From George Hector Tyndale   August 6th 1853

Head Quarters 1st Brigade, 3 Division, | 11^th Army Corps U.S. Army | Near Warrenters Junction V¹ | August 6th 1863

My dear John

A few days ago I got yours of the 9^th July²—before you went to Switzerland³—and reply early as there may be no chance again to write to you, as our positions may vary often.

Since I wrote you,⁴ the Union Armies have been universally victorious, and had the battle of Gettysburg⁵ (stupid names people give places to show their stupidity) been followed up promptly, the rebellion would have been near crushed—as it is, it will draw out, like a scotched snake, it’s vile, painful form for some time longer. At the time of that battle I was in command of a brigade on “the Peninsula”—made by the York and James Rivers near Richmond V[irgini]^a. But as all supposed that the decisive battle of the war would come off on the Potomac, to which Lee (rebel General in Chief)⁶ had retreated, I was sent up with some regiments, whose time of enlistment had nearly expired, to take a part in the expected actions. But Lee escaped and is now in this State (Virginia), and relations between the Armies are about as before his foolish attempt on Pennsylvania—except that the rebels have been badly defeated with a loss of about forty thousand (40,000) men.

In the South West (the States of Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana) we have swept everything clean. The great American Artery, the Mississippi, and all it’s grand tributaries, (in all perhaps over ten thousand navigable miles (10,000 miles) is now in our possession again. This cuts the rebel states in two equal, geographical parts, and hastens the day of peace. The Rebels make their strongest fight in this state—the most populous, richest and strongest of them all. This is a very strong defensive State, large rivers and mountain ranges traverse it, and it’s face of hills and dense woods make it strong to defend, hard to hold. But by the blessing of God we shall conquer and restore peace through this pivot land and, I should like to trust too, through the World. But this, so easily written, will be difficult to do and bloody. The soldiers on both sides fight desperately and all are now old soldiers, even in the European sense. Over two years of incessant fighting in campaigns has inured all to great sufferings and privations.

I read your account of the Tyndall’s with much pleasure. When you visit Ireland⁷ I shall be glad to hear of your opinions on them all—together with such, if any, points of resemblance you may find with ourselves—ie whether they are like our people in Carlow, in London and in America? And so, of all places, you find relations in Holland! Tyndall de Veer⁸ (now Tynedale, or dahl de Vere Norse, Saxe-Norman I could have understood but de Veer and in Holland!) Strange. I didn’t give the [pasty] stock so much credit for colonizing and propagating as Nature seems to have done. Had I told my Father⁹ that he had relatives, distant even as the “old Gardener,” in Holland, he would have laughed—and replied only by the lucus a non lucendo!¹⁰ But you see what it is to have pushed to the front, my Cousin! You may even expect to see a fair vrow or fraulein¹¹ turning both cheeks to be kissed by the new found bachelor Cousin, who has climbed the Alps and made a footprint on the beaten hardness of English literature! Think of it, your tap roots (like Emerson’s¹² vine “reaching under the Andes to the Cape”¹³) going over-ground (a [bull] palpably) to Gorey¹⁴ and through all the extensive Irish lands, to America to Australia, even unto Holland! What a pity none of ‘em are rich bachelors or maidens without nearer kin! Well John, it may turn out well with you. As for me, and our family here, we shall never see any of them, probably, and they will never hear of us. But if God wills it, we shall know all and see all some brighter day. When I heard from Mrs Tyndale¹⁵ she was well—it was only two days since. My brothers and sisters¹⁶ are well. Give my kind regards to Hirst ask him to write and remember me to Debus, of whom I have a most kindly memory.

When you can write I shall be glad to read & learn that you are well. Affectionately your cousin Hector Tyndale

Address as usual to Philadelphia, as changes are rapid and frequent.

H. T.

RI MS JT/1/T/57

RI MS JT/1/TYP/5/1659–60