Van Valkenburgh, Gerrit S., 1835-1885 to Mary B. Van Valkenburgh

Written by Gerrit to his mother Mary. References her letter from May 22, 1864. He is very happy about his mother's letter and says he has thought about her often. He says there is a big difference between them and that he is "a Southerner in word in thought & act." He believes that the Confederates were not as wanton as Northern papers make them out to be. He argues that he did not enter the war blindly, but made a well-thought choice to join the South. He goes into detail about his decision making process. He says he does not blame anyone for wanting to join the Federal army, so people should not blame him for wanting to join the Confederate. He claims the last letter he received was in July 1861. He gives her an update on his life after that: he worked in the steamboat and warehouse business on the Mississippi before the war and did not join the Confederate Army until May 1862. He reports that he was in New Orleans when it fell to Union forces. Says he was in several fights, but was never wounded. He says he was twice a prisoner, but escaped both times. He was taken on March 30, 1864 and is now on a parole of honor in Arkansas. He gives her an update on family in Arkansas, and says he sent a photograph with the letter.