101. Gill, Dr. John and B. Stanton
Three Civil War Letters and a Note

Houston, Texas; Millican, Texas; Cleveland, Ohio: June 21, 1865; July 7, 1865; Summer 1865; June 12, 1885
In May of 1865, Gill had been in Selma, Alabama. Sometime before June 21, 1865, Gill had moved to Galveston and eventually to Houston. Houston is an occupied city not particularly cordial to Union soldiers and vice versa. Gill writes: "Before we arrived, gold and silver was the only money used. There is any amount of ? Here. They do not care about taking our 'green backs' but our soldiers in purchasing offer them and if they are not taken (greenbacks) they, the soldiers, take the goods and walk off. Generally, though, the citizens are courteous but occasionally we meet some rabid rebels. Every one carries a larger bowie knife and revolver. One of the servants belonging to the 34th Iowa regt. Was killed yesterday by a citizen before we had been in the city fifteen minutes." In July, Gill is in Millican, Texas ("it is a miserable cutthroat hole.") Apparently, Confederate supporters are not accepting defeat graciously. Gill records an incident of defiance. "Yesterday, two men came to Head Quarters and were paroled. About an hour after one of them on horseback attempted to pull down the flag in front of Head Quarters. He succeeded in getting one half of it and rode off before the sentinel had time to cap his gun. His accomplice at Head Quarters at the time - he took hold of the sentinel's gun and prevented him from shooting after the man on horseback." "He was arrested and is now under guard. Had I my way he would be strung up to the first tree. There is an organized gang of these fellows. They were overheard by one of our soldiers making the plot. They intended killing the Colonel and stealing my pony and the adjutant's and the flag. Before this soldier could get to camp to warn us, these two men had rode in town and partly accomplished their object. They have threatened to raise a force and make a dash into town and release the man we have under guard. Also threaten to kill every officer if they have to pick them off one by one. We have strong guards stationed about town and pickets out. I hardly think they will do us any harm. This seems very little like times of peace. Texas is an outlawed state. I wish our army had gone through the entire state and laid it in waste." In the Summer of 1865, Dr. Gill received a letter from B.Stanton, one of his comrades and an assistant surgeon, who had also been taken prisoner in Texas by the Confederates. Stanton writes this letter on the year anniversary of their release. Stanton has been to visit Gill's mother in Cleveland. Draft letter of recommendation for a family friend applying for the position of Acting Assistant Surgeon of the Marine Hospital (Washington, D.C.?), dated June 12, 1885, from Dr. John C. Gill.

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