Brunt, William (fl. 1863-1865) to Martha and Robert Weir
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07006.14 Author/Creator: Brunt, William (fl. 1863-1865) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: no date Pagination: 2 p. ; 31 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy
Most of Brunt's letter to Martha is missing. Writes to Robert that "things look rather gloomy for us at preasant [sic] but Clouds & sunshine must alternately follow each other." Mentions that he has little time to read the news. Describes a test he has prepared for the black soldiers under his command, in which he will stage a fake attack on his company in order to prove that they are able to "stand fire." Asks Robert to write a testimonial of William's Union loyalty while living in Kentucky, but "please do it in a way so that it will not create a suspicion of my asking it."
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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