Scott County, Iowa, Sept. 4 [1855], in Morning.
Dear Wife And
Children, All, — I am writing in our tent about twenty miles west of the
Mississippi, to let you know that we are all in good health and how we get
along. We had some delay at Chicago on account of our freight not getting on as
we expected; while there we bought a stout young horse that proves to be a very
good one, but he has been unable to travel fast for several days from having
taken the distemper. We think he appears quite as well as he has, this morning;
and we hope he will not fail us. Our load is heavy, so that we have to walk
most of the time; indeed, all the time the last day. The roads are mostly very
good, and we can make some progress if our horse does not fail us. We fare very
well on crackers, herring, boiled eggs, prairie chicken, tea, and sometimes a
little milk. Have three chickens now cooking for our breakfast. We shoot enough
of them on the wing as we go along to supply us with fresh meat. Oliver
succeeds in bringing them down quite as well as any of us. Our expenses before
we got away from Chicago had been very heavy; since then very light, so that we
hope our money will not entirely fail us; but we shall not have any of account
left when we get through. We expect to go direct through Missouri, and if we
are not obliged to stop on account of our horse, shall soon be there. We mean
to write you often when we can. We got to Rock Island too soon for any letter
from you, but shall not be too early at Kansas City, where we hope to hear from
you. The country through which we have travelled from Chicago has been mostly
very good; the worst fault is want of living streams of water. With all the
comforts we have along our journey, I think, could I hope in any other way to
answer the end of my being, I would be quite content to be at North Elba. I
have directed the sale of the cattle in Connecticut, and to have the rest sent
in a New York draft payable to Watson's order, which I hope will make you all
quite comfortable. Watson should get something more at Elizabethtown than the
mere face of the draft. He will need to
write his name across the back of the draft when he sells it: about two inches
from the top end would be the proper place. I want you to make the most of the money you
get, as I expect to be very poor about money from any other source. Commend you
all to the mercy and infinite grace of God. 1 bid you all good-by for this time.
Your affectionate
husband and father,
John Brown.1
_______________
1 The following receipts belong in this portion
of the family papers: the first one is for arms purchased with money
contributed by Gerrit Smith and others for use in Kansas; the second is for the
wagon in which Brown made the journey to Kansas: —
Springfield, Mass., July 24, 1855.
Received of John Brown one box firearms and flasks, to be
forwarded by railroad to Albany, and consigned to him at Cleveland, Ohio, care
of H. B. Spellman of that place.
Thomas O'connell,
For W. R. R. Company.
$100. Received of John Brown one hundred dollars in full for
a heavy horse wagon, this day sold him, and which we agree to ship immediately
to J. B., Iowa City, Iowa, care of Dr. Jesse Bowen.
Billings & Bryant.
SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of
John Brown, p. 199-200
No comments:
Post a Comment