This letter is written with brown ink, and in the Illinois  Butler family papers. The letter was sent to William and Nancy Butler, Madison Co, ILL.

The Butlers were from: Henry (later county changed to Weakley Co, TN) Wiliamson Co, TN and other counties in TN. 

The family has 2 John Butlers, one Benjamin Butler (Rev War soldier residing in TN), one Edmund Butler that married Permelia Easley in Williamson Co, TN, one William Butler possibly the Father of the John Buler that wrote this letter.

Other ties: Joel Butler, Thomas Butler, Henry Butler, William Butler,  all in Tennessee. Family came from VA to SC to TN, with Edmund Butler coming to Madison/Macoupin Co ILL. 

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I have a letter from Como, Tn written to William Butler & Nancy Patrick Butler May 11, 1867, from the John Butler family. In 1867, the county was Henry Co, Tn. later it became Weakley County.

May 11, 1867, Como, Henry Co, Tenn.

Dear Cousin,

I take the opportunity to write you a few lines to let you know that I am living yet. I think you all have forsaken me I haven't had the crack of a pen from any of you in so long that I can't recollect the date. I am afraid some of you al have got mad at some of my foolishness, if you have you ought not, for I mean no harm by it. I have wrote several letters and recieved no answer. I want to hear from you all, Cousin Catherine letter was the last I have heard from any of you.

 I have ben married going on 4 years and have jest moved home to ourselves in the last month. I have ben living with my Mother-in-Law she has ben sick about three years confined to her bed the most of the time. Her son maried last month and the only child she has except my wife and so that leavst me and Arrilla.

I am not done planting corn yet I want to finish next weak. I have some cotten to plant yet we had a white frost last Tuesday night it bit the corn and stuff some. I fear it will damage the wheat mightly. This the growing wheat crop had been promising up to this time. Wheat is only worth two dollars,  per bushel corn is worth 60 cents, per bushel bacon 12 1/2cents per pound, everything high and greenback scarce with me. I would be glad to see you all but I reckon I will not soon if some of you don't come out here. I think that Frank or Henry could come out and see us and the country if tha would try and Cate if if tha are not all married. Bill, I wish I could see you. I could tell you aheap since I seen you. I haven't stold any wood since we hauled stone coal nor ben whipt by a Methodist preacher.

Do you reckon he has saved a soul since he got drunk.

Bill, ask Nan if she ever found her dish rag that I stold to cure my warts. If she has not I will not tell her where it is. Now Arrilla sends her best love and respects to you all. We have a little boy most three years oldhe is a pert chap but you know he don't take it after me. 

I must close my letter tell Elizabeth and Peter that I haven't forgotten them yet and neither do I expect to forget there kindness to me while I was there sick. Ask Buck if he runs the chickens as much as he use to, give my respects to Aunt and her folk, tell them to write, tell Peter to write, and Rob and Lide. Give my respects to Sarah E. Patric and all who feel worthy of my inquiry. I want you all to write to me you know not how glad I am to hear
from any of you.

 I think Arrilla would be willing to move out there if it was not for her Mother being sick. I had rather live out there than here. I never knew how well I liked that country until I came back here. I must close my letter write soon and direct your letter to Tennessee, Henry Co, Como Post Office where it will be gladly recieved and promptly answered. 

Good by (Drawing of a hand stretched out, under the good by)
Letter from: John Butler
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John Butler b. March 13, 1838 in Illinois d. Feb 19, 1884 married Arilla Frances Tyson/Ticen 24 October 1863 in Weakley Co, TN

Also part of this Butler Family: Edmund Butler, m. Permelia Ann Easley/Ensley 6 Jan 1830 in Williamson County, TN

John Butler born 1838, died 1884, from Weakley Co, Tennessee. His wife, Arrilla Ticen Butler born 1844, and died 1892. Son: Henry C. Butler born 1864, died 1886 and buried in the Butler Cemetery, Weakley Co, Tn. Also an
E________ E________ Butler buried in the same plot at the Butler Cemetery.

Butler Cemetery, Weakley Co, TN 
John Butler, 1838-1884
Arrilla Ticen Butler 1844-1892 (Wife Of John Butler)
Henry C. Butler 1864-1886

Division Hospital, Aug 23rd , 1864

Dear Mother

����������� I again seat myself to write you a few lines, but it is with a sad heart that I write, the sad subject that I have to write to you on is one which I know will give you pain and trouble, I am sorry that I have it to write.

Ma, George was very dangerestly wonded last Thursday the 18th of this month.� The ball struct near the forward on the right side & range back towards the back of the head it broke the skull and injured the brain very seriously he is in his right mind all of the time.

I am staying with him and will remain with him all the time.

Ma the Doctors thinks there is some chance for him to get well, I have several of the best doctors with him that is in our division & we will do all that can be done for him, he appears to be some beter than he was some days ago.� This is the sixth day, Since he was wounded. They has some of the brain worked out of the wound but the doctors says they have seen such cases cured.� But ma to tell you the truth I think it is very doutfull case.� I don�t tell you this to trouble you for you know that I would not give you trouble for the world if I could help it.� But there is hope as long as there is life he may get well I prey that he will.

Don�t give yourself any uneasiness about his not being attended to for no trouble nor expence shall keep him from anything that is neaded, there is six of the boys from his regiment that stays with him all the time & there never a more attentive set of men in the army than they are, they couldn�t do more for a brother.

Ma I will come to a close preying to have have the pleasure of writing to you soon that George is mending.

Ma I have writen to you of Johns being captured he was captured on the fifth of July in a scrumish fight some 12 miles from Atlanta, I am in hops he is doing well.

I remain your true and affection son 

����������������������������������������������� W. M. Milner
 

Division Hospital, Atlanta, Ga.

M Aug 26th, 1864

Dear Mother

I rote to you a few days ago of the mortal wound that brother George receive on the (18) of this month.� it is my sad lot this morning to wright to you of the deth of that dear Brother who so much loved by all that new him.� he died this morning at (11) oclock this morning.� he lived nine days from the time he was wounded, he was struct in the head near the forward the ball went through the skull and breaking it very bad the brain was shot out.� He suffered a great deal while he lived, he was in his right mind untill a few days before he died.� he sometimes spoke of wanting to see you but said it was impossible for him to see you again.� Ma I was with him from the time he was shot untill he died and had three of the best doctors that was in our division with him but could do him no good the wond was to sevier.

Ma I will close this sad letter hoping to be able to see you soon. I remain as ever your affectionate son, W. M. Milner.

P. S.� Ma I have writen to you of Johns being captured he was taken on the fifth of July some 12 miles from this place the yankeys dsguised themself in our uniform and slipt on him before he saw the difference.� We have some picket firing on the lines and a good deal of canonading the enemy continue to shell the city. No more at present

W. M.

(Copied by Dan A. Freeman from the original letter that is in the possession of George Kennedy, Martin, TN) 

(beginning with the second page, sometime after August 26, 1864)
and the balance of our army came to us the enemy then commence falling back towards Atlanta.

Ma I have riten to you several times for the last few weeks not knowing wheather you ever gets any of my leters or not I am some what at a lost how to write.

I have riten to you of the death of that dearly beloved Brother (George) several times but not knowing that you have receive my leters I have to write again.� He was wonded on the (18) of August on picket and died on the (26) of August.� he was shot through the right side of the head I was with him from the time he was shot untill his deth he died very easily he didn�t speak for (12) hours before his deth.� he new every body that came to see him but didn�t seam to be concious of the pain he was in.� 

Ma I have heard from John since he was captured he is at Camp Douglas (Ill) He was well at the time I heard from him I expect to write to him in a fiew days.

Ma I will close as we are expecting to move in a fiew minutes� I will write again by the first chance.

You and Pa must write to me when you can for I want to hear from you very bad.
I remain as ever your son �������������� 

W. M. Milner

�Co A 31st� Ten Reg
�Strakes Brig
�Cheathams Div
� Army of Tenn

The following letter was written by Thomas Alton Waggener (1852-1916) in Martin, TN to his first cousin, Sarah Ann Waggener Fleming, (1842-1919) in Mulberry, AR. The letter was dated June 16, 1896. Unfortunately, pages 3 and 4 were missing. 

Our special thanks to Ramona Armbruster (a descendant of Sarah Ann Waggener) for providing us with this letter.  The significance of this correspondence is that it describes the strong love o family that existed and Reverend Thomas Alton Waggener's touching pride in his son, Herman Waggener's profession of faith. Herman Waggener was Alf Waggener's father. The letter also describes early conditions of several other related family lines including those that had left Weakley County, TN as early as 1880 to move and settle west in Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, and Oklahoma. According to Alf Waggener, his grandfather, Reverend T. A. Waggener pastored several churches around the area of Martin, TN. He was not paid enough to support his family through his ministry so he also had to run a farm. He was respected in West Tennessee as an honest, upright man, a good preacher, a kind pastor, and a valuable member of the community. 

Martin, Tennessee
June 16, 1896 

My absent cousins from a long time gone. You doubtless will be very much surprised to get this scribble from one who so frequently thinks of you, and wonders where you are, and what you are doing. It seems almost a century since I last saw you all in your ma's home. Time has brought about so many many changes we can hardly realize and see things as they are and were. The girls have grown up to be women, the boys have gotten manly and strong.
page 2
I guess your children are all almost grown. I remember Willie's looks very distinctly but have almost sight of the other children yet here I am with a wife and 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls, Herman our oldest son is nearly 13 years of age and the best of it all, he professed faith in Christ last week, and will join Oak Grove Church next 4 Sunday. (Thats where all of the Waggeners belong and where I preached my first sermon and have been their pastor for 11 years, a strong church indeed.Remember next 4 Sunday eve (if the Lord wills it) at 31/2 oclock I will baptise my own dear boy, ok! What a great thing it is, how thankful I am to the good Lord, rejoice with us.
page 5 
Miscellaneous Sheet.  My mind runs back to former days when the Speeds, Lewis, Burgess, Fleming, and Waggener families were all here in these parts, but alas, where are they? Some on this side and many on the other side of the river of deaths scattered so far apart, but father's children all live near him and will continue so to do as long as he lives, (I hope). Aunt Sarah W. spent last week with us. She looks so well. Cousin Martha Scates children all grown and married except one, her oldest boy lost his mind 
page 6
3 years ago, which gives cousin a great trouble. But alas this is world of trouble any way. Billie W. lost his wife, was left with 6 children, 3 girls and 3 boys, very sad. Brother Sam has a large family, 6 boys and 1 girl, bro Robert has 5 girls and 1 boy. Sister Dora has 3 girls and 1 boy. Sister Mollie has 3 girls and 2 boys. Aunt Sarah's children are terribly scattered and Sallie is dead and she is going from place to place. Well if I could be with you could talk these things over but I guess I will quit. Zora and the children join me in love to you all. Please let us hear from you real soon. May God bless you all. Pray for me and mine.