Letter written by Henry Ebenezer MacDonald - Galveston County Texas John Hendry 13 May 2001 ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ************************************************************************** Transcript of a letter from Henry E. MacDonald of Galveston, Texas, to his brother Roderick who was working in Calcutta, at the time Galveston, Texas Nov. 8th 1868 My Dear Roderick, It is with much pleasure that I now take the opportunity of writing in answer to your very kind letter dated Sept 20 which I received last Sunday and was glad to hear by it that you were then well. I hope you will forgive me for my long silence towards you. I hope that you won’t think that I had anything against you, indeed I had not and I must thank you twice over for your kindness to me during the past. I lost your address twice since I came but got your address again. I would have written to you in the [beginning] of the week only I was waiting to see if I would get a letter from Father, but got none. Since I came to Texas I had first rate health thank God, with the exception of a year ago last summer, the time of the Yellow Fever, which I will give you after a while. Now I am going to give you a little news about my-self and Texas. I left Liverpool 4th Oct. 1866, aboard the ship Emma of Bath, Capt Rich Master, Bound for New Orleans. We had over 100 passengers aboard, and over two months passage. During this time 7 died, 6 children and one man, all of whom received a watery grave. For myself I stood like all the rest. We arrived off Algeirs, Louisiana, some time in December, crossed from there by train to Berwick Bay and went aboard of one of the Morgan Steamers for Galveston where we were met by Mr. Dickinson, the agent who took us out here, and same day we were aboard of the G. H. & H. R. Rd. for Harrisburgh, where we all departed in equal numbers for different parts of Texas. I was amongst a crowd bound for a place near San Filipe 20 miles from Austin the Capital of state. I stayed on the Cotton Plantation 10 days. Our foreman was one the name of Ferries belonging to Braemar Abdsh. Myself, Ferries, and one the name of Ross, belonging to the same place, left the plantation during the night. I sold nearly all my clothes to some negroes and they took [us] at night across the Prairie to a Railway on the Brazos River where we shipped for Galveston. Ross Page 2 got killed on a train on the Richmond Road, Ferries went home, and I stayed in Galveston. When I came to Galveston I got plenty of work in the Factors Cotton press where I worked over two months. When I left there and shipped aboard one of the Trinity River Boats and stoped two months on her. I was very unfortunate on her. When we laid up for the season the next morning I and all the crew were to get paid and discharged, when, on the night before, she burned up at 11pm when all was in bed, and lost every thing I had. The Pilot was lost. I managed to get ashore while others had to swim for their life. We had to sleep two nights on the bank of the river untill another steamer was coming down (Ruthven) Capt. Gordon, (Clerk . Burns). They took us to Galveston next morning. After we came into Galveston the Ruthven wanted a crew. I shipped deck hand. At night they made me watchman. I was on her for a short time after she laid up for the season. Capt. Gordon is Scotch. His mother belonged to Forres near Inverness & was drowned in Galveston in a well. 12 months ago I got sick aboard of her up the Trinity with the Congestive Fever of the Brain. Cp. Gordon took me to Galveston and put me in the Marine Hospital. I was there over two months with the Yellow Fever that was raging here. It was an awful time. You could not go along the streets without seeing dead bodies laying on the sidewalk. After I got my discharge I went to work for Government up at the Barracks. I got [the job of] ambulance driver. The very first thing I did was to take a Soldier to the grave. After I came I was put in the stable, James Rice was Stable Master and he took an interest in me and he made me Cook. Well I was cooking for least two months during this time. I was twice in Military Hospital [and] when I came out Jim give me my work back again. Then the Flood came in Oct 4th. I thought the Island was sunk Beneath the waves After I stopped there orders was issued to discharge all Citizens and Soldiers to be put in our place. Page 3 After I left there I worked at Cotton or anything I could get to do. Work was then scarce perhaps 12 days out,3 in. Still I had to live and pay my 1# a day for provend. The Bridge between here and Virginia Point where the Railway crosses was washed away, then it had to be finished which took nearly 3 months. Then there was a steamer in conexion with the Railroad on last Christmas. I got work at their Boat to discharge cotton 50cts. an hour. Well what I could make during the day made sufficient to pay expenses. Last April I happened to go down town to get some work, and while sitting down resting at the warve who should call me but Le Compte agent for the Railroad. He asked me if I wanted to work I said yes. So he spoke to the Supt. Same day I was sent up to Virginia point to load and unload Cars. When the Bridge was finished I came down with the rest to Galveston, and Hardy who was Agt. at V.Point give me work in the warehouse - discharged another man and put me in there. I met Le Compte, Joe Clements, Receiving Clerk, & Baily Vincent, Way Bill Clerk and all knowing me I was all right. The only thing I did not like was the wages 50# a month and find yourself. However I could not do any better so I stopped and by and by I may get advanced both in pay and station. One thing they like me for they can depend on me. What they tell me to do is done, never away from my work never drunk. Several was discharged for drunkeness &c Well Roderick here I am in Texas. I left home to Better myself. My Father & Mother wishes me to go home [but] if I go home I believe I will [be] more a burden than anything else. However I am going to stop here to see what Fortune will turn up. I have been knocked about since I came here a great deal - well such is life. We have had a very fine and healthy summer. We expect to have a bussy season here & there is plenty of Cotton in Texas. The Trains Brought Page 4 over 1000 Bales as you will see in the Manifest. The Cars brings no less than 500 every day and by the amount of bagging that goes up the County there seems to be plenty of Cotton. We had last year a ship direct from Calcutta laden with E. India Bagging. Well Roderick I hope this letter when read may be answered. There is not much news but, as you will hear of before this will reach, that Gen. Grant is elected President of the A. States. I send you three papers The Galveston News Bulliten and Frank Lesalis I now must conclude with love to you Dear Roderick ever your Affectionate Brother Henry E. Macdonald Ps I received your likeness. It is a great deal better than the last. You look well Write soon be sure now Address Henry E. Macdonald Care of Charles D. Green Post Office Galveston Texas USA Charles D. Green is the place where I stay Good By Write soon