Brunt, William (fl. 1863-1865) to Martha Weir
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07006.08 Author/Creator: Brunt, William (fl. 1863-1865) Place Written: Clarkesville, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 3 July 1864 Pagination: 6 p. ; 20.5 x 13 cm. Order a Copy
Writes that he has been sent to Clarkesville again in order to command the "Contraband Camp." Describes the work he has been doing to get the camp of "900 Men Women & Children" running smoothly, and the compliments he has received from his superiors for his hard work. Martha is leaving Hawesville soon, and Brunt asks her to "please write as soon as you receive this & I will send you my Photograph." Describes the arrival of a Kentucky slave owner at his camp who offers Brunt $250 dollars in bribe money for the return of his family's slaves. Brunt has the man arrested. "Our camp is a thorn in the side of Ky," Brunt gloats. Describes the education of the former slaves in the buildings erected for their masters - "many of the scholars are their [the slave owners] illegitemate [sic] children."
William Brunt was, at the start of the correspondence, a soldier in the 83rd Regiment, Ft. Donelson, Tennessee. He was later made Captain of Company Division 16th Colored Infantry. Brunt's wife, Olive, and his two children virtually accompanied him to war, living in the nearby camps while Brunt was on the battlefield. William and Olive had lived in Kentucky prior to the war, but were disliked for their strong support of Union politics. By 1864, Olive was helping to run a contraband camp with Brunt, but by 1865 the two had divorced after Olive was unfaithful to William. Brunt retained custody of their two children and, despite the emotional strain which came from marriage of one and the death of the other, remained devoted as a soldier and anti-slavery advocate.
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