Letters from Alice Jane Tatum, from Hopewell Plantation, to her older brother Howell Organ "Bud" Tatum in the months before their father's death. Submitted by Ed Tatum 8/6/00 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Jan 7th 1858 Dear Bud, We are all well and would like this to find you the same. Uncle John [William's partner John T. Simmons] is fixed up down to his house, and looks quite contented. Pa has sold sure enough, we are looking for him and all the negroes. You must not expect this letter to be very interesting, as you know almost the latest news, indeed nothing has happened worthy of notice since you left. Let me review the past week, You left Sunday evening. Monday we were at school, and all the week the same. We have been down to Aunt Lizzie's [William's sister Elizabeth Tatum Simmons] almost every morning, and will spend the day there to-morrow. Uncle John went up to Monroe yesterday, but expects to return to-morrow. You have received my letter that was in the post office have you not? Nothing of much importance, this will be later. We got a letter from Pa Monday. He tells us Mr. John Aikin bought our house. Uncle Tommy [another of William's brothers] intended to sell but had not when he wrote. Uncle Billy [William] was very angry at Pa for selling, says he intends to sell and go to Texas. But, that was spoken in a passion and will amount to nothing. Grandma will come home with Pa. I reckon she will stay a good while with us. Did you reach Jackson safely? Was there anyone on the boat with whom you were acquainted? Have you changed your boarding-house? Did your friends get there as soon as you? You see I am very inquisitive. It does not seem that you are away, but only in your room. We are looking for the McRea tonight. I expect she will bring Pa and the negroes. I forgot to say that he had sold his town property to Dr. Smead. So now, his interest is all in one place. You must not take lessons from this scrawl. Want of paper and several other reasons will not permit me to write or compose well, if you can read it, I will be glad. Weall [sic] send our love and believe me your affectionate sister Alice. Write soon. I need hardly say that, you are so punctual. AJT N.B. Sat morning. The McRea has just landed. Uncle Joe [Joel Tatum] came ashore. Hopewell, 29th [Jan or Feb] 1858 Dear brother, I received your letter of the 18th last night. I was truly glad to get it. Last Saturday, I walked from Mrs. Gilbert's to the Post Office, expecting one, but I got none. Wednesday at dinner, or after it was, I was sitting in my room studying my history: I heard a very distant cry, it sounded very much like "Master's coming." I listened a second then came another louder than the first. I did not wait for it to get any closer. I threw my book down, and away I went as hard as I could. We all met Pa at the old houses in the yard. It seems if every body were welcomed so joyfully, it would be pleasant to go away sometimes. We marched him into the house and he told us the negroes would be along directly. He brought Jack and Wallace with him. So we had a long time to look for the negroes. After sitting awhile with him, we were rung in to school. It was all I could do to sit still. It was about three in the evening, when ... [page cut off] ... the boat that had the negroes. So that was another excitement. I recited a lesson and by that time she had landed. Miss Hugh gave me permission to go out and see them, and it was a jolly time I assure you. Lizzie ran down to the boat and got Ann by the hand, she looked the picture of contentment when she had her safe by her side. Then came the meeting with the negroes. Old memories crowded thick and fast in my mind of the days spent at my dear old house. It made me feel like I was there again. They have not been up to see us yet nor we to see them, but intend to go down to-morrow. The Doctor Buffington passed at twelve to day. She had a brass band instead of a whistling. The band came out on deck and played till she passed. When in front the gentlemen waved their handkerchiefs at us furiously. The Messenger went up at six o'clock this evening. Quite a pretty boat, she is. I would like so much for you to be here, we have the little boat in one of the ponds, and every evening, we go down boat riding. I can "paddle my own canoe" now. It is excellent exercise after being cooped up in the school house all day. Don't neglect your health, Bud. Ever yours affectionately.... We all send our love.... [page cut off] .... Aunt Sarah [William's sister Sarah Albertine Miles] has come from Ala. March 7th, 1858 Dear Brother, Ma received your letter a few ...... and she ...... ill ...... yesterday, but she had a chill day before, and did not feel very well. She had another to-day. All the rest of our family are well, Aunt Lizzie, Mrs. Gilbert and Uncle John are gone to New Orleans. They went on the Messenger ...... hearing a Callaiope [sic]. Pa has left you I reckon by this time, so I send my letter in his place. It may not be as great a pleasure, but will serve to keep your spirits up. It is raining here to-day, and all being gone it makes it very lonesome. Doubtless Pa has told you all about the Engine. He and Uncle John were so attentive to it they could scarcely sleep, eat or drink. We have fine times here riding in the boat. I have learned to paddle the boat anywhere. We have been out in the river twice. You would be surprised to see how very high the river is, though it is falling rapidly now. The back water has been almost to the little gate in front of the house. Uncle Joel [Organ Tatum's brother] is dead, ma wrote Cousin Betty to have her come and live with us. Grandma Alcy [Organ's wife] is well, in my last letter, I wrote to you that she was very sick, and Ma was gone to stay with her. Ma came home the day after I wrote. Grandma was recovering slowly, since we have heard she is quite well. Aunt Sarah and her children are well also. As the Messenger went down yesterday, I was on the bank looking at Aunt Lizzie and all get on. Mr. Schear, my old music [teacher?] came ashore and spoke too [sic] me. We saw by the last Camden Herald, that the Hon. Shelton Watson is dead. That was all it said, no obituary or anything of the kind. We have fine times. Friday evenings, all read compositions and the boys speak. Last Friday Mrs. Gilbert and Mrs. Richardson came in to hear us. Jesse [her younger brother] did very well. He had.... [page torn]. Lizzie was sick when ma was gone but she is now well. I hope your cold is well. We have not been troubled much with them. Ma wishes me to say you must not think we have forgotten you when our letters are not regular. I say so too. I assure you it is not so, we speak of you often, but think of you oftener. What a very interesting tale in the paper you sent. Jesse has written a line I will put in. Osca [her other brother] has arrived at Baker, and in two more lessons will be through the first-reader. Jesse is far advanced in the second-reader. Write soon, and believe me your affectionate sister Alice. Mr. H.O. Tatum, Centenary College, Louisiana March 29, 1858 My Dear Brother, I received your letter a few days ago, and hasten to answer it. I have some pleasant news for you, and if you were to try to guess you could not. I will not keep you in suspense any longer, "so here's at you" as Aunt Lizzie says. Last Saturday evening, I went to spend the night with Aunt, and about twelve that night the Budah Tower [?] came puffing along no one dreaming that she intended to stop here. So down she came and not seeing any lights out, she thought to awaken us by whistling. She commenced and whistled us eight times. It was so unusual for a boat to behave in a such a manner that it awakened the whole household. Pa went on the gallery to see, and heard someone calling, he answered, for he knew it was Uncle Tommy's voice. Uncle called to know where the gate was. Pa answered for him to get over anywhere, but he said back, that Grandma [Alcy] could not climb, so he was directed to the gate and arrived at the house, deposited Grandma, went back to the boat, and down to the city, staid [sic] there a few days, got on the Messenger, where he met Uncle Ben Miles [Aunt Sarah's husband] and Aunt [?]. The boat landed here for them to come to the house a little while. That was Friday morning early, to night is Sunday night. I went yesterday to Dr. Richardson to have my tooth extracted, which leaves me with a very sore mouth. To day we went to church for the first time since last September. Grandma Becca [Rebecca Pearce Tatum] wants to see you very badly. Aunt Sarah has had a great deal of sickness. Her last four grown negro men. Su [?] has a little baby boy. Esq. Harris had a negro to get his leg badly injured, so Dr. Richardson cut it off yesterday. Our family are all well. We have all the new bedsteads up that Pa got in the City. He has not got entirely over his cold. The engine works admirably. You would have liked to have seen it put up, I reckon. Bud, you must excuse this for my face hurts. Write soon, believe me your sister Alice.