From John Tasmilen to John Ament

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Centralia 15th 1864 Mr[.] John Ament

I have long meditated writing, & have felt a great sympathy for you, in your troubles in Missouri, but such things must be bourn.


We are all well, & nothing particular amongst us. Our widow Daughter Ann and her Daughter Minnie are with us. George is on an expedition up Yazoo, he is Major but was put in charge of a regiment and the papers show that he has had a skirmish[,] lost six men but drove thru, killing a number & taking guns, mules, and provisions, I don’t think he is in much danger now[.]


James is in Natchez, Chief Clk in the p.o. gets $75 per month[.]


The war has stopped business generally, & I being rather on the down hill road in business, thought I would try again at Horse trading so last summer I commenced, but the dry summer followed by fall frost & consequent high price of corn, spoilt my job. Well, I have not lost money, but I lost my labor.


I have quite a hope that the rebellion, is nearly crushed out, at any rate I hope so, for I see the enemy at home now desires peace, They have given strength and hope to the enemies abroad, They have done us twice the harm they could have done, had they [] Shouldered their arms & went into the Southern ranks.


Slavery has disappointed many, some thought it would last for ever (& hoped it too). I never thought that slavery would last more than 15 years, So So you see we were all disappointed, but there can be no mistake now, for slavery is dead and the sin of slavery lies at the door of the [] churches; without their aid it could never have lived half so long, and now when the dog is dead the preachers will be howling round that they killed it, but they lie, they sanctioned it as long as they could.


Well, now I look for peace resolutions, reconstruction, & the wail of mourning will be raised too. We will hear but little more about “diving in the last ditch[.]” the program is changed and everything will be resorted to, to save a little [[MS. illegible]] if possible, But the dog is dead.


I may be too hopeful, but I think you might be safe to return to Cass Co. Mo. I never was there, but I think you were in a good part of Missouri and I expect you had a good farm, and although it may be much spoiled, you could do much better there than where you are, and I think you would feel a great political change since you left, so much so that I think you might feel safe. I would like to hear from you, let us hear what you are going to do, what was a common piece of land in Cass County Mo.? & tell us about things, and how you are getting along.


Adieu [[MS. illegible]] John Tasmilen
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