Augusta County: D. V. Gilkeson to Gilkeson's brother
(probably Hugh Gilkeson), December 26, 1864
Summary:
Gilkeson tells his brother of their father's death, recounting his last days. He
also speaks of the war and the "dark," "gloomy" times for the Confederacy.
Dec. 26th 186[illeg.]
Brookfield
My Dear Brother
[illeg.] My dear brother it seems as if we [unclear: are] cut off
from one another all together have had no letter
from you since august and that was written in June
& July I have written once or twice but dont
know whether you would get them or not we received a letter a week or two ago
from carrie, I will now write again and I hope you may get it soon have Sad sad
news to communicate I told you in my last of father being as well as usual but
alas alas I now have to tell you he is no longer with us his chair is vacant his
staff is setting where he left it we miss his pleasant face, O we miss
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his wise counsels and good advice, he has joined as we humbly trust &
believe our sainted mother and that blessed throng on high where sorrows no more
can come "where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest" he
died friday the 23
rd
a little after 12 o.Clock on Sunday he went to church a cloudy
[unclear: dreary] day on Monday morning he went to W
m
Guthrie's came home went to the barn and husked corn awhile came in and laid down on the lounge said he felt
like he was taking cold but was going about laying down sometimes on the lounge
went out morning & evening to feed his pigs went and fed his pigs
thursday night took a dose of calomel about bed time said he did not think he
was [unclear: bilious] much but a dose of calomel always relieves him
his cough seemed to be tight as it always is
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when he has taken cold
he took a dose of oil friday morning read a chapter with Lillie in the bible
walked into the parlor and came in and set on the foot of the lounge [added: about 12oclock] asked
what the boys were doing laid down on the loungle Lillie put the cover on him
directly almost I heard him more as I thought went to him found something the
matter called Mary she was up stairs she came as
quick as possible but he was gone we applied mustard to his wrists &
ankle rubed his breast with spirits, hurried some on
for the doctor but nothing could be done his pulse beat awhile after we all got
to him but he was gone and distressing is the thought to think that he went off
almost without my knowing it and I was setting beside him, but it is a
consolation to know that our loss is his eternal gain, we buried on yesterday
had preaching at the
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church had the coffin carried into the church
[unclear: had] Richardson preaches [unclear: Anne See] being
away at the army his text was 1st Corrinthians 4
th
chapt 2
nd
Verse the roads were very icy but there was a pretty good congregation My
dear brother we would like to see you and your little family in Va but it is hardly worth
while to ask you to come now in these troublesome times when there is
so much dificulty in travelling and I dont see how you could come as they are taking every one
now nearly in the army perhaps you are now in, This is really a gloomy time now
for our confederacy the last news we had the yankees had captured the salt works
and if so will destroy them I suppose as much as possible but cant help them long I dont think and
Savannah was evacuated it is really dark and gloomy but I still have hope that
we will eventually come out Victorious and free, when this war does close I hope
we will all be spared and meet again. I suppose we will continue on as we are
not make any change I dont expect while the war lasts I
think I told you when out that father has made a will it has not been altered
that I know of the Bank stock is intended for you we will try and manage it
[unclear: for] you until we meet Give our Love to [illeg.]
Gambles folks and all enquiring friends [onto top
of first page] I hardly know how to direct this so that you will get it soon I
told Mrs [unclear: See] yesterday to write to Mr [unclear: See]
and tell him to write an obituary and put it in the Central and request the
[unclear: southern] Presbyterian to copy and perhaps you would get
one of the papers before you would get [illeg.] letter
I remian your attached brother
D. V. Gilkeson
