Thompson Allan, 1862 Letter to Edwin Minor Winn, Esq.

Richmond, Va.

March 20th 1862 W…. L….

My Dear friend, Mattie Burns Winn Edwin M. Winn Esq. Allandale, Georgia

My Dear Sir, While I was in Banks I made a small account with you and now that I am prepared to pay it, I will feel obliged if you will transmit the amount by mail in the shape of a stated account. I will either remit you the money by mail or send it by some trusty person. My wife is now with me in Richmond and will remain for some time. She arrived more than two week ago and is in good health and spirits. I am under many obligations to you for your courtesy and kindness toward her during my absence while she remained at Allandale. She is gratefully impressed with your readiness at all times to render those numerous acts of neighborly regard and accommodation, and your wiliness to protect and contribute to the interest and happiness of my family during my absence, while others who were under much superior obligations to me treated them with cold neglect and indifference. I felt it my duty to let you know my appreciation of your actions and to express my thanks to you for it. Had she been surrounded with such neighbors as you and your family she and my children would now be living at the nice little rural home in which I took so much pride and upon which I expended so large a proportion of my scanty means.

The place is to me, hallow with precious memories. Here, I first saw the light and was reared from helpless infancy to manhood. Here the ashes of my dear parents and brothers repose and here I would have been pleased my family should have remained till the Country is free and I can again gather them to myself. I must confess that one of the principal attractions, my beloved brother Robert, is gone forever. In vain will I look to see his place filled. He was a true brother and every inch a man. The hand of Providence has fallen heavily upon me, but never within my remembrance have I sustained such a blow as that of his untimely death. I lost not only the best of brothers, but the best of friends. His heart and hand were always open to me. His heart to hear, feel, and sympathies with my wrongs and misfortunes and his hand to help me. While he was a tenant of the old homestead the place was invested with a charm of which it is now benefit forever. And this derogates nothing from his wife and dear little children who are not unmindful of my regard for them and unceasing efforts and desire for their prosperity and happiness. Few men ever have such a brother. Among all mine, in my estimation he stood pre-eminent. In all our intercourse since we arrived at the years of manhood, it is both my pride and pleasure to declare that we never had a jar or disagreement. While we maintained the most unembarrassed intercourse on terms of perfect equality, his conduct and demeanor toward me was more like that of a dutiful son to a revered father. This produced in me a corresponding sentiment which ever attended me as a sleepless monitor and the consequence was that I never offended or found fault with him. Not that he had any faults, but that mine were greater than his and that his were such as alone sprung from a true generous and often too confiding heart. He had no base or sordid fault. No mean or dastardly act can be laid to his charge. He was ever true to his friends and never succumbed basely to an enemy – for he had enemies and who has not? But when his enemy made the proper amends, he was ever ready to extend the hand of friendship and to blot out the past. Malice and hatred never wrinkled in his breast. His resentments were open and manly.

You are no doubt better posed as to public affairs from the newspaper that I could so were I to try. I will say however, that the efforts of our Government for the defense of the Country are most energetic and will no doubt yield fruits that will make our people rejoice. The magnitude of the enemy’s preparations for our subjugation is duly estimated and the magnitude and means of defense will be in proportion. Get the people, all who can rally to the standard and those who remain at home to be cheerful and exercise full faith, for the day of deliverance will as surely come as the sun shall set this evening. Make plenty of grain and everything to eat. Let cotton go to the winds. Wind up the distilleries and when victory shall perch upon our banners, then every vacation will resume its wanted sway and we will drink in a glass of good domestic corn whiskey, health to the brave defenders of our Country and its eternal liberty, confusion for our enemies and repose to the Souls of the departed, whose lives have been laid down upon its altars. My wife joins me in kindest regards to Mrs. (Wostie ?) family. I shall be pleased to get a line from you soon.

Very truly, Your friend,

Thompson Allan

Robert Allan of Allandale, Banks County, Georgia (May 1824 - 14 October 1861)