DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Anson R. Butler letters, 1861-1900

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Anson R. Butler letters, 1861-1900

1864-01-13 Page 2

to check or destroy them. They have shot at boats but done no real damage beyond wounding a few and hindering navigation a little as boats waited and run by the place at night. They will soon be routed. There was a boat loaded with ammunition sent from here to Bank the other day. The Capt. run her up the River a short distance & commenced shelling it out to the Rebs. A Contraband ran and made his way to a camp of soldiers on the [**?] River. They went below to a gunboat, all went up [Riv?] after her, caught her & all her officers, towed her back   [**?] her officers in front. Such was the report in town yesterday and I know I saw a gun B. with a steamboat in charge come up the river Monday forenoon. There is no war news that I hear of. Banks has all the Gulf shore of Texas now but Galveston. What Grant or Meade are doing we don't know. Probably not much now there may not be much done in the way of fighting for months. And yet I look for big things before Spring by means of the people who are coming to their senses and now begin to talk & reason among themselves. Orange I have not seen for some weeks but hear from him often. He was well. Have not had letters from anybody lately except one from Dr. Allen yesterday. He was well. I [?] has his old District to [inspect?]with Headqtr. at Cairo. Those who used to be on the "Nashville" are scattered now far & wide. Some dead, some at home discharged, some in Louisville, Chattanooga, New Orleans, Memphis, and here. So it goes. Nothing is stable long. I have not been paid yet. when the P.M. will get round we don't know, may not be for a month yet. I hope you can get along till then. If you run short get some from Harriet for a short time or get it from Wm Hamilton and pay it when you get mine. Is that lot business settled yet. it ought to have been for interest runs on.  And when done, I want a final statement of how it was done, how much etc. etc. When do you draw your last 28.00 from the County tell me about your business matters all of them and how you get along generally. 
The weather here is gloomy now, foggy, damp, & cold. Kiss the children all for me There is no use telling how much I love them or you here I don't know but what you are tired of hearing it anyhow. I send you a slip of paper that just suits you, is true of your influence over me, our hearts bound with love & [finds?] that you are just such a woman to me ...[Written across upper corner:]
Temptations might be & have been placed before me, causing thoughts to arise of what fun it might be but thoughts of you would drive them out ashamed, and forever prevent their fulfillment Im proud to acknowledge it, and from my heart gratefull that I have so good & sweet a wife.Ill prove it to you I ever get a chance. Here is a riddle for you to tell [me?] also. Now good Bye & God bless you for me  

Your own A.R.B.

Saving...

to check or destroy them. They have shot at boats but done no real damage beyond wounding a few and hindering navigation a little as boats waited and run by the place at night. They will soon be routed. There was a boat loaded with ammunition sent from here to Bank the other day. The Capt. run her up the River a short distance & commenced shelling it out to the Rebs. A Contraband ran and made his way to a camp of soldiers on the [**?] River. They went below to a gunboat, all went up [Riv?] after her, caught her & all her officers, towed her back [**?] her officers in front. Such was the report in town yesterday and I know I saw a gun B. with a steamboat in charge come up the river Monday forenoon. There is no war news that I hear of. Banks has all the Gulf shore of Texas now but Galveston. What Grant or Meade are doing we don't know. Probably not much now there may not be much done in the way of fighting for months. And yet I look for big things before Spring by means of the people who are coming to their senses and now begin to talk & reason among themselves. Orange I have not seen for some weeks but hear from him often. He was well. Have not had letters from anybody lately except one from Dr. Allen yesterday. He was well. I [?] has his old District to [inspect?]with Headqtr. at Cairo. Those who used to be on the "Nashville" are scattered now far & wide. Some dead, some at home discharged, some in Louisville, Chattanooga, New Orleans, Memphis, and here. So it goes. Nothing is stable long. I have not been paid yet. when the P.M. will get round we don't know, may not be for a month yet. I hope you can get along till then. If you run short get some from Harriet for a short time or get it from Wm Hamilton and pay it when you get mine. Is that lot business settled yet. it ought to have been for interest runs on. And when done, I want a final statement of how it was done, how much etc. etc. When do you draw your last 28.00 from the County tell me about your business matters all of them and how you get along generally. The weather here is gloomy now, foggy, damp, & cold. Kiss the children all for me There is no use telling how much I love them or you here I don't know but what you are tired of hearing it anyhow. I send you a slip of paper that just suits you, is true of your influence over me, our hearts bound with love & [finds?] that you are just such a woman to me ...[Written across upper corner:] Temptations might be & have been placed before me, causing thoughts to arise of what fun it might be but thoughts of you would drive them out ashamed, and forever prevent their fulfillment Im proud to acknowledge it, and from my heart gratefull that I have so good & sweet a wife.Ill prove it to you I ever get a chance. Here is a riddle for you to tell [me?] also. Now good Bye & God bless you for me Your own A.R.B.