Gordon Family Letters
Letter written by Thomas Tolson Gordon (1844-1923)
After the War Between The States, many a young man just sort of gave up and totally left the country. Most of them went to South America, like Tom did to Brazil, South America. Perhaps the only difference is that Tom came back and wrote about it in his memoirs. This was written by Tom but we don't know if it was to anyone in particular, or just everyone in general within the family. You have to remember, Tom's immediate family was rapidly dwindling. All three of his daughters were dead by 1910 leaving him with two sons, neither of which had issue. Of course, at the time of his death, he wouldn't have known this."A Confederate Soldier, In A Strange Land"
Scan of first 9 pages
The time frame would have been mid 1865 - 1868.
Scan of first 9 pages
The time frame would have been mid 1865 - 1868.
I've transcribed these first nine pages of Tom's account, which is quite easy to read. I've added a little punctuation to help it make sense but I've used his spelling. I added one note about about the sedan chairs and I noticed that perhaps he got the places he visited a little out of order.
I wanted to travel and see the world and those uncivilized being in their natural state. After cherishing these thoughts in fond anticipation for years, I thought, now was the time to put into execution my long cherished hopes.
The slaves having been emancipated in our county, and slavery still existing in Brazil, the Brazil fever rose to a high temperature among a portion of the south, especially in the black belt. Colonies from various states then went to Brazil having two motives in their view. One, to get from under the U. S. government, the other, slavery.
But neither of these motives prompted me to go, but I would realize my long cherished hopes of seeing that wild rude country.
In the month of July in the year 1866 several men with myself took the train and went to New York, where we took a steamer bound for the city of Rio D Janero.
We soon landed at the West Indies on the Island of Martinique, where I saw the house in which Josephine the first wife of Napolean Bonaparte had lived. I also saw her grave over which was a beautiful monument engraved with an Epitaph in French, which a French man interpreted for me, but I have forgotten it.
We went from this place to St Thomas where we loaded with coal. This town was situated on the side of a mountain where we saw Santi Annies Castle (of Mexican fame) And Bluebeard the noted Pirates Castle.
From there we went to Para in Brazil where my first impressions were unfavorable, there being very few whites. The great majority being a mixed mongrel race of people, very poor. Here in this mountainous region was no manner of conveyance only by soudans [sedan or palanquin], a kind of carriage carried on the shoulders of slaves. These carriages had only one or two seats. The slaves were bare footed with nothing on in the way of clothing except a slip made of a coffee sack extending scarcely to the knees with holes through which their arms were slipped. Thus they were enabled to travel about 30 miles a day. The rates were so cheap that after paying their master 50 cents a day for their time, that had but little left.
My next landing was on the coast of Bahia where the people were of the same type as those at Para.
From there we went to Victoria from whence we looked forward with high anticipations where we would get to the metropolis Rio D Jenero, where things would be greatly changed and people different but what was our surprise and disappointment to find here the same kind as those whom we had found at the former places. Inhabitants here numbering about 150,000 the majority living in rock houses covered with tiling made of half cylinders of burnt clay - placed in groups of three. Two side by side and one over these.
They worshipped Padra (Priest) with no higher God than he. Their churches were open at all times. People were constantly going in to pray to the image of the Virgin Mary, and a man never passed the church without ...
My trip to South America in the years of 1866 & 1867
After having served in the army for nearly four years I came home and found every thing changed. Many of my comrades killed and died. I felt lonely and restless. I did not know what to do with myself. I had read about Robinson Crusoe and Livingston.I wanted to travel and see the world and those uncivilized being in their natural state. After cherishing these thoughts in fond anticipation for years, I thought, now was the time to put into execution my long cherished hopes.
The slaves having been emancipated in our county, and slavery still existing in Brazil, the Brazil fever rose to a high temperature among a portion of the south, especially in the black belt. Colonies from various states then went to Brazil having two motives in their view. One, to get from under the U. S. government, the other, slavery.
But neither of these motives prompted me to go, but I would realize my long cherished hopes of seeing that wild rude country.
In the month of July in the year 1866 several men with myself took the train and went to New York, where we took a steamer bound for the city of Rio D Janero.
We soon landed at the West Indies on the Island of Martinique, where I saw the house in which Josephine the first wife of Napolean Bonaparte had lived. I also saw her grave over which was a beautiful monument engraved with an Epitaph in French, which a French man interpreted for me, but I have forgotten it.
We went from this place to St Thomas where we loaded with coal. This town was situated on the side of a mountain where we saw Santi Annies Castle (of Mexican fame) And Bluebeard the noted Pirates Castle.
From there we went to Para in Brazil where my first impressions were unfavorable, there being very few whites. The great majority being a mixed mongrel race of people, very poor. Here in this mountainous region was no manner of conveyance only by soudans [sedan or palanquin], a kind of carriage carried on the shoulders of slaves. These carriages had only one or two seats. The slaves were bare footed with nothing on in the way of clothing except a slip made of a coffee sack extending scarcely to the knees with holes through which their arms were slipped. Thus they were enabled to travel about 30 miles a day. The rates were so cheap that after paying their master 50 cents a day for their time, that had but little left.
My next landing was on the coast of Bahia where the people were of the same type as those at Para.
From there we went to Victoria from whence we looked forward with high anticipations where we would get to the metropolis Rio D Jenero, where things would be greatly changed and people different but what was our surprise and disappointment to find here the same kind as those whom we had found at the former places. Inhabitants here numbering about 150,000 the majority living in rock houses covered with tiling made of half cylinders of burnt clay - placed in groups of three. Two side by side and one over these.
They worshipped Padra (Priest) with no higher God than he. Their churches were open at all times. People were constantly going in to pray to the image of the Virgin Mary, and a man never passed the church without ...
