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to Tobias Gibson

He discusses the health of Martha [Valentine] and plantation business. He hopes to settle Claude's accounts with Dr. Nebett. He gave Nebett 5000 bales to help payoff the debt.

GLC04501.056

to Joseph Humphreys

He describes a trip from Cincinnati to Springfield and discusses corn and wheat crops.

GLC04501.057

to his brother Tobias Gibson

Gibson tries to prepare his brother for his wife's (Louisiana Gibson) death, as she is gravely ill. He also discuss failures on his plantations and the education of his children.

GLC04501.059

to his wife Louisiana B. Gibson

He writes that due to the heat and a recent dry spell, the river is not high enough to let boats pass therefore, Louisiana will not be able to join the family. The younger boys are learning the "sugar business". He has heard from Randall, who is...

GLC04501.060

to Randall Lee Gibson

Writes about plantation business. He hopes Randall and Preston will write to him from New Orleans.

GLC04501.074

to Randall Lee Gibson

Hart has graduated but his father feels he was a lazy and sluggish student. He mentions the sugar and molasses crops.

GLC04501.076

to his son

Family news and problems with the sugar crop.

GLC04501.077

to Tobias Gibson

Hailstorms ruined some of the cotton crop. The cotton gin processes about 12 bales a day. Sickness on the plantation has taken the lives of five slaves, all under the age of four. Albert lost two slaves, one 17 years old and the other 20. A...

GLC04501.082

to [Tobias] Gibson

He writes about his wife Virginia and plantation business.

GLC04501.086

to Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys

Writes that he has just arrived and that both the cash crop and the provision crops are doing well. He wishes he could bring surplus hands from Sumners Forest to Live Oak to help with the sugar grinding. He feels guilty about leaving Loula and Hart...

GLC04501.087

[to Loula Gibson]

The recipient is inferred from the content of the letter. Gibson completed an "unpleasant affair" (settled a contract) with the hands who will work on the plantation. He bitterly complains of being under the rule of the Provost Marshall and Federal...

GLC04501.095

to Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys

He writes that "The blacks are getting worse every day & at the end of this year I think they will be intolerable on account of bad work and the condition of the crops. I told them they must work on Saturday evening last - but they would not do it...

GLC04501.097

to Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys

A melancholy letter discussing the difficulty of running a profitable plantation. Tobias worries over his children and his failings. He mentions the death of his wife, 20 years ago to the day. He writes of another woman he fell in love with after...

GLC04501.100

Agreement of registry

Signed by Orme and Isham G. Bailey; and by John C. Holland as a witness. Approved by C.C. Washburne as major general commanding and by his AAG, Major [W.H. Mayer?], brevet brigadier general. Bailey registers his plantation in an agreement made with...

GLC04522.07

[Sharecropper's contract between Isham Bailey and freedman Alie Bailey]

Alie Bailey is to receive half of the corn, cotton, and fodder cultivated in return for providing all the work necessary to keep up the farm, assisting in putting up fences, and cultivating forty acres of cotton and corn. Amongst other things...

GLC04522.09

[Sharecropper's contract between Isham Bailey and freedman Jack Bailey]

Signed by Isham G. Bailey and by Jack Bailey, with his mark; countersigned by Justice of the Peace A.B. Conly. Jack Bailey's responsibilities include cultivating seventy acres of land, furnishing one mule, provide for himself, family and hired hands...

GLC04522.10

[Freedman's contract between Isham G. Bailey and freedmen Cooper Hughs and Charles Roberts]

Signed by Isham G. Bailey and by Cooper Hughs and Charles Roberts, with their marks; countersigned by Justice of the Peace A.B. Conly. In addition to Hughes and Roberts, their family members are also bound by the contract to work on the farm. Their...

GLC04522.11

To his wife

Mails, expedition to Elizabeth City by other troops and desire to fight. New clothing, suggestions for farm management. The letter is continued the next day. Written at Camp Dickinson.

GLC04558.017

To his wife

Farm work (neighbors helped put-in crops), more rumors of Richmond's capture, drills, call for 100,000 men: "I think that the best way to end the concern [of enough men] would be to enlist and arm the contrabands for all the darkeys I have talked...

GLC04558.025

To his wife

Home affairs: children, horses, business deals. Food: "We have plenty of salt pork, bacon, and beef there has been a lot of fat cattle brought here which they butcher so as to have fresh beef twice a week.... We get a kind of conglomerated...

GLC04558.026

To his wife

Still in hospital, regiment to go to Richmond, concerned about haying season at the farm, worries over children's severe illness: "Save them if it costs the farm and all the rest.

GLC04558.030

To his wife

Still in hospital, Regiment at Norfolk. Mail, picking whortle berries, wishing he could help on the farm, different tent styles. "There are about three hundred Contrabands sent from this island the other day to Newburn to go to school."

GLC04558.031

To his wife

Second time on picket duty, contacts with rebel troops, relations with rebel farmer whose animals have been stolen, reading of a general order prohibiting theft, desertions listed, men re-enlisting, advice on farm, home and family to wife.

GLC04558.038

To his wife

Signed "your affectionate Husband" and addressed to "Mrs. A.E. Tillotson." Joking to his wife at how quickly haying was done on the farm: "I suppose that that fifth hand with petticoats on is what drove business, dont you think so?" Diarrhea...

GLC04558.040

To his wife

five miles from Harpers Ferry. Farm business, complains of food. "I am pretty weak from the diarea I weigh only 136 lbs."

GLC04558.047