Nashville, Tenn. Janry 15.1865

 

My good, kind brother.—

Your promptness in attending to business would bring you in high favor of with Genl. Grant or Sherman and they being our shining lights, I am paying you a high compliment. I thank you heartily for the promptness with which you remailed mother’s letter & Photograph. Nothing that I now remember, has given me such genuine pleasure for a long time as those Photographs & especially that of our dear, dear mother. How noble and sweet she looks & how well she bears her years! Shall we ever see her again?

 

Your letter of the 11^th & box of Cigars sent by Mr. (Washburn) Russel were received yesterday. I was absent from the Office at the time he called & have not seen him yet. Your “account” with me is alltogether too large on the credit side & will take me a long time to balance it. I shall take the Cigars with me to New Hampshire, when I shall take double comfort with them;—many thanks for them. The Whiskey I have not seen yet & if I do, I do not think, I shall carry it very far (in the flask.)—Reub Armstrong told you pretty near the truth as regards my health & spirits. If you would get a string of letters from your wife telling you how much/she yearns to see you, how lonely she is &c, &c, and add your own feelings to it, you would not think it strange, that such a “domesticated animal” as I am, should get homesick;—as you say, it will be short now and with a “reprieve” of thirty days, will ease the trial considerable. I had a letter from Sarah on Thursday dated the 13^th & one, this day of the 9^th;—one continued strain of, “when will you come. when will you come!”—well, that song will cease soon and a sweeter & happier one take its place.—They are all well, but find the cold severe in the mountains. If I can in any way arrange it, I shall move them to Brooklyn.

I enclose a photograph of your humble servant; I presume you will say, I look rough;—I have not shaved but once since I have been in the army and do not intend to for the balance of the time.—I am perfectly satisfied with the sale of the stove.—

 

We leave here on Wednesday next & therefore hope to take next Sunday’s dinner with—(my choice will be)—dear aunt Ellen;—somehow she has endeared herself to me from our first aquaintance & it has only grown on me during the Past.—I expect to be dissappointed in the reception from Uncle Lewis & aunt Ann, for I have not the most pleasant anticipation concerning it; time will tell./

 

I do not give up the hope to hear from Stockdale, before I leave & if ordered to him, will cut loose from present arrangements & run to see you. I scarcely think it will come to pass however.—The 74^th is now at Huntsville, Ala & will likely remain there for a time.—Alex. Beatty, Ed. Simpson & some others left Nashville on Friday to join the Regiment.—Newton Hicks met with an accident, bringing him to a fearful proximity to his death.—He left here (at a Station called Smyrna) the car he was in was thrown off the track by a break in a switch; he, at the time was sitting by the stove, but at the first intimation of danger, ran to the platform in front of ca & jumped off the car;—he fell among some bushes & rails;—the side next of the car grazed him on his right leg & left arm, bruising him severely & tearing his coat & pants in shreds;—he fainted from the effect & found himself (on coming to) in a Hospital Car, which fortunately was at the station & going to Nashville; he had immediate medical attendance & brought to the City & removed to a Boarding house (N^o 85 Church Street.) Providence provided those Bushes & Rails to break the blow, otherwise Newton Hicks would be to day numbered among the Departed. Understanding, that I had left for New York, he did/not, of course, make an effort to inform me of it. Meeting a mutual aquaintance on the streets yesterday afternoon, I heard of it & immediately went to see him.—As he has not informed his friends of his accident nor wants to, until he gets well, you can tell Mr. George Hicks from me, that Newton, although considerably bruised, is not in any danger whatever,—is doing well,—has every care and attention paid him and is perfectly cheerful & devoutedly grateful to the good Father of us all, for his narrow but fortunate escape from death.—Not a bone in his body is injured,—the bruises are on the right leg above the knee to th near the trunk & on the calf of the leg inside and out,—his left hand is also bruised, but not so bad.—The attending Physician says, Newton will be out of bed in a few days & soon be completely restored.—I shall visit him frequently before I leave & need not add, will do all I can for him.—I had the pleasure of meeting D^r Corey last Thursday,—he recognized me and that is more than he can say of me.—We had a long chat together;—he just thinks, there ain’t another such woman in the world as his cousin Lona & says you have a perfect “jewel” of a wife;—but that is nothing new to you or any body else, who knows her.—The Doc looks exceeding well & is infatuated with military life;—he has the offer of a Colonelship of a Cavalry Regiment & will accept it if his wife consents;—he says, he will come go home and consult with her before he finally accepts the position.—

My letter of the 10^th will explain when I intend to write to Lona,—in the mean while, much love to her.—

 

Good bye, dear brother & believe me ever to be

                        Your sincere friend.—

Edward

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