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These are letters written by or about Garrett. Letters of [2
Jun 1861] [9 Sep 1864] [9
Apr 1865] [15 Oct 1865] [6
Jan 1892]
[Fulbright
letter 26 Mar 1862]
Garrett Shubert letter to his sister Eliza Malseed 2 Jun
1861
1861
Linn Creek June 2
My dear Sister
I received your letter of the th ult. also one from Mother at the same time, we are all well at present. we have had plenty of rain this year, the river has
been over its banks and done a great deal of damage to the farmers along the
river takeing away their fences washing out their crops. I was down the river at
the time and Bridget had to move out She lost her garden. Buisness is at a dead
lock here there is nothing doing here at all, war is all the talk, we are pretty
evenly divided between the Union men and secessionists, the slave owners and men
of property are mostly Union men the secessionists are principally political demegouges and ignorant poor country folks that never see a paper and are easily
talked over I suppose you saw in the paper about Captain Lyon breaking up the
secession nest at Camp Jackson in Saint Louis. immediately on receipt of the
news at Jefferson City Claib Jackson our traitor Govenor sent a detatchment of
pirates down to the mouth of Osage and burnt one span of the P.R.R. bridge and
then (the legislature being in session) passed the most tyranical milatary bill
that was ever heard of it gives him more power than any despot in Asia, but the
people in the state will not submit to it, not even the sesionists will uphold
it they even say it goes a little too far, there is now about 10000 United
States troops in Missouri so if the good sence of the people does not keep the
state in the Union unke Sam will keep it in himself, so Andy has gone
soldiering. I hope he will make plenty of glory and bring all of the states back
except South Carolina, and then go to work and whip the New England states off
so that we may never here any more of the pilgrim fathers who were drove out of
England for their fanatic bigotry and intolerance, and their sons have lost none
of their venom for any thing not in accordance with their own pecular veius and
ideas of which they have but one hatred to the South Bridget sends her love
along with mine to Mother George and Andy besides a great deal for your self
from your affectionate Brother
G B Shubert
write soon ) Henry has come back he looks very well
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Garrett Shubert letter to his sister Eliza Malseed 9 Sep
1864
Springfield Mo.
9th of Sept. 1864
My dear Sister
Your kind letter of the 1st and 29` ult. came to hand last Sunday I was very
glad to hear from you and am very much obliged to you for that picture and thank
you for the praises bestowed on my children, I see by your picture that you dear
sister as well as myself are growing old, but that being the case with all
humanity we must try and grow old gracefully, and though our bodies may show the
marks of age keep our hearts young they at least, though the body may shrink and
wrinkle, can allways be fresh and youthfull, to look at your picture and that of
Mother and myself I can hardly realise that we are the same, or you rather and
mother rather that I last saw eleven years ago, the thought often arises in my
mind, shall we ever all meet together this side of eternity, alas I am afraid
not unless I do better than I have been doing for since I have had a family it
has been a continuel strain for me to provide for them and though I have allways
kept them well I have never been able to get far enough ahead to take any time
to myself: but though we may not meet again on this beautifull earth I hope we
may meet where there will be no more partings
The last letter I have had from Henry was from Rossville Ga. dated 19` of July, I have written to him once since then, and if I dont soon get a letter from him
I will write again, You ask if I think a letter would reach him from you, I
think it would if addressed properly I enclose the directions I think will find
him, the army he is with is doing nobly I feel jealous of him at times, for
though our troops have as arduous duties to preform they do not reap any honor
from it except a local reputation, the officers of our Regt. have just had a
meeting of respect for a Lieutenant of one of our companies who was killed by Brushwhackers in Benton Co. Ark. This is the second officer we have lost this
summer, the companies are kept pretty busy scouting they go as far south as the
Arkansas river and north to the Osage. Gurrrellas ar plenty and no quarters are
either given or asked with them. I have not been on a scout for since last
October as my duties keep me at the headquarters of the Regiment and unless the
whole command goes out I have to remain in camp but I am kept very busily
employed furnishing supplies I have been hauling my grain from Rolla a distance
of one hundred & twenty miles, and I use from 150 to 200 thousand pounds per
month so you may know it keeps me kicking to keep up a supply.
I am sorry that George is no heartier than you say, I wish this country was
quiet so you could let him come out here and live a summer, it would do him
good. I sometimes think what my bears of boys, and my girl for that matter is
not much behind them, would do or how they would act if I was to take them to a
city, Mother asked me in her letter if Lib. is at Linn Creek, I neglected to
tell her that she is though Bridget has written for her to come up to Lebanon, I
had a letter from Bridget a few days ago, her fingers were getting well slowly, she says in it that as soon as they are strong enough to write she will write to
Mother and Georgie, well I must bring this uninteresting letter to a close, remember me to all enquireing friends, Give my love to my Mother, to Andy, &
George and a great deal for yourself from your loveing and affectionate brother
G B Shubert
Four years ago I was dead opposed to Mr. Lincoln, I have been educated since, in November if I had a hundred votes he should have them all.
G.B.S.
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Garrett Shubert letter to his sister Eliza Malseed 9 Apr
1865
Springfield Mo.
9` of April 1865
My Dear Sister
I have been expecting a letter from you for some time, as I think it is
either four or five weeks since I last wrote to you, I just thought I would
write you a few lines tonight to freshen your memory; and to pass away the time, untill I get sleepy, it would feel like my breaking an established custom if I
did not write to some one on Sunday night and as I leave here for Saint Louis
to-morrow, I will see Bridget before, or as soon as a letter could reach her, and as I wrote to Mother last Sunday night week it is your turn now to be bored
with one of my entertaining epistles Well my connexion with the old 8th ceases
tomorrow morning, or at least so far as doing any business for it is concerned, for I have transferred all of my property to another officer and have my sheep
skin for the 14`, and orders to go to Saint Louis to be mustered out of one into
the other and report to the 14` for duty,- it seems like leaving home to leave
my old Regiment with which I have been connected for the past three years, as it
only lacks a few days of being three years since I first entered it; and only
three months of my having been 4 years in the service, I think by the time I
serve three years out in the 14th I will have had enough of soldiering - well it
seems I was born to be a rover having passed my boyhood on the sea, my early
manhood on the river, and now that I am getting old, with a family growing up, I
go off and spend seven years in the army, well so be it, it can't be helped, but
I would like to see any thing that will keep me away from my wife and children
after this next three years are served out -
I have not heard from Bridget lately as I wrote her word I would see her in the
middle of last week, but I was and consequently she did not write, but I was disapointed in being releived but if I am spared and make the trip in safety I
will see her the day after to-morrow, I would write more but I have put my own
pen away, and I have blacksmiths in my employ who I know can make a better pen
than the one I am writing with - give my regards to all enquiring friends if I
have any, My love to Mother, Andy and George, as well as yourself from
Your affectionate brother
G B Shubert
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Garrett Shubert letter to his sister Eliza Malseed 15
Oct 1865
Fort Leavenworth
15` of October 1865
My Dear Sister
It has been a long while since I have written to, or received a letter from,
you, so as I have got to writing to night I will keep on and write a few lines
to you, I received a letter from Mother the night before last, but as I wrote to
her from Fort Riley about the 5` of 6` I will answer it to you, I am well my
trip out on the plains has made me as brown and rugged as when I was a young
Sea-dog, I am here now for the purpose of being mustered out of Uncle Samuel's
Service after having served him four years and five months, except the three
months I served old Jeff as a prisoner, I expect to drop the Lieut. when signing
my name in about ten or fifteen days from now, so when next you write you may
address Mr.---------- Lebanon I dont suppose it will be even worth while to add
John Citizen, to my name, I know I will feel queer in long shore toggery, I am
rejoiced to be able to go to my home once more and enjoy the society of my wife
and children, but I have formed some freindships and attachments since I have
been in the Army, that I will part with with regret, even the life of a soldier
has its charms and my early life had pecularry fitted me for it, I never enjoied
better health than I have since being a soldier and I am to old and my character
to strongly set for the vices and temptation of a camp life to have any effect
on me If it was not for glorifying myself, I would say I am going out a better
man than when I went in,
I am truely sorry dear sister that you enjoy no better health than you do, in
Mother's letter she tells me that you have had the fever & ague for four years, now why did you not tell me before that was all that was the matter with you? Though that is most enough, I'll tell you about myself; I had them all the
summer and fall of '60 and took something less than a nail keg full of Quineine, after getting the falls of Niagira Niagria in my head and becoming nearly crazy
through useing it I purchased a bottle of Dr Ayer's Ague Cure, I took about
three quarters of what was in the bottle when I was perfectly cured the fall of
'61 brought on a slight attac and I took three or four doses and have never had
a chill since - "moral." you so do likewise
I had a letter from Bridget last night herself and our children were in their
usual health, which is the children well, herself poorly, poor dear she has been
worked down the last four years, but I will soon be able to take a great part of
the labor off from her hands, sometimes she has even had to chop her own wood in
the winter as it was impossible to get any one to do it, Well I suppose you have
had enough from me for this time and as I have allready written to Bridget to
night Henry is next on my list of correspondents - and I want to make a cleaning
up of letters for I will have no time to myself untill next Sunday night - so
good bye for the present remember me to all friends give my love to Andy, George
& Mother,
I am as ever your loving
Brother
G B Shubert
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Garrett Shubert letter to his sister Georgianna Gillitt
6 Jan 1892
Richland Mo
Jan. 6th 1892
My Dear Sister
Did you ever have a brother named Garrett Beckhorn Shubert?
And have you heard from him lately? Well I can tell you something
about him, he, together with his wife, whom you possably may
remember was at your place last Summer a year ago, and youngest son George are
now living at Richland, having at last gotten up energy enough to get out of
Linn Creek hollow where they had passed the best thirty three years of their
life, he is well but just as lazy and trifelling about writing as
ever, I don’t know whit kind of a fellow he is anyhow.
I know Sister, that I ought to be ashamed of myself for not
writing to you more than I do as there is only three of us left, and we have not
much longer to promise ourselves here, I have been promiseing myself
to write to you every day for a month past, but never got at, I am a
very promising man, but every one knows that if I promise any thing I am sure to
fulfill it, if it takes seven years.
Bridget, George and myself went down to Linn Creek to spend
Christmass with the girls, but Lidie did not get there (she lives 7 or 8 miles
from there) on account of two of the children being sick, Fanny came
back with us and staid until yesterday, her baby is the prettiest
and best young one you ever saw, excepting Lidie’s which is just as pretty and
good, we like living at Richland very well though we remember with
love the mountains and streams of Linn Creek, we live on the outside
of the Town away from the business part it is very quiet just like living in the
country so Bridget is sometimes very lonely when George is at school, and I am
at the office, and last night it was very dull to all of us, on account of Fanny
and the baby being gone.
We have had a very pleasant winter this far though to-day it
is cold enough for Minnesota we have had all kinds of weather this
year on New Years Eve after supper it was so warm that after
supper I sat on the porch to take my smoke, about 9 O’clock
it began to blow and rain, New Years day it rained in the morning,
snowed at ten O’clock and by night compared favorably with Manitoba
Since then we have had it hot and cold, wet and dry, yesterday was a
very pleasant day for Fanny to go home. I cant see what people want
to travel about the country for to get change of air for, when
you can get it all here without moving out of your tracks
Bridget told me when she come home from Hastings that you and
Harvey said that when we got to the Railroad to live you would come and visit
us, we are here now on a great long Rail Road and will expect you.
I wrote to Henry last fall soon after we moved up here,
I suppose he got the letter and like myself writes when he gets down to it,
I have no reason, in view of dilatoriness to complain, he will write
when he gets ready, Bridget will write to Ella in a short time,
she got a letter from her a little while ago, she can beat me
writing letters all to pieces, I have got into the habit of saying
the most I can in the fewest words, while a good letter writer will full
fill a sheet.
All our family, including sons and sons in law, daughters and
daughters in law, grand sons and grand daughters are well, and with much love
wish to be remembered to Harvy and the boys and girls also to Henry & Lib and
their children along with
Your loving brother
G. B. Shubert
I wrote this letter sitting within 2 feet of the stove, and my overcoat on, and
still am cold, what must it be where you live, how can any one short of a
“bloated capitalist” afford to buy wood or coal to keep from freezing.
Note - Bridget died soon after
this letter was written.
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James H. Fulbright (Confederate Army) letter to his family mentioning Garrett
Shubert when Garrett was paroled as POW 26 Mar 1862
Camped two & half miles from Vanburen, Ark., March 26th, 1862.
My Dearest Wife, Pa, Ma, and children.
I now have an oportunity to drop you a line by Mr. Shubert who is going to
start for Linn Creek, Mo. in the morning. He was taken prisoner at Linn & now
released for parole. I learned since I stoped at this place that you had not
heard of me since I left home the 29th of Dec. I saw John Lo he has gone home &
will probably see you ere this comes to hand. I started from your Fathers to
Texas the 6th day of January, went there in sixteen days had fine luck and good
weather. I sold $140 worth pork in Lawrence. This gave me plenty of money to
move on. I found all the friend in Tx well and they treated me very Kindly. Old
Uncle Dave took all hands of us in, fed Negroes, Horses and all, three week. When I had my houses on our land completed and mooved the Negroes home. Uncle
Trim & Jimmy his youngest died some 2 weeks after we landed. I buried them both
decently in One Grave "There I parted with a faithful friend" (Tim) I bought 200
bush corn at 40cts. built a crib & cribed it at home. I left them 1500 lbs pork
or bacon, of which I bought 500 lbs. I sold 5 mules & the wagon Pa bought to
Henry Khim (?) for $600. I then rented 50 acres of land & left 5 horses & a
wagon & the boys to tend the rented Land, & Improve the place. I left the
business in Alfred Neelys hands. I left Marth & her youngest at Dr. Jacks, she
had a fine daughter & done well. I come to this place, Lande here the 9th in
company with Haustin Hooker. We both had a two hors wagon each. We intended
going home but found Gen. Price ret. from the fight at Elkhorn Tavern & ret.
from the top Bostin Mountain with him. I had Peter with me. I got Haustin to
take my wagon and team and Peter back to Tx. with him as he was going with John
Hookers Negroes.
I met Uncle Dick Wilks on my ret. going to Tex I employed him to take charge of
the Negroes etc for five years. I made arangments for lumber etc, to build an
Ell of a house which I expected Some day to build on our Land in Tex He is to
have this built and he & Aunt Nancy ocupy it until you or I may otherwise
direct. There is no doubt about the title of the Tex. Land the Pattent is isued
to the heirs of E. Swink. I am to furnish Uncle Dick every thing & pay him
whatever is right. I left $100 in the hands of W. Rhine to be taken up in the
store $40 cash with A. N. Fulbright & sent back to him and Uncle Dick by Haustin
Hooker and Jas. Titterington $450. I have with me $100 now & paid Uncle Dick Poppelwell today $20 in gold. I owe nothing except what I owe in Mo. & at home
except $40 of money borrowed in Lawrence & $100 to one of Frank Wilkses sons for
the wagon I sent back to Tex I left $300 in scrip with your Father. I met with
Dr. John Titterington here. Betty is at home & our arrangements left with her. Mr. Wilks left home for Ark. or Tex the family with him he brought off all his
stock we can't hear of him since he crossed the Ark. river he has gone I supose
to Tex. Dock left me, I mean Dr. Jack, for Mo. better than a week since. I have
now given you a short sketch of my trip to Tex and how my business in Tex
stands, etc I do this not knowing when if ever, I will see you I however trust
in god I will see you soon. My health has been and is yet good I supose I will
today weigh 160 lbs. I had a wagon to run over my foot the other day, though it
is now well. Robt. Andrew & John Turner are here with me, we mess together we
belong to Parsons Division Capt. Leroy Roberts Company we are doing well and
have plenty of Everything to Eat. Plenty of Clothing a good tent a good Company. I will mention a few of the company you know Peter & Bennet Ivy, Corley John
Givens, Jesse McCalys, James & T. Cumins & Macy Athens, Leutenant Col. Parmley
is here and & my friend. John Lo tolde me you was in fine spirits. This my dear
did me good I think you a Sensible Woman I want you to keep in good spirits. The
God of Heaven will reunite us, if it be his will for us to be again reunited. My
friends in Tex if I never see you again will provid for you Pa & Ma & the
Educating of my Children. We went in as recruits to the Company Our time will be
out the 22nd of June. My Opinion is we will all be thru before that time. If not
I will come thru if life last and I can get thru. I expect to come home to
remain there unmolested or Remain with the boys. If I live I will be of no
benefit to you at home laying in the brush. I am perfectly well satisfied here,
I was driven hear by professed friends & here I will remain until my home and
self are free, or this war or myself may be no more. Do the best you can tell Pa
I was proud to hear his health was better may god bless him & prolong his days
on earth. Ma has my prayer for the same I pray for you, my Children Pa Ma &
Myself every day & night. I ask the prayers of you and all my brethren &
friends. The god of Heaven is a just god, in him is my trust. I will write every oportunity as to the fight. I feel confident from the best I can hear we killed
moor of them & wounded & taken moor prisoners. We gained 3 pieces of Canon. The
loss of the Southern men was 180 men killed 500 wounded. Gen. McCuloch &
MacKintush also Gen. Slock are killed. The Southern Men will be almost innumorable up and down the Ark. river in One week from today. Say to Mrs Payton
that Andrews wife has a fine Son. She & the Children are well & well satisfied.
I will Sure say Texas is a fine state & I could make my home there in time of
piece and be satisfied yet I prefer Mo. If we could but be Once more free & I
feel sure that it will be I am not jesting. Kiss all the children for me I only
think of you & them when my eyes are open & dream of you when a sleep.
I am your Husband as ever.
Jas. H. Fulbright
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Page last updated:
14 March 2007
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