| Title: | Andrew & Lucy Greenlees, Dayton, to 'My Dear Parents & sisters' |
|---|---|
| ID | 1236 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Greenlees, Andrew/8(2) |
| Year | 1862 |
| Sender | Greenlees, Andrew |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | farmer |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Dayton, Ohio, USA |
| Destination | Ireland |
| Recipient | unknown |
| Recipient Gender | male-female |
| Relationship | siblings to their family |
| Source | D3561/A/26: The Papers of Prof E.R.R. Green Deposited by Dr. P.R. Green |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N.Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9902223 |
| Date | 07/07/1862 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 26:02:99. |
| Word Count | 319 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Dayton July 7th /62 My Dear Parents and sisters we are all well and able to pursue the duties of every day life, for which I hope we are truly thankfull [thankful?]. since my last I have nothing new to write. Things move on about as usual as regards the war I see no prospect of its speedy close the rebels are terribly in earnest and no doubt will fight till the bitter end there has been a terrible and bloody battle fought recently at Richmond their Capitol it lasted seven days the rebels had two hundred thousand of the pick of their troops in the engagement they intended to annihilate our chosen army of [---?] seventy five or sothousand [so thousand?] under Mc Clelland, but signaly [signally?] failed he made good his retreat to a new and better position the loss of life was fearfull [fearful?] the rebels own a loss of thirty thousand men, ours is variously estimated at from ten to twenty thousand but I will send you the papers having ful [full?] particulars of the engagement beside the six hundred thousand troops already in the field the President has issued a proclamation for three hundred thousand more effective men to be enrolled immediately. the patriotism of the people runs high they are willing to submit to great sacrifices in order to put down and crush out this unholy cruel and wicked rebellion May God prosper the cause that is just and righteous you will percieve [perceive?] from my last few letters that matters has been going against me this some time with many others I have been going down hill in a wordly [worldly?] point of view, unforseen and I might say unavoidable losses has left me without any thing and a small debt on my shoulders besides, perhaps you would call it huge about fifty pounds sterling this has made me longer of answering your letter than I otherwise would have been I felt low spirited and discouraged and did not feel like writing to any one Brother John will therefore excuse me for not writing an answer to his last I will when I feel better spirited and more like writing perhaps I have been wordly [worldly?] minded and too eagerly pursued the perishing things of this world, Oh that we may log up treasure for ourselves on high that at the last we may reap life ever lasting I work on a farm by the [m----?] this year am first man have about 25 dollars per month, I hope soon to be strait [straight?] with the world once more then I shall move further west on to a farm of my own. Congress has passed a very wise and prudent measure lately called the homestead law or bill, granting to every actual settler who is 21 years of age or the head of a family 160 acres of land free without price this will give farms to thousands that otherwise never would have had any myself amongst the number I will push off as soon as I have the means after paying my debts, I had a letter from Cousin [---?] a few days ago they are all well except Hughs wife she had the ague considerably but that is nothing dangerous here from the east I have no news except what I got from you Aunt Greenlees & family are well I was there a few days ago we had rather a backward wet spring here crops dont look very well harvest will commence in a few weeks I have not got much more to write John my boy has got to be quite a big fellow he is very stirring and lively I have to tell him a great many stories about Grandpa Greenleeses My Agnes dont talk much yet but she is able to come and meet me when I come home at noon and night I take a great deal of comfort, playing with my children, God bless them, I always liked children especially good ones, but more particularly my own. Lucys health has been remarkably good for some time we have no doctoring or no bills to pay which is a great benefit as well as a blessing perhaps Hugh and Jenny would like to come out, and share the benefit of the homestead law, it is a fine chance for getting a good large farm, if Hugh could bring a small capital with him of from fifty to sixty pounds st [sterling?] [--?][---?] with he could do well You will perhaps think it strange that I should advise any one to come after having had bad success myself lately, as for that you know we are liable to have our ups and downs in this world and if mine has been considerable down of late I think it will be up by and bye I see clearer weather ahead, it is necessary for us to be buffeted by the storms of adversity to make men of us To try our self endurance our self reliance our faith in Divine providence I feel assured that all the brushes I have met with has been for my good and I can also thank God heartly[heartily?] and sincerely for blessings & mercys past and take courage for the future |
