-
10. Curse This Idleness
- The Kent State University Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
103 ChAPTer Ten } To be always contented—consider that you will never in this life be free from annoyances, and that you may as well bear them patiently as fret about them. —Freedom’s Casket, June 15, 1844 Curse This Idleness summer dragged on, and Tomlinson became disgruntled with camp life and its tedium, broken only by the mutinous conduct of a drunken soldier, the disappearance of two prized possessions, and his wife’s letters from home. it seemed that eliza was witnessing more action in ripley than he was in western Virginia, and he entertained thoughts of leaving the regiment and raising his own independent company. * * * * * eliza to Tomlinson ripley, Ohio, August 26, 1861 Dear husband, As i have heard nothing from you since i received yours of the 13th inst., i feel very uneasy about you. There has been no battle, but then i fear that you are sick; you have been much exposed, and your official duties are very onerous, i fear, too much so, for your health. i hope that some situation not so laborious will turn up for you, as you are so tired 104 } the printer’s kiss of Quarter Master business a change would be desirable. We are all in our usual health;both Byers’s, and newt’s families are well, as are also all your friends so far as i know. Frank shaw’s have another young daughter; he was, i understand, very much disappointed that they did not have a boy this time. i am happy to inform you that it was all a mistake about Mr. Mitchell being dead. it is true that he was very ill, and at one time they thought he was dead; hence the report. Last week we had the heaviest rains we have had probably for some years. There was much damage done on the creek bottoms in the loss of property; there were also several persons drowned, among which was one of norris’s irishmen. City papers state that the loss of property was immense there. There was also a number of persons drowned there. Last week i received a letter from Mary Lowry. she informed me that Lowry could get no satisfaction out of Frank in regard to our affairs. she says that Frank has gone to the war. The week before he enlisted he got married to Lizzie himble; i do not know who that is. Mary says that Frank was very careless about our things, letting them lay round every way. Our things have not yet been shipped. Mary says that Lowry had not the money to pay the freight on them to the river. i wrote to Lowry to have them packed and sent as soon as possible. i think it very doubt ful whether i ever get them or not. Well, i am not in as bad a fix as many others who have lost their all, and have been driven from their homes by cruel assassins, and are now in a suffering condition. The ripley boys are yet at Gauley bridge. i hear that they are about to be ordered to Grafton. Oliver evans has made up a company and they are to be off by next Thursday. i do not know who all are going. They will stop in camp for a short time when they will leave for st. Louis. When, O when, Great God, shall war cease! And peace and happiness be restored to our distracted country! not until this vile treason is routed up, and the leaders summarily punished. i fear that this will be a herculean task, but it is not an impossible one. God is on the side of truth and justice. i put my trust in him and do not fear the result. We shall conquer; do not de spair, though the hosts of the enemy fill every valley and cover every hill top, they shall flee before you as the morning vapor before the king of day. Take care of yourself and do not unnecessarily expose your person in any way. God bless and take care of you until we meet in happier times. ever yours in the bonds of love, e. W. Tomlinson [44.213.75.78] Project MUSE (2024-03-28 16:38 GMT) curse this idleness } 105 i know not whether you get my letters, but i write once a week. Please write me every opportunity. i am exceedingly anxious to hear from you. * * * * * That Tomlinson...