or two letters. Much love to Sallie, Father, Johnnie and Charlie and a great share for your self from your ever affectionate son.
T. R. Brown
Co. "K" 37th Ills.
IN JUNE 1862 MAJOR BLACK WAS PROMOTED TO LT. COL. DURING THE SUMMER THE REPORTS INDICATED A LARGE FORCE OF REBELS AND INDIANS WERE AT NEOSHO, MO., 40 MILES AWAY. LT. COL. BLACK, TAKING ALL OF THE AVAILABLE FORCE AT THE POST STARTED AT SUNRISE: MARCHED TO NEOSHO; MET AND DEFEATED THE ENEMY DRIVING HIM INTO INDIAN TERRITORY; RETURNED TO NEOSHO BY MIDNIGHT AND REACHED CASSVILLE BY SUNDOWN THE NEXT DAY. HE RETURNED WITH OVER 300 PRISONERS AND LARGE NUMBERS OF HORSES, MULES, AND WAGONS CAPTURED FROM THE CONFEDERATES. THIS WAS QUITE A TWO DAYS WORK HAVING MARCHED 100 MILES AND FOUGHT A BATTLE.
THE 37th GUARDED THE FRONTIER IN SOUTHWEST MO. ALL THROUGH THE SUMMER OF '62 WITH FREQUENT ENGAGEMENTS AGAINST ROVING BANDS UNDER COFFEE AND QUANTRELL.
Springfield, Mo., July 13th, 1862
Dear Father & Mother,
Not receiving any letters for more than two weeks I have taken it for granted that you have not received any from me, but I have written a great many letters that I have not had answers to.
I am well and in good spirits. We have been here at Springfield 2 weeks tomorrow. It is a very pretty place, but we have a good deal of guard duty to perform.
Tonight is Sunday night and I did intend to go to church down in town, but there is so many going it will be so crowded and warm that I have given up the notion.
Major Black has got his Commission as Lt. Col. and Capt. H.N. Frisbie is our Major. Lt. Wm. Bandy appointed Adjutant (and a good one he is too.) I tell you the boys hated to give him up. He is such a good man and a good officer, Co. "K" will miss him. Either Sarge Leonard or Fred Reisser will be our 2nd Lt. The boys all like Fred.
I heard today that Col. Barnes had said that we were ordered to Virginia but it is hard to believe.
It will rain in a few minutes and I must close. I would like to be in the old brick tonight in a good bed out of the rain. I have got so used to getting wet that I don't care anything about it.
Give my love to Johnnie and Charlie and a large share for yourselves from your affectionate son.
T. R. Brown
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