George R. Fairbanks Collection

Nashville, Sept 4th, 1869

My Dear Sir,

Agreeably to your request I have signed and enclose the paper you sent me. [Given?] the present state of public affairs, I doubt whether any business can be transacted. Members of the Board will find it difficult to leave their families.

I will write to the Bishop in a day or two. He gave a notice in the Church Intelligencer to meet at Columbia on the 9th October and seeing this prevented my attendance the 7th August.

With best regards.

Yours truly, F.B. [?]

G. R. Fairbanks Esqr. [N - Place?]

Montgomery, Ala. Jan. 14, 1862.

My Dear Sir:

Yr. conjecture is correct. The Finance Committee have been waiting for the journals, as we do not remember accurately the instruction the Board gave us. My experience, however, in getting printing done those Confederate times either expeditiously or decently is such as to forefend me against any surprise at Dr. Pise's delay.

Enclosed I give you all the Report. I think the Com. will be able to make at this time, and we are not sure that it is worth the while to send a copy

of it, as I think the Resolution of the Board recommends, to each of the Trustees. Unless the Resolution, when we get it seems imperative, I think we shall be content with simply sending the enclosed, thro' you, to the Executive Committee.

Whether the 10,000$ in the La. Treasury for building purposes can be appropriated to the erection of such a building as you now desire to erect--a sort of Hotel, the Executive Committee must determine. It hardly seems so to the Finance Committee.

I do not wonder that you have found mild weather on the mountain this winter; for so far we have had down here almost continuous summer temperature.

The election of Dr. [Wilmer?] to the Episcopate of Ala. seems to be giving very general satisfaction both in and out of the Diocese. I trust he will not disappoint our expectations.

I am very glad you are getting the University [lots?] so nearly ready for lease--as the enemy on the coast may perhaps drive numerous families into the mountain fortresses before next Summer-this I hope to the contrary.

Remember me very kindly to Mrs & Miss Fairbanks & believe me

Very truly Yrs [etc?]

Tho. M. Mitchell

P.S. I have an a/c against our Commissioners for money advanced in payment for printing, postage, Expense charges etc, to the amt of $69.40, with a set off of $20, rec'd from Bp. Elliott. Does it appear among the papers in your hands? I gave it to them at the Sewanee meeting.

If you will look again at the Report of Finance Com'te in the Journal you will find the amt. of disbursements to be $18,153.63 and "outstanding debts" are-- "estimated as" __________. 8,000 making a total of $26, 153.63 which is very near your. $27, 232.72 You must have figured [wildly?] to make the "report" read "$86,643.62."

Nashville Feby. 10 1862. 1438.25 533 31 1971. 56 G.R. Fairbanks Esqr University Place

Dear Sir--Your letters of the 4th are to hand this morning with the enclosure of six dollars. Enclosed we send bill of the articles sent, balance $3.22 to your debit.

I wrote you on the 6th informing you of the fact of my having then $1438.25 to the credit of the university. Since then I have received a further sum of Five Hundred thirty three 31/100 Dols. ($533.31)

Matters begin to look unpleasant here since the fall of Fort Henry & the marauding trips of the gun boat up the Tennessee. There is nothing now between Nashville & the Enemy's fleet except a mud fort at Donelson, which the fate of Fort Henry causes us to have small confidence in. I suppose Gen'l Johnson will fall back to this place at no distant date. I have to reject that I can get no information about the [sugar?]. Parrish who sold it examined his books and tells me he can find no minute of the transaction except the cash entry of payment-a pretty Bookkeeper surely.

Yours truly, J.B. Craighead

Mr. G.R. Fairbanks 1862 Feb 10 To Craighead Dr: 4 of [? ?]. 30 1 sheet sandpaper Bill of [?] as per Bill enclosed [?] 7.82/6.00 to your debit ____ {? ? ?]

1.20 .20 1.82 $3.22

Bishop's Place Miss. June 27 1862

G.R. Fairbanks Esq

My Dear Friend

Yr late letter was as heartily returned as you could reasonably have desired it to be. These disjointed times have so reduced the number of my correspondents that whereas I some time ago rather feared the arrival of my mail, I now feel no little pleased to see the handwriting of any friend. And I was the more thank ful for yr letter, inasmuch as it informed me of the health & safety of your family. In answer to yr kind enquiries about Bp. Otey I am glad to say that his health continues to improve, though not very rapidly. This diseaset - a local affective (of the urethra) and a very painful one, hadreduced him very low before he left Tennessee. After spending three weeks at [Cooper?] [?] without benefit, he was brought to my house, where he began to amend. He afterwards spent about three weeks with two old friends in Jackson

and then removed to another friend's residnce (Mrs Johnstone's) about sixteen miles North of this place. I have been much with him, and have twice vis ited him since his removal to the country. Every two or three days I hear from him, that he is still improving. He no longer keeps his bed or even his room, rides out twice a day, and has a pretty fair appetite. Mrs J's house is a palace, as well as a paradise, of a place. She has friends al ways around her, who serve to keep the Bishop in good spirits. Dr Quintard has been staying with him more than two weeks, and only left him (to return to Georgia) three days ago. The Rev Mr Harris is now with him. Dr Q fears that the Bp, even if he should recover entirely from this attack, will never be fitted again for any hard work. I am sorry to say that the Bps spirits are often much depressed. The condition of the Country preys upon his mind, and makes him at times, despair of our success. In better health I am sure he would have better hopes. Whilst writing about him I will deliver a message which he gave me for you, when I read yr letter

to him, on my last visit. After requesting me to thank you for your kind concern about his health he said "Tell Fairbanks that I left Memphis in haste; but that the day before I set out I directed the [Companys?] Agent to send on immediately to him the stores which I had got at his request"

I congratulate you on yr timely retreat from Sewanee. My indignation is kindled at the thought that that lovely and peaceful spot should have been polluted by the foot of the invader/ but I am glad to learn that our University papers are all safe.

I pite the condition ecclesiastically, as well as otherside, of your loved Florida. How long Mississippi will be in any better condition no one can tell. Vicksburg still holds out, notwithstanding the formidable fleet of Gun-boats, Mortar-boats and Transport that threaten her. There is not a propertyholder in the place, that would not sooner see his house a heap of ruins than tamely surrender as other places have done. We have scarcely one gun to oppose to their ten; but we will be prepared to oppose 20,000 men to their attempt to land. Unless I am much mistaken, some of the hardest fighting

of the whole war will be done and near that place. Mississippians are not given to surrendering or even retreating, especially when the eyes of their mothers and wives and sisters are upon them. It is not improbable that the attack is even now going on, as the sound of very distant cannon has been heard all the morning. We are 40 miles distant in a direct line.

We held our Convention, as usual. The attendance of Clergy was better than I expected. - that of the Laity small. You will see in the "Intelligencer" all that was of any interest in our proceedings.

I will keep a look-out in our Hospitals for the brother of yourself & Major Beard. When you write to them, tell them to come straight to my house, instead of going to a hospital, in case of them being either sick or wounded. I have not for some time, been without two or three disabled soldiers under my roof.

I must now conclude after begging to be remembered affectionately to yr good wife and my excellent friend Lt Major. May God bless each one of you. Believe me, very sincerely and with the highest regard.

Yr friend & brother in [?] W.M. Green

P.S. Br. Oty thanks you for yr invitation to come to [?]- [?], but thinks that he had better remain for the present where he is.