Weller Collection
Civil War Aftermath:

David kept in touch with several of his war time friends. They shared news and discussed some of the challenges that confederate soldiers faced in resuming their civilian lives. David also received correspondence from several close relatives, who had lost contact with him during the war. These letters reflected some of the hardships encountered by ordinary citizens as they struggled with economic issues, animosities, and political tensions that lingered after the war's end.

Soldiers Returning to Civilian Life (1865-1867)

Letters indicate that David and several of his friends moved from town to town in search of employment opportunities. Even those who were able to return to their family farms sometimes found that depressed economic conditions made it difficult to rely on farming as their sole source of support. Where possible, the former soldiers tried to help each other with funds and/or job referrals. In addition to earning a living, David's friends were concerned with developing active social lives and pursuing romantic interests. Several of letters indicate that David continued to serve as a "matchmaker" and/or advisor to his friends in their romantic endeavors. Some also allude to the fact that David had an ill-fated romance with a "Miss Lizzy" from Forsyth, Georgia .

David's cousin Ino Weller and his uncle, Capt. Jim Ellis both survived the war. Ino Weller, who was situated in Louisville , Kentucky , sent David a short note, dated June 19, 1865. He wrote that he had tried unsuccessfully to find an employment opportunity for David in Louisville and that it grieved him to be unable to help him. 1865-06-19.pdf (PDF 1,092 KB)

Jim Ellis also wanted to help him. In a letter sent from Big Springs , Kentucky , on July 10, 1865, he reports that he has been selling "leases" since being "paroled" and expects to realize some funds in a few days. Additionally, he says that he has "written home for a few greenbacks" and promises to send David some money, as soon as these funds "come to hand". He also mentions that he might visit Elizabethtown , Kentucky (David's location at the time) to investigate the possiblity of establishing an independent newspaper there. The remainder of the letter discusses Capt. Ellis infatuation with a Miss Hays. He asks David to "present my kindest regards" to Miss Hays and to tell her that he will pay a visit to her father's home in a week or two. 1865-07-10.pdf (PDF 1,297 KB)

Another letter from Jim Ellis was sent on August, 29, 1865. He writes that he has been very ill with Billious Fever and Cholera, but is now better. He continues that he will return to work in a few days and will then be able to send David "a few greenbacks". He also tells David that he attempted to call on Miss Hays, but she was not "at home" to him. As a result, he re-directed his attention to another lady - "a sweet and gentle maiden, who will console me". 1865-08-29.pdf (PDF 1,222 KB)

David's friend, Capt. George H. Hash returned to his family farm in Tennessee . He wrote that times were difficult and that he might have to join many of the other farmers in the area in seeking outside employment. In addition to his economic woes, Mr. Hash was having difficulties in pursuing a romance with a "Miss N", David's cousin Nannie. A series of letters, written from September 1865 through June 1866, recount the progression of this relationship. Capt. Hash was initially very taken with this lady and worried that she was not sufficiently interested in him. Then he heard a rumor that she had previously been engaged to a Union soldier and determines that this would prevent him from ever marrying her. Later, this rumor was discounted and he resumed his worrying about whether "Miss N" was serious in her feelings about him. The final letter indicates that he had given up on "Miss N" and found himself another "sweetheart". Throughout all this, David tried to help the relationship along by encouraging both parties. On his part Capt. Hash tried to encourage David in regard to his troubled" romance with "Miss Lizzy".
1865-09-05.pdf (PDF 1,741 KB); 1865-09-15.pdf (PDF 1,825 KB); 1865-09-21.pdf (PDF 2,168 KB); 1865-10-25.pdf (PDF 2,171 KB); 1865-11-24.pdf (PDF1,336 KB); 1865-12-12.pdf (PDF1,727 KB); 1866-06-04.pdf (PDF1,572 KB)

In April of 1866, Tom Brennan, another of David's war time friends, sent a letter announcing that he had found work at a newspaper office in Chattanooga , Tennessee . He added that he was glad to hear that David had also finally secured a position in Macon , Georgia . He complained that times were "unmercifully dull" in Chattanooga , although there was "plenty of smallpox" in the town and "a shooting affair once in a while". Several men in his office had been stricken by the decease, but he had escaped so far. He went on to describe a shooting that occurred at his boardinghouse. A Mr. Harris (foreman in the place of the writer's employment and owner of the boarding house) had brought with him a woman who he called his sister. In actuality, the woman was a "run away wife". When the husband arrived in search of her, he shot Mr. Harris, wounding him slightly. Mr. Harris returned fire, shooting several times and gravely wounding the husband. Aside from this excitement, the writer was generally bored - there were no ladies with whom he could spend time. However, he was working steady, earning about $30.00 per week. So he decided that he would stay a while longer. 1866-04-01.pdf (PDF3,320 KB)

AF Keller sent David a letter from Louisville, Kentucky on April 3, 1866. He reported that he and another friend had been "permitted to quit work for an indefinite period" and he was planning to travel to Memphis to seek another job. His letter also mentioned an upcoming election of city officials. He hoped that the "radicals" would be "decently whipped", along with their talk of passing the "Civil Rights Bill". 1866-04-03.pdf (PDF1,808 KB)

In August of 1866, David received a letter from his cousin Cyrus O. (Otway) Weller. Otway had just received a letter from David and was glad that they had finally located each other. They had last corresponded in the spring of 1861. Thereafter, Otway served as a Confederate soldier, participating in Texas , New Mexico , and Louisiana campaigns. He said the he was fortunate in being neither wounded or captured. At the war's end, he went to an uncle's home in Colorado County , Texas . Under his uncle's guidance, Otway read medical books while he was waiting for fall courses to start at a medical college in New Orleans. 1866-08-26.pdf (PDF 3,467 KB)

David received another letter from Otway Weller in May of 1867. Otway had come back to Texas , after the fall courses he had taken at the medical college in New Orleans were concluded. He stayed with relatives for about six months, while looking for work in the medical field. He intended to earn enough money to return to New Orleans and complete his degree. He finally settled in Wharton Co., Texas where he joined in practice with another doctor. He writes that conditions in the area are depressed. Money is scarce because the prior year's crop failed. Otway hopes to be able to "make expenses" if he can collect the fees owed to him. "Many farmers won't be able to pay until Christmas, after the crops are harvested and sold. He also mentions that things are generally difficult for Rebels. No man who has "assisted and abetted the rebellion in any manner" is eligible to serve on a jury. 1867-05-21.pdf (PDF5,827 KB)

A third letter from Otway Weller was received in August of 1867. He mentions that times are not good in the area. The cotton crop has been almost entirely destroyed, so there is little hope for a good harvest. As a consequence, all trades are suffering and there is no money to be had. The Board of Registers was in his neighborhood. He was not allowed to register because he had once been a deputy under a county office before the war. They also rejected anyone who was a "clerk of elections" or who participated in the rebellion. The Register's are operating under the "military dictator", Phil Sheridon's directive and Otway believes that the intent is to give the "Radicals" a clear majority in the next election. He still hopes to receive some money after the crop is in. After that, he plans to leave the area. 1867-08-04.pdf (PDF3,035 KB)

A fourth letter from Otway was received in September of 1867. He says that there is no good news to report. The cotton crop was a failure and people in his part of the state are "generally out of money with little prospect of getting any. He has been unable to collect his earnings from those who owe him for service. To make matters worse, Yellow Fever is raging. It was introduced by a schooner, which had come from Vera Cruz. The decease spread into Galveston , the chief port and then inland via the railroad to cause epidemics in several towns. Much of Texas is affected, with little prospect for relief until the summer weather is over and a "good frost" occurs. 1867-09-30.pdf (PDF3,485 KB)

Civilians Recovering From the War (1865 - 1867)

David received letters from civilians who lived in areas that had been severely impacted by the war. Their letters reflected daily struggles with on-going economic hardships and difficulties in reconciling North-South sympathies.

David corresponded regularly with his Aunt Lizzy Leeper (his father's sister, Elizabeth Weller). His grandmother, Mary Matthis, also lived in the household and sometimes added a few lines to the letters. These letters were full of concern for David's welfare and often included advice on health, religious, social, and political matters. Lizzy had helped to raise David and still felt responsible for guiding him in almost every aspect of his life. "Aunt Lizzy's" letters indicated that she was having a difficult time "making ends meet". She had been widowed and was raising two young girls, as well as caring for her mother. One of her daughters was chronically ill, with little hope for improvement. Additionally, she lived in Missouri , which was plagued with significant lingering animosities between Union and Confederate sympathizers. She writes about "bushwackers" and the murders that are still occurring because sympathies cannot be reconciled. She says that she knows David is not like those renegade Confederates. She urges him to seek a pardon and swear allegiance to the Union , so that he can again live peaceably among his friends and family. Beyond that, Lizzy's letters are filled with news of friends, relatives, and her own family's daily challenges with economic and health issues.
1865-07-02.pdf (PDF2,415 KB) ; 1865-07-24.pdf (PDF3,767 KB); 1865-08-28.pdf (PDF2,197 KB) ; 1866-01-01.pdf (PDF1,970 KB) ; 1867-01-21.pdf (PDF2,151 KB) ; 1867-05-13.pdf (PDF1,315 KB) ; 1867-11-13.pdf (PDF1,529 KB) .

A young lady named "Ellen" wrote several letters addressing Dave as her "Uncle". (although references in one letter indicate that that they were not really related). Ellen lived in Sandersville , Georgia , which had been raided by "Yankees"under Sherman 's command. She is quite bitter about her family's treatment by these troops. In one letter she mentions how Yankee troops invaded her home and stole her jewelry, clothing and other possessions - "The only thing they left us to subsist upon was a bushel of sweet potatoes." She continues to say, " Sherman had some beeves killed for the benefit of the citizens and sent us some of it. But I would have perished before I would have eaten a mouthful of it." However, the letters also reflect that Ellen is trying to get past the war and enjoy the normal social life of a young lady of her time.
1866-04-01-2.pdf (PDF3,320 KB) ; 1866-05-02.pdf (PDF4,631 KB) ; 1866-05-09.pdf (PDF4,764 KB) .