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[envelope]
Dr. John Millington
No. 132 Spruce Street
10th August 1865  Philadelphia Penn

[page 1]
Memphis Tennessee
August 10th 1865
Dear Pa
Since writing you last I have
been up to La Grange and spent several
days. I found the place there so much
changed and abused that I did not know
it at all. all the timber with the exception
of a few trees arround the house has been
cut down, and ther is not a sign of
fencing on the place. A regiment of cavalry
were cmaped where the garden & orchard
used to be, and the house was filled with
the families of the 2d Ark. Regiment which
has been stationed at La Grange for some
time, not a room was vacant, there being I
believe nine different families in the
house, besides the front foom up stairs being
used as head quarters of the 11th Ill. Cav.
I applied to General Phelps who is
in command there for possession of the
property and was answered that if the
families of the soldiers were turned out of
the house they would be without shelter
and in a destitute condition & that he

[page 2]
could not give it up. I then renewed my appli-
cation & got no answer to it, so I went to
Genl. Phelps in person and stated the case to
him. He told me that the regiment would be
mustered out by the 15th of this month &
that then he could give me possession & not
before. The house is in very bad condition. The
marble mantles all being gone and most of
the glass in the windows being broken, some
of the sash are missing and there is not
a key to any door in the house. There
was a gentleman from [?] in La Grange
at the time I was there who wanted to rent
a house. I took him over & showed the place
to him but he would have nothing to do
with it unless I could get the soldiers &
reffugees [sic] of [sic] the premises which I could not
do. I saw Dr. Grey about your mortgage
on Dr. [Waddell’s?] place he said that Dr. [W?]
was desirous of giving up the place & closing
the matter. I went over the house and
found it in a comparatively good state of
repair. it is occupied by a man named
James who works on the railroad and is
raising a crop of cotton on the place in
partnership with Dr. [Waddell’s?] negroes. Dr. Grey
informs me that there are twenty acres in the
lot on which the house stands, five acres
immediately in front of it, and ten acres of
wooded land two miles from town, all of
which he says is covered by your mortgage.
I have written to Mr. Joel [Pallian?] at
Sommerville, who is [?] in the deed
to let me know how the matter stands and
to take immediate steps to sell the property
and pay off your claim, or to put you
in possession of it. Dr. [Waddell] forfeits
the property to the Govt. according to the
new law concerning abandoned property
but I am told by everybody that confiscation
cannot be made to the to the prejudice of your
mortgage. I am doubtful if the place
would bring what is due you on it if
sold at present but think it is better to
sell it and you can buy it in if it brings
less than your claim.
    While in La Grange I tried to hunt
up all of the furniture [?] I could find
belonging to us, and old Mr Simmons
was very kind in assisting me. It seems that
Col. Kendrick (who is now dead) carried away
a great many things from the house in
fact everything that was left with him.
and I have met several persons who saw
his house at Moscow furnished with our
furniture. I have asked Mr. Falls several

[page 3]
times about what he left at Mrs. McKinneys
he says he knows nothing about it, but thinks
some things were left at her house & promises
to find out what they are and let me
know but as yet he has not taken the
trouble. I intend going out there and
seeing for myself. At Mrs. Cottons' there
are 2 Candlebranches with drops, 1 large coal oil lamp
1 small cottage table, 1 Mahog. rocking chair, 3
cane bottom chairs & yours & Ma's pictures & one
oil pictures of mine (the woodman) Mrs. Cocke
has my bookcase, a wardrobe, and a fine large
bureau the glass of which is gone. She may
have other things but that is all she says
she has. I saw a bronze hat rack in her
hall that looked familiar & Mr Simmons
thought it was ours but as I had only
seen it once in my life I could not be
certain. I think it would be well for Ma
to come out this fall and identify & collect
together whatever she can and make some
disposition of the things. I called on
Miss Phinney yesterday morning. She told
me that a Miss Yancey of La Grange had
my saddle & bridle and that Mrs. Cane has

[page 4]
a fine large mattress that belonged to a [?]
which her mother had taken charge of and
which she says is at Mr [Bickfords?]. I asked
her in regard to $38 that Ma told me had
been paid to her mother by Mrs McNeil, she
said the amt. was only $24, it being for 40
yds. of carpet at 50¢ and for a safe $4, and
that Mrs McNeil had not paid the money but
had promised to furnish them butter & eggs to the
amt. which she had not done. I don't think
if anything has been paid her there is much
chance of getting it, for yesterday she sent
to Mr. [Lonsdale?] to borrow $30 and pledged
a diamond ring as security.
    I received from Mr Osborne of La Grange
$60 for a set of cottage furniture which Mr
Simmons sold to him and gave him a receipt
for it. I now enclose Elder & [Farnesworth's?] check
#3891 on [G?]. [S?]. Robbins & Son N.Y. for the amount
which you can get cashed at the bank in Phila.
    Mr Firch informs me that there is a
dividend on your Gas stock of 5[?] amounting
to $155 to your credit, they only declare
5[?] dividend this time instead of 10. If
you wish the money sent on to you let
me know & I will draw it and send it

[page 5]
to you. I am still here without employment
business is very dull and there are any quantity
of young men looking for situations. I thought
I stood a good chance for one on Monday
Jno. Law had been elected librarian of the
Memphis Library Association at a salary of
$1200 a year and found the place too
confining for him, so resigned, I applied to
Mr Merriman the Prest. for the position and
got Mr [Bickford?] & Mr [Lonsdale?] to go and
see him in my behalf. Mr [Lonsdale?] thought
I would get it, but I had to run against a
good many candidates – and they elected a
young man who had half a dozen preachers
to electioneer for him, and was a connection
of one of the directors.
Mr. Jesse Page has been released from the [Irving?]
Block under $600.000 bond, and I fear
that this scrape will wind the Commercial
Bank up. If they had continued in business
I think from what he said he would have
given me a position in the bank, if they
resume I think I will get a place there
otherwise I don't think much chance for
me before fall.
    I have written to Mr [?]
in regard to the draft I drew on you &
asked him to hold it until I was able to
pay it myself, which I sincerely hope won't
be long, and if I ever do get out of debt and
get afloat once more, it will prove a lesson
that I won't forget.
    Please tell Ma that I brought the trunk
containing the wine coolers from La Grange, but
did not bring the frame for Grand Ma's picture
as I thought it would have better care taken
of it at Mrs. Simmons that anywhere else.
The trunk is at Mr. [Bickford's] where she
told me to take it. Mrs. Simmons has eleven
bundles & three picture frames one with picture in charge
for Ma, and everything she has is safe
and well taken care of. Both her and
Mr. [?] seem to take great interest in everything
concerning you and Ma, and desire to be
kindly remembered.
    I suppose by this time Katy has gone
back to Richmond though I have heard
nothing from her later than the 20th
of last month, when she was still in Philad.
    The weather here is intensely hot, the thermometer
standing at 98 in the shade today, and there is
a good deal of sickness in the city everybody seems
prostrated with the heat and dust. I am
stopping part of the time with Mr. [Lonsdale?]
and the remainder out at Dr. Ward's, they
are very kind and Mr [Lonsdale?] says hi

[page 6]
wishes he was allowed to employ a clerk
in the office, that if he was he would
give me the place.
I met the Rev. Mr. [Vault?] from La Grange
today, he desired particularly to be remembered
to you so at his request I mention his name
he is going to open a school with Mr
Hinds.
Remember me kindly to Mr & Mrs [Emily?], and
all my Philadelphia friends and with best
love to Ma Betty and yourself,
    I remain
    your affectionate son,
    Geo. B Millington

[upside-down]
10th Augt 1865
Geo B at Memphis
on return from La Grange
[?] [?] [?] [?] & [?]
[?] for 60 in N Yk