Van Valkenburgh, Franklin Butler, 1835-1924 to his wife

Written part in pen, part in pencil. Reports on conditions in the South after the Civil War. Frank was travelling to Arkansas to help his twin brother Gerrit who was in trouble with the law. Says he knows he wrote recently, but since he is stuck in "this God forsaken hole" he is going to write another. He mentions meeting a Confederate soldier who thought he was his twin brother Gerrit. The former soldier was released from prison the week before and Frank relates his story. He reports that many people know his twin brother, Gerrit. He says "they say Warren [Arkansas] never saw so exciting a time as was the Evening of Ger's arrival there, & that if I say I am his brother at Pine Bluff it will secure for me Every attention." People told him that Gerrit has lost everything and looks pale and wan. He says "Confed soldiers are thick as mush, some of the officers, whose acquaintance I have made are gentlemanly & intelligent - They all say 'we are whipped, & it only remains now for us to do the best we can & try and make ourselves good Citzens.'" He mentions that there are a lot of black people probably formerly enslaved around. Says he helped four black children get passage to Illinois to find their father and brother, who joined the army, at the Illinois central depot. He says the children were very grateful and that one yelled from the boat "that If Ever I needed assistance he would come if it was 20 miles to help me." Says the river flooded the land 40 miles around it and that many houses still show evidence of the damage.