The Diaries of Ralph Leland Goodrich, 1859-1867

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April 1864


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April 1, 1864

In school. Down to Weidemann’s. Wheeled Minnie on barrow. Government boarders began today.

April 2, 1864

Saturday. Paid Mrs. Fulton. Went down the street. At Weidemann’s.  Made a bet with Minnie [Schreifer]. She won. Saw Sauter. He was drunk. He came up [the street] with me and staid in my bed all night.

April 3, 1864

Sunday. At home. Wrote letter to [my cousin] Lucy Stratton. Had a fuss with niggers. [The] government boarders [were] playing cards in the kitchen and one of them [was] trying to come at Mary & gave her four bits. She will succumb, I think. She let a rage while they were all there. Epstein, Charley [Berkson] & I [are] pretty well down in the mouth about them. The niggers & government boarders are a nuisance. Ep[stein] and I are talking of going to Cincinnati & leave the whole tribe in the lurch. Well, I will if they do not change their tactics.

April 4, 1864

In school. Feel sick. [My brother] Jim came up from Pine Bluff today. [He] looks well. Epstein was sold out to a fellow by the name of Rosenberg. Jim came up with several hundred prisoners.

April 5, 1864

In school. Mrs. Cantrell wants me to teach her little girl Latin. Down at Weidemann’s. Minnie [Schreifer] told me that the girls had told her that I was her sweetheart. I don’t believe they want me to go there so often. Night, had some lager. Two Germans here and spent the evening with us.

[Several pages missing. During this period, Goodrich wrote a letter [1] to his sister Augusta.]

April 29, 1864

Got up at 5 o’clock. Went down to Ferry boat with Epstein. The boat crossed about half past 6 o’clock. In school. Went down the street. Saw Schreifer. We went & drank some lager – about ten glasses apiece. I drank for Epstein. I felt bad – almost like crying to have him go. At theatre. [2]

April 30, 1864

Saturday. Rainy. Down the street. Town full of rumors at Weidemann’s.


[1]    The letter Goodrich wrote to his sister Augusta and her husband Rev. James Griffing read:

April 9, 1864    Little Rock [Arkansas]

My dear Sister [Augusta] & Brother [James]. I received your letter a few days ago, but I have had no opportunity to answer it until today. One day this week [our brother] James came up on a boat from Pine Bluff. Part of his company was detailed to come up as a guard to some three hundred Confederate prisoners. He got here in the afternoon & hunted me up and stayed with me the afternoon when he returned to the boat as they care to leave early in the morning. He is well & getting along well. He is no longer the cook of the mess. He says that they think they will be sent to Kansas soon & be mustered out of service there. He has no intention of going in again. He says the reason that he has not written home or to you since he has been at Pine Bluff is that he has had no time. But letters will reach him if you direct to him at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, 5th Regt. Kansas Vols.

I have received a letter today from Mr. [Willoughby] Babcock. He wants me to come to New Orleans & try to get a Commission in the Corps d’Afrique. He says the medical examinations are nothing. But it will cost a good deal to go there & then if I am successful, it will be impossible to say whether I can see home again. And I can’t begin to think of going then even with the agreeable prospect of a commission before me, for I am getting very homesick, and would rather go nearer home than farther off. I got another letter from home today. Ma has been sick but was better when the letter was written, which was about one month ago – a long time for letters to come here. I wish there were better mail arrangements.

I was going to say my prospects were getting better, but I think not considering everything. A little more than a month ago, a German [named Epstein] came to town from Pine Bluff. I knew him when out in the army (by the way, he is a capital fellow) & wanted to come & board with me. I took him. [See diary entry of 23 February 1864.]  He pays me twenty-five dollars a month. After he had been here a few weeks he brought his partner [named Rosenberg] in business. They give me fifty dollars a month. Thus far it is good. I am satisfied & I could make a little without much trouble. But a few days ago, a young fellow in Q[uarter] M[aster] Department wanted me to take a mess of Express Riders. He said they were all good boys, &c &c. I consented to that. They were to furnish rations & wood & pay thirty dollars per month. There would be five in the mess. They have been here over a week & I have got heartily tired of the business. It makes my expenses less, but I am getting to look with indifference upon inconveniences when I can make some money.

The servants I have, rather light mulattoes, a mother, daughter, and granddaughter, aged respectively about 50, 23, & 8, are old family servants of Mrs. Adamson, the lady with whom I lived before she died. They are respectable sort of darkies & have taken good care of me when I have been sick, both here & at the old place. And if it had not been for them, I should not be alive now, I believe. What is more, they have taken such a liking to me that they wish to be my servants always. They want me to be their master, not slave master, and if I go north, they want to go too. Live as I do here, it would be a saving business for me. What do you think of it? I am teaching the old woman to read & she can get over the Bible tolerably well. Next time you write, tell me your opinion. Whenever I can get a situation from Mr. Wheeler Bristol for certain, I shall have money enough to go north on. If my boarders remain with me any time & I shall not be compelled to ask assistance from any one. Jim said he would lend me money, but I told him I did not want to borrow for I thought when I did go, I would be able to raise the money. Write soon and believe me as ever your affectionate brother – Ralph L. Goodrich

[2]    It is apparent that sometime between 5 April and 29 April 1864, Goodrich was offered a job working at the theatre.  His “at theatre” diary entries signify his employment there in the evenings.

 

 

The Ralph Goodrich Collection is the property of the Arkansas History Commission.