April 13 1865: “it would be simply lunacy for Dick Ewell to go to Nashville. Whatever you may think of it I donot believe he would be safe from mob violence.”

Item Description: Letter from Thomas T. Gantt  to his cousin Lizinka Campbell Ewell. He advise her not to bring Richard Ewell or Campbell Brown to Nashville once they were paroled. Richard Ewell and Campbell Brown were captured by Federal troops on 6 April 1865 at the Battle of Saylor’s Creek.

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Item Citation: Folder 12, in the Polk, Brown, and Ewell Family Papers, #605, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Item Transcription:

St. Louis Ms. April 13, 1865

Mrs Lisunka C. Ewell

Care of F.b. Fogg Esq Nashville. Tennessee

My dear Lyzinka,

I have justrec’d yours of the 9th postmarked 11th inst. You are shamfully wrong in supposeing that one can go by rail from St. Louis to Nashville in 20 hours. Some year ago it took 15 hour to get to Louisville then a dely of ten hours there- then a journey of some ten hours more. It is simple madness to put the nohow of such a jonney into your daughter’s head. The Boat is infinitely better; but according to my judgment. Harriot had for better stay where she is and it would be simply lunacy for Dick Ewell to go to Nashville. Whatever you may think of it I donot believe he would be safe from mob violence. I have taken every step which I can in Dick’s behalf. But It will not be expedient forhimeven tovisit St. Louis. And Nashville is plainly far worse than this place. New York City is the only place in the U.S. where you can safely meet Dick- Hshould advise you going to Canada forthe present if he is released from confinement for which strong exceptions are being made. You scheme of remaining in Nashville I cannot approve, for one day longer than is absolutely necessary forthesecurity of your property and I do not think your personal presence is necessary for that end: but I do presume toadvise on this socre. Iwon to say however let Hallie remain where she is and do not attempt to call either Dick or Campbell to Nashville at present. Ihanded your check to Major Turner. He wants your signature, write it on a piece of paper, enclosed in your next letter, so small that if it falls into wrong hands it cannot beused for any wrong end. Write your name on a piece then trim with a pair scissors trim away the paper so that only the signature & a very small margin will remain- I am very busy and wantowrite more, but I cannot repair from saying how pleased Iam that Hattie perceives that we mean to be kind to her. Yours very sincerely, ThT. Gantt

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