Selected Letters of John W. Hanks
"Respects to Lieut Cotten." Baltimore
Oct 9th 1864
Lieut Jno W. Hanks.
Dear Cousin:
Yours of Sept. 28th and Oct 2nd containing the permits reached me yesterday, am glad you have at length succeeded in obtaining permission to receive some warm clothing for the coming Winter. I went yesterday and ordered your suit of "grey." but the tailor will not be able to let me have it before next Tuesday week. I will then pack your box and send you by express. hope you may be as fortunate in receiving promptly as all my other friends have been. I have friends now at "Elmira Point Lookout and Camp Chase. my favorite Cousin R. E. Seevers [?] is a prisoner at the latter place.
I hope in this your health has improved. Will send your coffee etc in box with clothing. do you think it would be best to have the coffee ground fine first for use. if so will have our cook fix it nicely. am sorry you could not get a permit for a larger quantity and greater variety. The Doctor secured [?] the number of pounds from 5 to 3 (coffee) for Lt Cotten and yourself the desired "needle books." suppose you have both learned to be your own seamstresses since the War; I should like to see some of the mending! Don't get tired waiting for your box. Try to keep warm this cool weather. I sent you a paper last week. will mail another tomorrow
Your Cousin
Mary
Baltimore Oct 10th 1864
Lieut Jno W. Hanks
Block 9. Mess 1
I wrote you yesterday acknowledging the receipt of your letters containing the permits. I will hurry as much as possible to have your clothing ready for you, for I am sure this cold weather you must suffer. I was fortunate this morning in seeing some "Confederate Officers" from "JohnsonÕs Island" en route for exchange. Among the number Col Miles. Captain Ward of Lynchburg Va (who gave me his "carte-de-visite") a Lieut Bullock. "Lieut Col McHenry" and others many were in the ambulances. I had just finished breakfast, when a little girl came in to say the "Rebels" were at the N Central Depot Ñ about 5-1/2 square from our house. I hurriedly put on cloak and bonnet started to see them. Lieut Bullock was standing near me. Inquired if he was from N Carolina! He replied yes. I then asked if he knew you; was glad to hear of you through him! I said I was your Cousin --Êthat when you were fortunate enough to be exchanged if he saw you to enquire my name. I had a very large pair of Buckskin gauntlets on which the Officer in charge allowed me to give him. They were rather small but he said he would keep them to remember your Cousin by. He looked much confused. there was quite a number of the elite of the City collected at the Depot. We waited until the officer was given to fall in line! Saw them start for the wharf. The Officers in charge seemed very kind and considerate. did not learn their names. Do you think you will be shortly sent off for exchange. Do you know this Wm [?] Bullock. What kind of person is he. Tell me all about him! I feel anxious to know something of him! More anon.
Your Cousin
Mary
Baltimore Dec 21st 1864
Lieut Jno W. Hanks.
Cher Cousin. I received yours of Dec 18th containing rings. a few hours since, have just finished a short note to Lieut. J.I. Merk [?] enclosing the $10 greenback. The rings are beautiful, and price not exorbitant. I know the little children will be perfectly delighted, accept thanks for the trouble you have had about them. The letter from Lt. C. [?] not yet at hand. We are all quite anxious to see your "Carte de visite" and I will prize it much, rest assured I will tell you exactly what I think of it. Will send today the French grammer it is very much delapidated but will answer the purpose as well without a cover as with.
Will deliver your message to "Miss Addie." have made her promise to give me a "carte de visite" to send you.
Do you know Lt. E.D. Snead of N.C. He belonged to 13 NC. Regt as Asst Surgeon. I saw the Doctor quite frequently after the "Battle of Antietam," have often wondered whether he was still living; hardly a day passes without tidings reaching us of some friend or acquaintance having passed from this world of sorrow and tribulation.
Father and Aunt join me in many kind wishes and hope that in the future we may see you among us. If you can get a permit for a slice of plum cake, will send you a piece by "mail."
Have you heard from home lately Excuse haste and believe.
Me Your Cousin.
Mary
Baltimore March 28th 1865
"Excuse this miserably tame letter"
Lt Jno W. Hanks
Mon cher Cousin's letter of March 21st was handed me today, when I came home to dinner (Dont the word dinner make your mouth water. If I could I would most willingly send you mine for a week though tis my favorite meal) and with it one from L.A. Hanks. dated Feb 22nd 1865: "Medical College" per Flag of Truce. Should you see the writer shortly, give many thanks for the really beautiful letter. but how they ever heard there was such a person in existence as myself, I can't say. perhaps you know. I was quite overwhelmed with undeserved praise -- am fearful will never be able to believe half the good things written of myself. In my last I mentioned the safe arrival in this "City" -- (or rather outside of this City) of Lt. Cotten. today a friend saw him at Fort McHenry all the prisoners sent on for the past week are waiting there for transportation. Will drive down tomorrow, Providence permitting, and make every effort to see him. Emma is glad he received his box. Did you get your cake? Be sure to telegraph before or when you leave. I must not forget to ask if you are not in want of new underclothing -- will with pleasure make a couple more negligee shirts what was sent you last fall must be entirely worn out. You must get a permit if you don't leave for two months. A box will reach you in time -- It's a tedious Process though is it not? Have you received the forks [?] we sent last Wednesday? The chains etc have not yet arrived. A lady desires me to have you make for her several chains to send to Europe. have you material. If not I can send it. Will send you a green-back in my next -- Au revoir -- [?] mis berisse" With love from all to our Cousin.
Believe me as ever
Mary
Shall be pleased to see any of Your Friends--as they pass through "Our City" when released, to go home. Father joins me in this.
Baltimore April 11 1865.
Lt Jno W. Hanks.
"My Dear Cousin." I wrote you Sunday last, enclosing $5, and also a note from "Miss Addie," which I hope may reach you safely.
Yesterday yours of April 4th was handed me; I answer this promptly fearing something may occur which would prevent my writing later in the week. Can have the underclothing ready by middle of next week, but will not forward until I hear whether you need a pair of shoes, that all may be sent in same package, or there may be some arrangement made now that Genl Lee has "surrendered," releasing on parole all Prisoners of War. If so, you will pay us a visit on your way "home." President Lincoln has not yet issued his Proclamation on that subject; but tis thought he will do so in a few days. Today news reaches us of the "surrender of Genl Johnston," so what is to be done but submit? We all feel very anxious to hear from or of Sergt Emile St Martin of Co. K 8th La Regt. Gordon's Division. Please make enquiry of Prisoners lately sent to Johnson's Island -- from the front. 400 or 500 officers passed through our City last Sunday afternoon en route for that "Pleasant summer resort." Enquire particularly of them for "Emile St M." -- and ask them to give you a description of the Bayonet charge made upon the Ladies at the outer [?] Depot last Sunday. I saw the whole affair."
Father has been quite sick for the past week, his nerves are much implicated, indeed we all feel "miserably, miserably" -- May "God Grant the People" of this afflicted Country courage to bear bravely all coming troubles.
All desire Remembrances as ever
Your Cousin Mary
Pittsboro May 11th 1868
My Dear Son: I received your long looked for and truly welcome letter a few days since & would have replied earlier had not circumstances prevented. You must therefore look over my seeming indifference & rest assured that nothing affords me more pleasure than to correspond with my absent children. I am glad you have moved up country as I never could "thole" that section you left and now it would be a perfect Pandemonium to reside in a county where the Cumbo [?] element so largely predominates as it does in Brazoria; however it is bad enough in Chatham & all over the old North State God knows. The Scallawags, Blatherskites, Rascals, Rogues & Cumbo [?] & Cuffie [?] have taken the day & N. Carolina has elected Wm Holden Governor & all the ticket composed as it is of Carpetbaggers & broken down politicians with a plenty of deserters from the parties they once were proud to belong to I mean the old Whig and Democratic parties. We hear this evening, however that the Congressional Committee has refused to take the state into the Union; the enfranchising clause is the objection & the probability is we shall be governed by a military despotism as at present, with the addition of another Brow-n low [?] of fiendish notoriety in the person of Bill Holden. Be it so! I would rather suffer on and bide our time than have our old constitution, made by our Fathers when men were honest & made by the wisest & best of N. Carolina's gifted sons & amended in /36 by such men as Gaston Toomer & Macon, thrown aside trampled on, & substituted in its stead a rickety, rascally, devilish, concern made in Washington & a literal copy in many respects of the Massachusetts Constitution with the addition of the Negro equality clause & then just to think of the men who made it! Fifteen negroes & the balance neither wiser nor better men, witness from our own County Chicken Billy Gunter & John McDonald! I honestly believe the policy persued by the Radical party will culminate in another war, a war in comparison with which the other was but child's play. It will be a war of races & the deluded Africans will find that this is & shall be a white man's & only a white man's government. The signs in the political horizon all through the North and Northwest are indeed encouraging & the old Democratic party is girding up its loins for the coming conflict & when the victory shall have been won, woe be to the now-dominant party if it refuse to surrender the reins of Government!! A result however that I do most certainly anticipate, and this is why I think there will be another war. If it should come & I am able to shoulder a musket you may count me in "Sure."
Enough of politics. Times are hard here money scarce & provisions high. There is no starvation, nor likely to be any, though in our County nor adjoining ones that I have heard of. We have the best prospect for a wheat crop I have seen in many years. If no accident befall it there has no such crop been harvested in many years. Much depends however on the season from this time.
We had quite a lively time on the 6th celebrated as the 1st of May. The coronation & the "tout ensemble" were most exquisite. All the young girls delivered their addresses in fine style & the band discoursed good music at proper intervals & all would have passed off charmingly had it not been for the fainting of one of the young ladies, Miss Euphemia Long, but she was better & able to go home & all proceeded in order subsequently. The health of the place is not very good just now -- We are having an epidemic, sore throat & Influenza with a sprinkle of croup among children. No deaths except among the darkies, poor things they suffer & steal & steal & suffer & the curse (of) God seems to rest on the Dark sons of Africa go where they may! You ask about Lucien. He is here doing business with O S Poe. He seldom writes to any of his absent brothers & sisters. Why I am at a loss to tell. I know he has plenty of time. He is well & I think doing pretty well. The rest of the family are well and all desire to be remembered to you. This (is) court week, but there will be little done in the way of business. I am going down into Harnett(e) this week to perform an operation for cateract on two persons eyes. I may get paid for this trip & may not. I can't be positive. I am intending to take a fish while at Egypt. Do you ever go a fishing? The rains have kept the rivers so flush and muddy all the Spring, so that I have had no fun yet. Your Uncle Martin & Wesly are still alive & very well for old men both desire to be remembered kindly to you.
I am often asked about you & the other children & all express the greatest satisfaction when I tell them of your doings, etc. You have many friends here & they are men of the right stamp. No scallawags. I trust you may succeed in business & that I shall live to see you here once more before I die, where you can meet those who now so kindly enquire after you.
You want me to go out to Texas. I should like to do so but at present I see no probability of it. The times are too hard & money is too scarce & property too low to bring any price and above all no chance to collect back debts! So I can't raise the means to take my family even a hundred miles from Pitts. Maybe something will turn up favorable yet I live in hope if I die in despair. Write soon & give me the news & how you are doing. You haven't I hope abandoned the legal profession. You can prosecute your studies & teach school at the same time & this I trust you will do. It is growing late & I must close this long & rather desultory epistle, with the request that you reply at your earliest convenience & believe me as ever your affectionate old Father
J.A. Hanks
The Life and Letters of John W. Hanks
